LEADERSHIP
SilverBranch is a virtual consultancy led by founder and president Eileen O'Gara-Kurtis, who established SilverBranch with a perspective developed at the intersection of communication and health policy, where her work consistently revealed both the multidimensional nature of compelling social challenges and the need to leverage the wisdom of diverse points of view and build strength through shared vision.
Eileen blends expertise in strategic communication with passion for capacity-building - collaborating with a national community of visionary organizations, companies, and individuals to advance change, foster growth, and grow audiences, markets, partnerships, and philanthropic support across disciplines.
work
An award-winning writer and strategist, Eileen's practice areas encompass: philanthropy and advancement communications, branding and identity, content development, issues management, marketing, and public affairs. She has been privileged to help advance the missions of academic medical centers, community hospitals, independent schools, colleges and universities, research consortia, arts and cultural organizations, and other nonprofit partners, as well as corporate clients.
education & affiliations
Eileen holds A.B. degrees in political science and creative writing from Brown University and has completed graduate work in communication at the University of Massachusetts. Currently serving as Vice President for Education of the New England Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (NEAHP), she chaired the 2012 and 2013 regional NEAHP Annual Educational Conference, the region's largest annual gathering of health care fundraisers. She is a past member of the New England Cabinet of the national Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP). Eileen is a past Vice President of the New England Society for Healthcare Communications, from which she has earned more than 25 Lamplighter Awards in recognition of her work.
community
A graduate of Leadership Rhode Island, Eileen has served as a board member of The Greenwich Odeum, Prevent Child Abuse Rhode Island, and the Rhode Island Organ Donor Awareness Committee, and as a member of the public relations advisory committees of Opera Providence, state and regional affiliates of the American Heart Association, and Tech-Collective, a Rhode Island tech industry trade group. She currently serves on the Community Advisory Committee of RIPR, Rhode Island's NPR affiliate.
approach
Eileen personally provides content development, analysis, planning and project management, and other core strategic communication services to SilverBranch partners. She engages customized teams of designers, researchers and policy experts, multimedia specialists, and others when needed to meet client needs - convening the right expertise, at the right time and at the right scale to achieve strategic goals. The firm's virtual approach maximizes efficiency and minimizes overhead, supporting responsible stewardship of client resources.
contact
eileen@silverbranch.net * 401.521.4564 * p.o. box 6153 middletown ri 02842