Baptist Media Directory and Beats

The Public Relations division of the Corporate Communications department is Baptist Memorial Health Care’s official communications link to local, national and international news media and the journalists who represent them. The staff supports all BMHCC entities in the Mid-South with centralized, coordinated communications.

Baptist Memorial Health Care is home to many world-renowned health care professionals. Following each public relations staff profile is a list of specialties/topics that Baptist experts can address for health and medical stories. Please contact the associated staff member with your requests.

Public Relations Staff

Akoya Pond, Public Relations Manager

Phone: 901-227-3503
Cell: 901-581-5637
Email: ayoka.pond@bmhcc.org

As the public relations manager for Baptist Memorial Health Care, Ayoka Pond supervises and supports a team of public relations professionals who provide media relations, issues management, coaching and counsel to Baptist’s 14 hospitals and dozens of entities and services. Her daily responsibilities include editing the PR team’s written materials, advising the PR team when needed and monitoring Baptist’s media coverage. She also teaches communication training classes for Baptist colleagues, helps produce a monthly newsmagazine show that airs on Memphis’ PBS affiliate and maintains relationships with local and national reporters.

Credentials

A graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism, Ayoka began her career at Baptist as an intern and was hired as a public relations specialist in May 1999. She earned a master of arts degree in journalism from the University of Memphis in 2000.

Beats

Contact Ayoka for materials or interviews concerning:

Valerie Robilio, Senior Public Relations Coordinator

Phone: 901-227-3525
Cell: 901-828-2243
Email: valerie.robilio@bmhcc.org

As a public relations coordinator for Baptist Memorial Health Care, Valerie Robilio writes news releases; pitches news stories to and responds to the requests of local and national reporters; assists in writing communications plans; organizes news conferences; and develops crisis communications materials for her clients.

Credentials

Valerie graduated from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville in 1999 with a degree in public health. She began her career at Baptist as an intern and was hired as a public relations specialist in August 2000.

Beats

Contact Valerie for materials or interviews concerning:

Ashley Compton, Public Relations Coordinator

Phone: 901-227-3502
Cell: 901-581-8975
Email: ashley.compton@bmhcc.org

As a public relations coordinator for Baptist Memorial Health Care, Ashley Compton writes and pitches news releases, responds to requests of local and national reporters and creates and helps implement media and communication tactics for clients.

Credentials

Ashley graduated from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville in 2004 with a degree in public relations. She began her career in Washington, D.C. working for a member of Congress and then for the National Association of Home Builders in government relations and advocacy communications.

Beats

Contact Ashley for materials or interviews concerning:

Lori Simpson, Public Relations Specialist

Phone: 901-227-3519
Cell: 901-488-5690
Email: lori.simpson@bmhcc.org

As a public relations specialist for Baptist Memorial Health Care, Lori Simpson writes news releases; pitches news stories and responds to requests of local and national reporters; and assists in the development of Baptist’s social media tactics. Her areas of responsibility include Baptist Rehabilitation-Germantown, Baptist Trinity Home Care & Hospice, Baptist Memorial Medical Group, Baptist’s West Tennessee hospitals, social media and Baptist Memorial Health Care Foundation grants.

Credentials

Lori graduated from the University of Mississippi in 2008 with a degree in journalism. She began her career at Baptist as an intern and was hired as a public relations specialist in February 2010.

Beats

Please contact Lori for materials or interviews concerning:

• Baptist Memorial Health Care Foundation
• Baptist Memorial Medical Group
• Baptist Trinity Home Care & Hospice