Merger Communications Advice from Leonard C. Achan '99

Leonard C. Achan ‘99 is the chief innovations officer at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. He previously served as chief of access services and chief marketing and communications officer for the Mount Sinai Health System and senior associate dean for global communications, branding and reputation for the Icahn School of Medicine. 

Leonard C. Achan ’99 is the chief innovations officer at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. He recently copublished an article in “Becker’s Hospital Review” on merger communications.

In a recent article in Becker’s Hospital Review, he and co-author Dorie Klissas, vice president of marketing and communications at Mount Sinai Health System, described their experience spearheading the communications plan for the successful merger of Mount Sinai Medical Center with Continuum Health Partners.Achan and Klissas wrote, “Today the Mount Sinai Health System includes seven hospitals, a medical school, dozens of ambulatory care practices and more than 200 facilities where physicians treat patients- the largest such network in the New York City area and among the biggest in the country. While no merger is seamless, the combination has succeeded in creating a strong, integrated healthcare network. In part, that’s because of the approach our team took in communicating the merger to everyone on both sides of the deal, as well as all parties impacted by the combination.” 

The “merger communications playbook,” according to Achan and Klissas, includes:

• Inclusive communications
• A clear rationale
• Welcoming communications
• Direct communications, and
• Constant communications

Achan is currently serving on the Adelphi strategic plan work group that is addressing ways to build a brand and marketing strategy for the University. He has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Adelphi.

Read Achan’s advice in Becker’s Hospital Review.