Lott recognized by American Hospital Association’s professional membership group
Rachel Lott, Chief Communications Officer
Hillsdale Hospital’s Chief Communications Officer Rachel Lott, was named a 2024 Rising Star by the Society for Health Care Strategy and Market Development (SHSMD). This award recognizes Lott as a distinguished health care strategy professional succeeding in her field.
SHSMD is a professional membership group of the American Hospital Association, supporting health care professionals with industry knowledge, digital engagement and platforms for exchanging ideas and resources. The SHSMD Rising Star award spotlights health care strategy professionals who are executing innovative strategies and showing exceptional promise in their fields. This year, SHSMD recognized five individuals who are distinguishing themselves as highly effective health care strategists.
Lott has been overseeing Hillsdale Hospital’s communications department since 2019, initially as the director of marketing before becoming the chief communications officer. She leads the hospital’s community outreach efforts and plays a significant role in governmental affairs, helping advocate for rural health on behalf of Hillsdale Hospital. In the community, Lott serves on the City of Hillsdale Economic Development Corporation board and Brownfield Redevelopment Authority to represent the hospital in local development efforts.
Lott (left) and Hodshire (right) record an episode of their podcast, Rural Health Rising, in their studio at Hillsdale Hospital
“When the pandemic hit, Rachel had been here for less than a year, but she poured countless hours into keeping our public updated every day and making sure both the community and our healthcare team had the information they needed to succeed,” said Jeremiah J. Hodshire, president and chief executive officer of Hillsdale Hospital.
One of Lott’s most notable achievements at Hillsdale Hospital has been co-hosting the podcast Rural Health Rising with Hodshire. The show developed a national following with its weekly episodes on the challenges and opportunities of rural health in America, and they will publish their 200th episode in September, 2024. In addition to the podcast, Lott and Hodshire keep the community updated with regular livestreams on several social media channels and weekly radio programs.
“Rachel’s consistent professionalism, honesty and sincerity demonstrate her leadership style,” said Hodshire, “She possesses the ‘human touch’ in her ability to relate to all persons while engaged, collectively, in serving an underserved population of those most in need.”
Hodshire (left) and Lott (right) in Washington, D.C., in November, 2022
Since 2022, Lott has been selected to serve on the Michigan Health & Hospital Association’s Legislative Policy Panel, where she contributes a perspective on how legislation affects rural health care. She has also maintained an active membership with SHSMD by serving on the MarCom by the Numbers Steering Committee and the Educational & Editorial Advisory Board.
“When you meet Rachel, you will see that she is an outstanding, dedicated community leader who possesses personal integrity and a thoughtful, engaging and intelligent communications style,” said Suzanne Bharati Hendery, chief marketing and customer experience officer at Renown Health.
Lott will receive her SHSMD Rising Star award certificate alongside four other recipients at the SHSMD Connections 2024 conference in October. There, she will be speaking on a panel about leading a marketing team through budgeting challenges.
