Dec. 24, 2021 — Kristy Hammam, WebMD’s former editor-in-chief and senior vp, has died of breast most cancers. She was 50 years outdated.
Kristy resigned from a 22-year profession at WebMD in June 2021, after dropping a lot of her eyesight on account of therapies in her combat towards triple-negative breast most cancers. She recounted her analysis and her expertise as a affected person in a current function story for WebMD.
Within the story, she talked in regards to the difficulties of navigating the U.S. well being care system whereas coping with most cancers, and it was her dream to start out a nonprofit to assist different sufferers who had much less help than she did.
Kristy started her profession as a author and replica editor at CNN earlier than becoming a member of the medical information service Greenberg Information Networks, the place she produced a each day broadcast for Medcast. She was finally promoted to go of programming. Greenberg was acquired by Healtheon and WebMD, and he or she continued to develop with the corporate to change into its editorial director, in control of a lot of the operations of WebMD’s Atlanta workplace.
Kristy was recognized by her colleagues for the abilities she delivered to her work duties and for a lot of private traits that had been extremely valued. She was admired for her grace, kindness, compassion and the way in which she made everybody really feel vital, similar to listening respectfully and looking for out views that will have been completely different from her personal throughout conferences. She would usually encourage individuals to take dangers and was usually the primary to have fun her colleagues’ skilled accomplishments and private joys.
“Her door was at all times open,’’ stated Kristy’s former govt assistant Mary Cooper. “She at all times had time for another person.”
Mary remembers that Kristy requested her to talk in an organization assembly, and he or she demurred, telling her boss she was shy.
“You aren’t shy!” Kristy advised her. “You could be uncomfortable addressing a gaggle, however I really feel that you simply do it effectively, so you can be talking.”
Beloved by her co-workers at WebMd, Kristy inspired the corporate to interact extra with its communities and arranged paid volunteer days for employees.
“Nobody had an even bigger influence on my profession at WebMD than Kristy,” stated Michael Smith, MD, a former chief medical editor at WebMD. “She helped form who I’m as we speak each personally and professionally. Her influence will at all times be felt.”Kristy was instrumental in creating the annual Well being Heroes Awards to assist WebMD acknowledge standouts in well being and medication.Kristy championed the thought of an occasions committee and helped arrange occasions that grew to become firm traditions, similar to a Halloween occasion and a potluck Thanksgiving dinner that made a lot of our household feasts pale by comparability.
Kristy was instrumental in serving to to form WebMd via the years. For instance, she performed a key position in constructing out medical reference for shoppers to incorporate award-winning well being information, options and movies. One of many proudest moments for Kristy and her colleagues was when a video about schizophrenia was featured on the Tribeca Movie Pageant.
“Proper from the beginning, Kristy did an incredible job,” stated Steve Zatz, MD, former chief govt officer at WebMD. “She was capable of juggle all these disparate tasks that she had and do them fantastically. She might wrangle celebrities and spreadsheets with equal ability.”
Even after she was identified with most cancers and began chemotherapy, Kristy actively guided the editorial crew via a merger with Web Manufacturers.
Kristy earned levels in English and artwork Historical past from Emory College. She is survived by her husband Nabil, and her sons Milo and Evan, together with their prolonged household.
“We’re pondering that she nonetheless has a lot extra to do, simply in a special place,” stated Kristy’s mom, Marilyn Lawson.
