Shannon Swiger
Carolina Beach,NC
Summary
Strategic internal communications executive with 18 years of experience building enterprise communication programs that increase workforce engagement and support organizational transformation and clinical excellence. Trusted executive partner translating healthcare priorities into messaging strategies that strengthen alignment, engagement, and trust for organizations up to 40,000 employees. Builds scalable communication capabilities grounded in measurement and employee feedback.
Overview
1
1
Certification
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Internal Communications Consultant
Novant Health
Wilmington, NC
06.2025 - Current
- Developed executive messaging and communication strategies, creating change management plans for clinical, operational, and patient care initiatives that supported frontline teams
- Partnered with senior leaders to align communications with organizational priorities, enhancing workforce engagement and promoting operational excellence
- Advised executive leaders on strategic communications for medical group, quality, safety, and clinical operations, aligning efforts with enterprise priorities for 40,000-employee integrated health system
Director, Internal Communications
Operation Smile
Virginia Beach, VA
01.2024 - 05.2025
- Led global internal communications strategy supporting employees across 37 countries, strengthening organizational alignment and executive communications during a period of transformation
- Launched first global employee engagement survey, shaping communications strategy with insights to enhance organizational effectiveness
- Partnered with executive leadership to modernize intranet, enhancing access to enterprise communications and improving employee connectivity
- Developed multilingual communications achieving 80% read rate for Essentials employee newsletter; established first global town hall program to foster engagement
Director, Internal Communications | Manager, Internal Communications
Novant Health
Charlotte, NC
09.2014 - 12.2023
- Served as trusted communications advisor to nursing executives, physicians, and operational leaders, translating complex clinical, workforce, quality, and operational priorities into strategies that enhanced organizational alignment and facilitated enterprise growth.
- Designed enterprise framework for leader enablement, equipping nurse leaders with communication training, messaging resources, and standardized toolkits for shift huddles, digital signage, email, intranet, and collaboration platforms.
- Co-developed Novant Health's nursing value proposition, synthesizing insights from 30+ stakeholder interviews and focus groups to enhance nurse recruitment and retention messaging.
Senior Communications Specialist
Johns Hopkins Medicine
Baltimore, MD
08.2011 - 05.2014
- Served as executive communications advisor and writer to patient safety leader Dr. Peter Pronovost, crafting keynote speeches, executive messaging, and thought leadership pieces that enhanced visibility and engagement
- Secured national media coverage for tech transfer and safety initiatives in The Wall Street Journal, 60 Minutes, NPR, and The Atlantic, showcasing clinical innovation and advancing organizational reputation
- Developed executive thought leadership platform for incoming dean and CEO, increasing institutional visibility through targeted messaging
- Co-led award-winning behavior change campaign, increasing hand hygiene compliance by 15% over six months, positively impacting patient safety
Director of Marketing & Communications
A Helping Hand
Durham, NC
09.2010 - 05.2011
- Led marketing, communications, and fundraising strategy for nonprofit supporting older adults and adults with disabilities, enhancing community awareness and engagement.
- Directed community engagement initiatives with 2,000+ volunteers, impacting nearly 4,000 individuals annually through enhanced service delivery.
- Wrote press releases, newsletters, and donor outreach messages
Public Relations & Marketing Specialist
Novant Health
Charlotte, NC
06.2008 - 09.2010
- Supported award-winning patient acquisition campaign that raised community awareness over multiple years.
- Assisted with integrated marketing and communications campaigns that expanded visibility for emergency care, urgent care, and specialty service lines.
- Coordinated marketing campaigns across Novant Health service lines and clinics.
- Drafted press releases for patient care, community outreach, and physician news.
Education
Master of Business Administration (MBA) - Marketing And Sustainable Enterprise
University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
05-2016
Bachelor of Arts - Journalism & Mass Communication (Public Relations), Political Science
University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
05-2008
Skills
- Healthcare communication expertise
- Executive communications
- Change management
- Crisis communications
- Employee experience
- Leadership communications
- Employee listening and engagement
- Communications governance
- Analytics and measurement
- Executive messaging
Affiliations
- Board member, Disability:IN North Carolina - 2020-2022
- Co-chair, Persons with Disabilities Business Resource Group, Novant Health - 2020-2023
- Leadership Wilmington - 2020-2021
Certification
- Advanced Public Information Officer: Health and Hospital Emergencies, FEMA - 2014
Accomplishments
- Rising Star Award, Society for Healthcare Marketing, Communications & Strategy, 2022
- 40 Under 40, Wilmington StarNews, 2020
- The Mark, Novant Health, 2017
- Top 50 Emerging Leaders in Diversity, DiversityMBA, 2017
Timeline
Internal Communications Consultant
Novant Health
06.2025 - Current
Director, Internal Communications
Operation Smile
01.2024 - 05.2025
Director, Internal Communications | Manager, Internal Communications
Novant Health
09.2014 - 12.2023
Senior Communications Specialist
Johns Hopkins Medicine
08.2011 - 05.2014
Director of Marketing & Communications
A Helping Hand
09.2010 - 05.2011
Public Relations & Marketing Specialist
Novant Health
06.2008 - 09.2010
Master of Business Administration (MBA) - Marketing And Sustainable Enterprise
University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
Bachelor of Arts - Journalism & Mass Communication (Public Relations), Political Science
University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill