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Biography
Connie Raab, B.A.
Director, Public Health Communications
Ms. Raab develops and carries out communications
plans in key program areas of the Office; serves as
Office Web coordinator; advises program staff on
communications approaches; reviews and creates
materials; and works in collaboration with VA public
affairs, central office, and field staffs, and with
individuals outside of VA, such as members of health
and veterans advocacy groups, the media, employees
of other Federal agencies, congressional staff, and
others.
Ms. Raab joined VA
in late 2001 after many years at the National
Institutes of Health (NIH). She started there as a
writer/editor at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood
Institute, and then served as public affairs
specialist and then the first deputy communications
director of the National Institute of Diabetes and
Digestive and Kidney Diseases. In 1987 she became
the first communications director of the newly
created National Institute of Arthritis and
Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), hiring
staff, and developing a full-fledged communications
office. In 1999 she became the Institute's first
public liaison officer, a new role in each Institute
to help insure the public has a voice in NIH
programs. From 1987 to 2001, she also served as
project officer on a multimillion dollar contract to
run the NIAMS Information Clearinghouse. She
received the NIH Merit Award in 1991 and an NIAMS
Thinking Out of the Box Award in 2000. She has also
received 8 awards for her writing and staff under
her supervision received 20 such awards. Ms. Raab
has a B.A. from Carleton College, Northfield,
Minnesota, and did a science writing internship at
the Mayo Clinic.
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