Ms. O’Keefe serves as chief communications officer and vice president for public affairs and communications at Eskenazi Health, one of America’s largest essential health systems and a crucial training ground for Indiana University School of Medicine. In her role, she leads a strategic communications division of 37 personnel spanning public affairs and communications, event and experience services, and community engagement. In her nearly 25 years at the organization, she has helmed significant brand milestones including a successful 2009 voter referendum campaign that earned 85% approval for a new hospital campus and a comprehensive 2011 rebranding initiative when the facility was renamed. Ms. O’Keefe has also guided the health system through high-stakes communications events including a 2021 cyber event, Covid-19 vaccination outreach in partnership with other Indiana hospitals, and an extensive ongoing campaign promoting social determinants of health improvements in three community health engagement zones. In 2024, Eskenazi Health received the Indiana Public Health Association’s “Public Health Communications and Media Award” for exceptional communications work around its “Fresh for You Market” food-as-medicine program. Eskenazi Health was named Indiana’s top hospital for health equity and community benefit by the Lown Institute in both 2024 and 2025.
