FROM STAFF REPORTS

Garland Stansell, chief communications officer and director of communications for Children’s Health System, has been named the 2008 chairman-elect of the Public Relations Society of America’s (PRSA) Health Academy Board of Directors. His term began January 1.

Stansell has served on the planning committee for the Academy’s annual conference all three years that he has sat on the board, and is chairman of the 2008 conference slated for April 2-4 in Chicago. He served as secretary in 2007.

Stansell has more than 20 years experience in public relations, marketing, health promotion, advocacy and fundraising, including 13 years with Children’s Health System (CHS), the 10th largest pediatric medical center in the United States.

At CHS, he is responsible for the development and implementation of a strategic communications program to serve the information and promotional needs of the health system’s business units, fundraising and advocacy activities. Prior to joining CHS, Stansell served as vice president of development and communications for Alabama Goodwill Industries and as assistant director of corporate communications for BancBoston Mortgage Company.

A native of Birmingham, Stansell earned his bachelor’s degree in mass communications, public relations and business from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and a master’s in public and private management from Birmingham Southern College. He serves on the board of the Epilepsy Foundation of North and Central Alabama, Shelby County Education Foundation and the Alabama Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy.

He is also active in a number of other professional, community and civic organizations including the Association of Fundraising Professionals, United Way of Central Alabama and Shelby County Chamber of Commerce.

He was a member of the 2004 Class, Leadership Shelby County and the 2005 Class, Birmingham FBI Citizens’ Academy