Elsa Varghese, M.D., Joins AbelsonTaylor Group as Medical Strategy Director

Elsa Varghese, M.D., Joins AbelsonTaylor Group as Medical Strategy Director

CHICAGO – October 16, 2025 -- AbelsonTaylor Group, a leading independent healthcare marketing and communications agency, is pleased to announce that Elsa Varghese, M.D. has joined the agency as Medical Strategy Director. Dr. Varghese brings a deep and diverse background in medicine, digital innovation, and strategic leadership, further strengthening AT Group’s commitment to delivering science-driven, insight-led work for its healthcare clients.

With over a decade of experience at the intersection of clinical education, medical communications, and emerging technologies, Dr. Varghese has led large-scale initiatives across a wide range of specialties, including cardiology, oncology, neurology, gastroenterology, and endocrinology. She is also known for her collaboration with NASA and Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH), where she helped advance space medicine and digital learning solutions for physicians and astronauts alike.

In her role at AT Group, Dr. Varghese will play a key role in providing strategic medical input by helping translate complex clinical data into actionable marketing strategies and high-impact healthcare communications. She will partner closely with cross-functional teams to inform brand development, support medical content creation, and ensure scientific integrity across a broad portfolio of deliverables.

“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Dr. Varghese to AT Group,” said Lynnette Hunter, EVP, Director of Client Services. “Her experience is truly extraordinary—from directing high-profile partnerships with NASA to leading innovative education programs across multiple therapeutic areas. Her ability to synthesize complex science and apply it strategically will bring tremendous value to our teams and clients.”

Before joining AT Group, Dr. Varghese held leadership roles at Level Ex Inc., where she oversaw multidisciplinary teams and led strategic initiatives focused on medical innovation, clinical content development, and user-centered design. She served for over a decade as a Clinical Skills Physician with Kaplan Medical, where she trained standardized patients for simulated clinical encounters and co-authored the official Kaplan Step 2 CS review book—helping to prepare thousands of medical students for licensing exams and clinical practice. Additionally, she served on multiple nonprofit boards, contributing her expertise to organizations focused on wellness, education, and health equity.

Dr. Varghese earned her M.D. from the International American University College of Medicine and holds a B.A. in biology with a minor in psychology from SUNY Albany. She is ECFMG-certified and has established herself as a published medical author and speaker, with recent presentations on the role of digital innovation in neurosurgical and space medicine education.

Sara Brandt Joins AbelsonTaylor Group as SVP, Head of Media for ATActivate

CHICAGO – November 4, 2025 – AbelsonTaylor Group, a leading independent healthcare marketing and communications agency, is proud to announce the appointment of Sara Brandt as Senior Vice President, Head of Media for ATActivate, the agency’s full-service, data-driven media division.

Brandt joins AbelsonTaylor Group with more than two decades of experience leading integrated media strategy and investment across healthcare, consumer packaged goods, technology, retail, and financial services categories. A recognized leader in developing innovative, performance-driven media solutions, she brings a proven ability to translate data and audience insights into strategies that drive measurable business results.

In her new role, Brandt will oversee all aspects of media strategy, planning, and activation within ATActivate. She will lead a multidisciplinary team across print, digital, video, search, and social media channels—ensuring that media programs are insight-led, performance-focused, and deeply integrated with AbelsonTaylor Group’s creative and engagement strategies. Brandt will also play a key role in driving new business initiatives and expanding the agency’s media offerings for existing clients.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Sara to the AT Group leadership team,” said Lynnette Hunter, EVP, Director of Client Services, AbelsonTaylor Group. “Sara’s background in building advanced video investment practices and data-enabled media frameworks is exceptional. Her leadership, combined with her deep understanding of the healthcare category, will further elevate ATActivate’s ability to deliver innovative, measurable media solutions that make a real impact for our clients.”

Before joining AbelsonTaylor Group, Brandt served as SVP, Head of Video Strategy and Investment at Publicis Health Media, where she built the agency’s first-ever video investment practice. Previously, Brandt held senior leadership roles at OMD and Mindshare, where she led large-scale media engagements for major clients including Abbott, Kimberly-Clark, Walgreens, Essilor, and Unilever. Her career has focused on operational efficiency, cross-agency coordination, and the development of skilled, high-performing teams.

Brandt holds a Bachelor of Science in Journalism with an Advertising and Public Relations focus from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

“I’m incredibly excited to join AbelsonTaylor Group and lead the next chapter of growth for ATActivate,” said Brandt. “The agency’s deep expertise in health and wellness, combined with its commitment to innovation and data-driven creativity, makes this an inspiring place to advance what’s possible in healthcare media.”

About AbelsonTaylor Group
AbelsonTaylor Group is the independently owned parent company of four healthcare marketing business units headquartered in Chicago, with employees nationwide. The largest unit, AbelsonTaylor, is a full-service health and wellness advertising agency that has been creating award-winning work that drives clients’ business success for more than 40 years. AT Nutrient is an agency for challenger brands. ATActivate delivers full-service, data-driven media strategy. Dose is a full-service production company. All AT Group agencies focus on delivering measurable results for clients—a return the company calls Return on Imagination™.

To learn more, visit abelsontaylorgroup.com

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