Renee Cree is Public Relations Manager at Philadelphia College of Ostoeopathic Medicine. She has been a PPRA member on and off for 10 years.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/renee.cree

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/renee-cree-ab65492

PPRA: Renee, tell us a bit about your background and your current job.

RC: Born and raised in West Chester, home of “Jackass,” parts of “Marley and Me,” and QVC. I fell in love with writing at 12 years old and haven’t stopped since. I’ve become much more politically minded in the past–oh, year and a half or so. No particular reason. I currently reside in the Roxborough section of Philadelphia with a somewhat indifferent cat.

PPRA: Who are your clients and/or what projects are you working on right now?

RC: PCOM recently announced that it received approval from its accrediting body to open an additional location in rural Georgia. We’re excited because it means we’ll be helping to infuse an area in need with competent and caring health professionals.

PPRA: What is your favorite part about your job?

RC: Finding and telling great stories about PCOM and the people who work and study there.

PPRA: What was your latest & greatest accomplishment at your job?

RC: There’s a researcher at PCOM who works of the interesting hypothesis that Alzheimer’s could be triggered by infection. I’ve been working with him for the past several years to try and promote his work–it’s interesting but still very much goes against some of the conventional wisdom about Alzheimer’s–and we’re finally starting to see the needle move in terms of media attention. That to me is a great feeling, when all of the seeds you plant start to come to fruition.

PPRA: What one piece of advice would you give to your fellow PR pros?

RC: View everything–both successes and failures–as a learning opportunity.

PPRA: What book or movie could you read or watch again and again?

RC: Two books: Middlesex, by Jeffrey Eugenides, and Let the Great World Spin, by Colum McCann.

PPRA: What’s your favorite spot in Philly (museum, park, store, etc.)?

RC: Barcade–it has alcohol and old video games, what could be better?

PPRA: How do you take your cheesesteak?

RC: Wiz witout.

PPRA: Our PPRA 2017-18 PRoactive partnership is with Tree House Books. What was your favorite childhood book and why?

RC: I devoured all the “American Girls” books (back when the dolls were based in different historical times). I loved learning about girls my age with different backgrounds and from different times.