Former WebMD Editor Kristy Hammam Dies

Dec. 24, 2021 — Kristy Hammam, WebMD’s former editor-in-chief and senior vice chairman, has died of breast most cancers. She was 50 years previous.

Kristy resigned from a 22-year profession at WebMD in June 2021, after shedding a lot of her eyesight on account of therapies in her combat towards triple-negative breast most cancers. She recounted her prognosis and her expertise as a affected person in a latest characteristic story for WebMD.

In 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 duplicate editor at CNN earlier than becoming a member of the medical information service Greenberg News Networks, the place she produced a every day broadcast for Medcast. She was finally promoted to move of programming. Greenberg was acquired by Healtheon and WebMD, and he or she continued to develop with the corporate to turn out to be its editorial director, answerable for many of the operations of WebMD’s Atlanta workplace.

Kristy was identified by her colleagues for the abilities she dropped at 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 best way she made everybody really feel vital, reminiscent of listening respectfully and searching for out views that will have been totally different from her personal throughout conferences. She would typically encourage individuals to take dangers and was typically the primary to rejoice her colleagues’ skilled accomplishments and private joys.

“Her door was always open,’’ said Kristy’s former executive assistant Mary Cooper. “She always had time for someone else.”

Mary remembers that Kristy requested her to talk in an organization assembly, and he or she demurred, telling her boss she was shy.

“You are not shy!” Kristy instructed her. “You may be uncomfortable addressing a group, but I feel that you do it well, so you will be speaking.”

Beloved by her co-workers at WebMd, Kristy inspired the corporate to interact extra with its communities and arranged paid volunteer days for employees.

“No one had a bigger impact on my career at WebMD than Kristy,” mentioned Michael Smith, MD, a former chief medical editor at WebMD. “She helped shape who I am today both personally and professionally. Her impact will always be felt.”Kristy was instrumental in creating the annual Health Heroes Awards to help WebMD recognize standouts in health and medicine.Kristy championed the idea of an events committee and helped organize events that became company traditions, such as a Halloween party and a potluck Thanksgiving dinner that made many of our family feasts pale by comparison.

Kristy was instrumental in helping to shape WebMd through the years. For example, she played a key role in building out medical reference for consumers to include award-winning health news, features and videos. One of the proudest moments for Kristy and her colleagues was when a video about schizophrenia was featured at the Tribeca Film Festival.

“Right from the start, Kristy did an amazing job,” mentioned Steve Zatz, MD, former chief govt officer at WebMD. “She was able to juggle all these disparate responsibilities that she had and do them superbly. She could wrangle celebrities and spreadsheets with equal skill.”

Even after she was recognized with most cancers and began chemotherapy, Kristy actively guided the editorial workforce by a merger with Internet Brands.

Kristy earned levels in English and artwork History from Emory University. She is survived by her husband Nabil, and her sons Milo and Evan, together with their prolonged household.

“We are thinking that she still has so much more to do, just in a different place,” mentioned Kristy’s mom, Marilyn Lawson.