Following is a Q&A to get to know Michael Gordon, Communications Coordinator, who began working at the National Health Council (NHC) in March 2022.

Putting Patients First (PPF) Blog: Tell us about your career. What led you to the NHC?

Becoming a part of the National Health Council (NHC) marks an exciting new chapter in my career. This is my first time working as part of a nonprofit group as I transition into the business of strategic communications and message branding.

Before arriving at the NHC, I had spent seven wonderful years working as a journalist for several television news stations across the country. I had a great run as a field reporter, show producer, and anchor.

However, I have decided to put the microphone down and focus on helping the NHC in its work to make comprehensive health care more equitable, affordable, and accessible to those traditionally underserved communities.

PFF Blog: What upcoming projects are you excited about working on?

I am most looking forward to using my experience as a member of the news media to bring more awareness and exposure to all the amazing work that the NHC is doing.

During my time as a reporter and journalist, I built up dozens of contacts in newsrooms and television stations across Washington, DC as well as the surrounding area.

One of my top priorities moving forward is to leverage those contacts from my past and make sure local show producers and news directors are aware of what the NHC is working on and how it applies directly to their viewing audience.

Hopefully, those decision makers in the local news ecosystem will see the value in the NHC’s many projects and help to disperse our messages to the public using their outlets. 

PFF Blog: You help handle the NHC’s brand messaging. Tell us about what you’re thinking of doing differently in terms of telling the NHC’s story.

I want to ensure that the NHC’s messaging continues to center around the one most important thing that we as a group represent: the 160 million Americans with chronic diseases and disabilities who rely on us to advocate for them and to help deliver a better future for them.

During my time as a journalist, I went to the homes of dozens of hardworking families and spoke with them on camera about their conditions. I looked at their family photo albums and heard their stories.

I was touched by their resilience but also heartbroken to see that they were being bankrupted by a health care system that is proving unable to give them consistent and comprehensive health care coverage.

That is what has and must continue to be at the heart of the NHC’s messaging.

PFF Blog: Tell us something about you personally. What do you do outside of work?  

Outside of work, I can be found spending time with my friends and family who absolutely mean the world to me.

At the top of that list is my wonderful mother, who has played a truly critical role in many of the successes I’ve achieved in life as well as giving me the good counsel and support that I needed to overcome many considerable obstacles along the way.