Catherine Allen, executive VP for Shift Communications in Boston, has moved to WE Communications as senior VP and GM for the Seattle-based firm's Boston office as it eyes the Northeast healthcare sector.
Allen led Shift's Boston and New York account teams and helped build a healthcare roster within the firm, which was acquired by National PR in May.
WE said the hire reflects a "fortified" presence in the key healthcare markets of the East Coast. Allen will oversee marketing and business development in the New England region. WE North America president Kass Sells called Allen "an established transformation artist" and an "instant asset" as the firms looks to build up healthcare business in Boston-centric fields like biotech and pharma.
Former senior VP and Boston GM Chris Stamm decamped in April 2015 for Vertex Pharmaceuticals.
Allen spent 13 years at Shift after starting out in PR with Sterling Hager.
Jim Weiss, founder & chairman of Real Chemistry, has joined the board of ICR Inc. as it steps up its healthcare capital markets offering.
Ruder Finn has hired Kelly Yoder, who spent a dozen years at Weber Shandwick rising to North America health lead, as managing director, global head of health & life sciences.
ICR has named John Capodanno head of US healthcare corporate communications and Matthew Willey managing director in its medical technology and diagnostics practice. 
April is National Minority Health Month, spotlighting the urgency to improve health outcomes in communities of color.
In a recent conversation about the evolving media landscape, Doug Simon, CEO of D S Simon Media, spoke with Campbell O’Connor, Group Director, Media & Engagement at Real Chemistry, about how AI is influencing media relations and healthcare communications.
