Harness the Science and Art of Communication with the ITM
Get Special Science Communications Training to Share Your Research
You cannot change the world with research and medicine without strategic communication.
The ITM’s Communication Core builds the science of human connection into its work serving everyone from world-renowned physicians and researchers, award-winning campaigns, and the National Institutes of Health.
See why that strategic approach matters by watching the TEDx Talk: Crack the Case on Human Connection from our ITM Director of Communications Sara Serritella here.
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Our Sci Comm Work Makes Impacts
The social media marketing support we received has truly been transformative for our study, resulting in significantly higher numbers of recruited patients.
They really helped me craft the script and video as well as coached me through the process of acting it out! Everyone who participated in the videos with us are still talking about how much fun they had during filming.
The instructions on how to tell a story were the most helpful, hearing my voice from someone else's perspective.
I learned how to do a positive, assertive, and energetic talk.
Despite adequate media exposure and confidence facing the camera, I didn't realize what it took to present a great video. I learned a lot on how to be an even more convincing communicator by being very deliberate and expressive.
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Sci Comm for Grant Applications
ITM Pilot Awards
We train physician researchers on how to communicate their work to a general public audience. They get custom coaching on their content, delivery, and more that culminates in an in-studio filming and professional video package showcasing their work. This allows members of community boards to understand the research and participate in the ITM Pilot grant review process. This training and professional video also serves physicians and researchers in propelling their work beyond this grant – alumni have gone on to use the sci comm support to secure millions of dollars in funding, help recruit for their studies, and more.
Want to Apply?
Learn more about ITM Pilot Awards here.
Hear it From Them
Watch Their Research Videos
Sci Comm for the Public
We create catchy, dynamic health research content for the public and have connected thousands of people across the country with study teams.
Check out our award-winning New Normal and Save Da Hoomans Campaigns.
Want to Submit Your Study?
Want to Match with Causes You Care About?
Sci Comm for Dynamic Talks
K Award Program
Hear it From Them
You’ll give hundreds of talks throughout your career. We train physician researchers how to communicate science to a lay audience in ways that aren’t a snoozefest. These science communications education opportunities are offered through the ITM K Scholar Program and are now open to our CTSA Chicagoland partners across Northwestern University and the University of Illinois at Chicago. This program has a finale with an in-person event at a downtown Chicago venue for participants to deliver their Talks and compete for a prize.
Want to Apply?
Learn more about the ITM K Program here.
Watch Their Talks
Sci Comm for Medical, Graduate, & Undergraduate Education
ITM’s Director of Communications, Sara Serritella, has co-built and taught the first science communications courses offered at the University of Chicago across medical, graduate, and undergraduate education. She also serves as the Faculty Leader of the Science Communication Track at the University of Chicago Masters in Biomedical Sciences (BMS) Program.
Hear It From Them
Medical Students
Graduate Students
Residents & Fellows
Undergraduate Students
National Orgs
Connect with Sara to learn more at serritella@uchicago.edu.
Meet Your ITM Sci Comm Team
Sara Serritella
Director of Communications & Founding Science Communications Instructor
Sara Serritella is an award-winning journalist turned Director of Communications at the Institute for Translational Medicine that’s powered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). She is a lecturer at The University of Chicago and UChicago’s Pritzker School of Medicine, where she co-built and teaches the first science communication courses for medical students, graduate students in UChicago’s new Master’s in Biomedical Sciences Program, and undergraduates.
Sara’s high-energy presentations grace the stages of global and national conferences, and she trains physicians and researchers across the NIH’s Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) Program and its academic medical centers on how to communicate their science and medicine to the general public.
SAs a partner at Vantius and licensed private detective, Sara’s favorite high-profile cases are helping to exonerate wrongfully-convicted individuals. She translates behavioral science and field experience connecting with people of all backgrounds to her work in science communication and education. Sara is also a proud alum of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, Media, and Integrated Marketing Communication. She has reported at media outlets across the country and been part of Pulitzer Prize-winning coverage.
Sara is a lover of rescue pit bulls, yoga, travel, and awesome alliteration.
Gosia Labno
Senior Communications Manager
Gosia Labno is the Senior Communications Manager for the ITM. She helps execute the institute’s communications strategy through writing, video production, and social media management. Previously, she worked in the communications departments at UNITE HERE Local 1 and the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago. Gosia holds an M.A. in Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Chicago and a B.S. in Media and Cinema Studies from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. In her free time, she enjoys reading, taking walks with her dog Astro, and yoga.
Kasia Holmstrom
Social Media and Video Producer
Kaisa Holmstrom is a Social and Digital Media Producer for the ITM. She assists with the creation, implementation, and analysis of the Institute’s social media and digital marketing strategies. Prior to joining the ITM team, Kaisa worked at a marketing consulting business, where she built on her skills as a social media coordinator, graphic designer, videographer, and photographer. Kaisa found out incredibly young that art was a way to express herself. Thankfully, she can not only continue with personal art, but bring that creativity to work at the ITM. Kaisa resonates with the ITM’s underlying goal of helping others, which is the result of the mission of improving health for all.
Need Sci Comm Support?
Want an event featured on the ITM calendar?