Contact: Susie Wallace
Oklahoma Hospital Association
Director of Communications
swallace@okoha.com
(405) 427-9537
For immediate release – March 26, 2009
OHCWC Names Shayla Austin as Project Coordinator
New Addition To Play A Key Role In Building Public Awareness & Marketing
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – The Oklahoma Health Care Workforce Center (OHCWC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Shayla Austin to the new position of project coordinator for the organization. This role is funded by Oklahoma hospitals and reflects hospitals’ commitment to alleviating Oklahoma’s health care workforce shortages.
Austin’s responsibilities will include increasing, identifying and responding to opportunities to build public awareness around the critical need to address workforce shortages in Oklahoma health care. She will also be responsible for developing marketing tools to promote health career awareness and exploration among students, teachers and counselors. Special events coordination will also be a focus of Austin’s responsibilities.
To complement the OHCWC, Austin brings her work experience of event planning, strategic marketing and graphic design, website development, public relations and project management to help continue building the organization’s momentum. She previously worked at Devon Energy as a communication specialist. Prior to Devon, Austin worked at the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber for six years after being promoted into various roles ranging from member events assistant, communications coordinator, copywriter and editor, to marketing projects manager.
“We are very fortunate to have added Shayla as a member of our team. She brings a wealth of knowledge and professionalism to her new role, along with a great work ethic and commitment,” said Sheryl McLain, MS, executive director of Oklahoma Health Care Workforce Center. “We have already reaped great benefits as a result of her contributions, including the launch of the Center’s new Web site, www.ohcwc.com. In the coming months, she will be overseeing the renovation of our current Web site, www.okhealthcareers.com. Once updated, this site will be of even greater benefit as a resource to those seeking information about health career options available in Oklahoma.”
Austin earned her bachelor’s degree in advertising at the University of Oklahoma. In addition, she will complete her master’s in business administration from Oklahoma City University, May 2009. She is a member of the Alliance of Emerging Professionals and serves on the OU Alumni Board for the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communications.
The Oklahoma Health Care Workforce Center is a private non-profit organization dedicated to alleviating Oklahoma's health care worker shortages. It was created through legislation (SB 1394) in 2006 and is privately incorporated. It operates as a public/private partnership.
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