Health care is built on trust.

And good communication.

We’re the messengers.

And the message.

The Trusted Messenger Program has no equivalent in health care or public health: a veteran, field-tested team of experts who’ve used communication to drive quality outcomes at local and national levels. Two doctors, a nurse, and an academic who’ve been doing, and teaching, this work for decades – from exam rooms to hospitals to health systems, from grand rounds to professional conferences to university classrooms.

We know that many of the failures and frustrations in healthcare flow from one simple, unfortunate truth... healthcare providers aren’t formally trained in the skill they use most, and that is most critical to their success: communication.

We intend to change that.

Our mission

To empower health care providers, health systems, and integrated delivery networks to drive quality outcomes through the practice of evidence-based communication. 

Our methods

We offer a comprehensive, field-tested series of trainings, resources, models, and workshops, delivered online or in person, that provide the strategies, tools, and tactics you need to improve your skills and strengthen your status as a life-changing trusted messenger.

Our commitment

Good communication is fundamental—not just to the practice of good medicine, but to the relationships that make the practice of good medicine possible at all. We’ve devoted most of our lives and careers to these ideals. Now, we’re devoting the rest of them to making sure everyone else in health care and public health does, too.

Our trusted messengers

A veteran, field-tested team unlike any other in health care

Portrait of Todd
Todd Wolynn, MD, MMM
Executive Director

Todd Wolynn is a pediatrician with 30+ years of experience in primary care, vaccine research, and public health advocacy. He co-founded Kids Plus Pediatrics in 2010, served as its CEO for 12 years, and led the practice to nationally recognized expertise in innovation, patient engagement, and clinical quality. He most recently served as VP of Medical Affairs in Communication & Integration for Pediatric Associates Family of Companies.

In 2019, he co-founded Shots Heard Round the World, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting the online safety of health care providers and practices. For his pioneering work in health care innovation and science communication, he’s been named an EY Health Care Entrepreneur of the Year, a People magazine national Vaccine Hero, and an AAP Holroyd-Sherry Award winner.

Chad Hermann, PhD ABD
Chad Hermann, PhD ABD
Vice President of Communication & Strategy

Chad Hermann is an award-winning writer, editor, filmmaker, and teacher with a national reputation for communication in both health care and academia. He’s consulted for a wide variety of clients, including nonprofits, advocacy groups, political candidates, and Fortune 500 Companies, and most recently served as VP of Communicatios for Pediatric Associates Family of Companies. 

In 2021, People magazine named him a national Vaccine Hero for his work in health and science communication. Before working in health care, Chad taught at Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of Business, where he was named by Businessweek magazine as one of the top 25 undergraduate business professors in the country.

Portrait of Albert
Albert Wolf, MD, MBA
Vice President of Finance & Analytics

Albert Wolf is a pediatrician with 30+ years of experience in primary care, finance, and entrepreneurship. He co-founded Kids Plus Pediatrics in 2010, served as its CFO for 12 years, and helped lead the practice to nationally recognized expertise in innovation, patient engagement, and clinical quality. His rare combination of professional expertise bridges the gaps between evidence-based clinical work and data-driven financial administration. He most recently served as Senior Regional Medical Director and Director of Analytics & Process Definition for Pediatric Associates Family of Companies. 

In 2016, he was named an EY Health Care Entrepreneur of the Year for the Western Pennsylvania/West Virginia region for his innovations in primary care pediatric practice.

Portrait of Joyce
Joyce Winkler, RN, BSN
Senior Director of Clinical Practice & Program Operations

Joyce Winkler has 30+ years of experience in both clinical and operational practice. After working as an RN in labor and delivery, postpartum, pediatrics, and NICUs, Joyce transitioned into management, working as Director of Operations of outpatient Women's Health at UPMC and as Clinical Director at Kids Plus Pediatrics. She most recently served as Regional Director of Clinical and Quality Operations at Pediatric Associates Family of Companies. 

Joyce has partnered with staff, clinicians, C-suites, and legal, risk management, quality, and shared service teams to engage patients, create lines of service, design and support quality metric workflows for value-based care initiatives, and implement clinical policies and procedures. A member of Merck's U.S. Nursing Input Vaccine Group, Joyce works to promote vaccine education and support public health efforts.

Trusted Messenger Program Advisory Board


Seth Toback MD, MMM
Senior Vice President, Global Medical Affairs - Novavax Inc
Michelle Fiscus MD, FAAP
Chief Medical Officer - Association of Immunization Managers
Iyabode Beysolow MD, MPH
Owner YB Consultants LLC
Margot Savoy MD, MPH, FAAFP
Senior Vice President for Education - American Academy of Family Physicians
Beth Hoffman MD, MPH
Assistant Professor University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health