A renowned expert in public health and health literacy,
Dr. Barbara DeBuono brings a critical perspective to Porter Novelli
clients by helping them assess the impact that health and medical issues
have on their businesses, regardless of category. Barbara also leads
PN’s social marketing offering, orchestrating and harnessing regulatory,
private sector and civic and community groups for effective 2.0 public
health campaigns. This includes engaging public health government
clients and emerging corporate clients in timely public health issues.
Barbara is an adjunct professor at the George Washington University
School of Public Health and Health Services in the Department of Health
Policy. Prior to joining Porter Novelli, she was executive director,
public health and government for Pfizer, Inc., where she created and
managed innovative public-private partnership programs in public health
education, policy and research. Prior to Pfizer, she was an executive
vice president of the New York-Presbyterian Healthcare System, one of
New York City’s major academic medical centers. She has also served as
commissioner of health for the states of New York and Rhode Island. She
also served as a senior consultant to the World Health Organization in
Southeast Asia and is involved in pro bono work on health literacy and
maternal health issues in sub-Saharan Africa. Among numerous
professional memberships, Barbara serves as chair of the Board of
Directors for the Partnership for Clear Health Communication, member of
the Board of Governors for the National Patient Safety Foundation and
member of the Board of Scientific Counselors for the CDC’s National
Center for Health Marketing. In 2005 the CDC Foundation named Barbara
one of five public health heroes nationwide in 2005. She earned her
bachelor’s degree from the University of Rochester and her medical
degree from the University of Rochester School of Medicine. She received
her Master of Public Health from the Harvard University School of
Public Health.
“Improving public health by changing behavior, policies
and social norms through integrated evidence-based solutions is the
cornerstone of Porter Novelli’s unique approach to social marketing,”
says Barbara. “As a public health physician practicing in a global
communications firm, I see the potential for Porter Novelli to leverage
these assets and change lives.”