2003: Stephanie Phillips

The Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association (HBA) named Stephanie Phillips as its 2003 Strategic Transformation Achievement Recognition (STAR), formerly Volunteer of the Year award.

“Stephanie truly personifies volunteerism and has been a role model to all HBA volunteers,” said Daria Blackwell, president, White Seahorse, Inc. “She has provided invaluable insights along with countless hours through her role on the board and as co-director of programs, which have helped the HBA continue to grow and meet the changing needs of our members.”

Over the years, Stephanie has worked closely with her co-chair of programs to create interactive evening seminars that help HBA members hone their professional skills. She sees the evening seminars as opportunities to showcase the talents of women in pharma and to open doors to networking.

Mary Cobb, CEO/president, Pace, Inc., a Lowe Healthcare Company and chair emeritus of the HBA, added that “Stephanie’s long-term commitment to the organization and its mission is evident in her dedication to making the HBA and its educational programs the best that they can be. We thank Stephanie for her leadership, for her insightful ideas, and for giving so graciously.”

Stephanie started her career as a basic research scientist in cell biology and immunology, with a focus on the cell cycle and cell surface antigens. She also taught cellular genetics to undergraduates and histology to medical students and was on the faculties of Columbia University, CCNY, and Washington University in St. Louis.

Copywriting was Dr. Phillips’ entrée into pharmaceutical marketing. From the advertising side, she developed full promotional campaigns for antibiotics, immunology products, cardiovasculars, nutritionals, infertility drugs, oncology products, psychotropics, diagnostics, and medical instruments. For medical communications, she has contributed creatively to dozens of major pharmaceutical product launches and helped reposition and rejuvenate older products in virtually every medical specialty.

In 1987, she believed there was a need for a medical communications agency capable of interpreting the serious science behind many of today's pharmaceutical breakthroughs, so Stephanie established Project House.

All information in the honoree’s bio is reflective of the time they won the award.