Julia Nickey loves her community. A Berks County native, she enjoys everything about the area, from the hidden gems in the City of Reading to the rural countryside. She also enjoys giving back to the community through her roles at Penn State Health and Berks Encore.
How did you end up in health care marketing? I always knew I wanted to go into marketing. When I was looking at degree programs, I came across a food marketing program at St. Joseph’s University outside of Philadelphia. I thought it sounded interesting, so that’s the program I chose. But after graduating, I never worked in food marketing. I ended up working at Alvernia University (then Alvernia College) and helped with the development of their master’s in business administration program with a health care focus, and I realized health care was the field I wanted to be in. I then worked for a local medical device company and eventually joined the Penn State Health St. Joseph campus as their Director of Patient and Organizational Engagement. Now, I’m a regional director of marketing and communications for the health system.
What’s the most rewarding part of your job? Navigating the health care landscape can be very complicated, and in my role, I can simplify the process with clear messaging. It’s nice knowing that something I’ve helped create has helped someone take positive action with their health.
Tell me about your volunteer work with Berks Encore. I’m a board member for this local organization that provides services for our senior citizens. In 2019, just before the pandemic, we launched a Care+ program to provide personalized care planning services for families taking care of their loved ones at home. This program eases the stress caregivers often have by providing a health assessment and connecting them to local resources that can help their loved one age in place safely.
In 2018, you were named a Greater Reading Young Professional Rising Star, and in 2019, you were a Lehigh Valley Business 40 under 40 honoree. As a successful young professional, what advice do you have for other young professionals hoping to achieve their career goals? This sounds simple, but you should figure out what comes naturally to you and what you love doing, and then find a way to make money doing that. Doing something you love is important, otherwise no matter what, you will always feel like it’s just work and it’s not fulfilling.
You’re a busy professional who’s active in the community, but when you do have some free time? How do you relax? When I’m not doing home repairs with my husband, school activities with my daughters, or playing in the West Reading Pickleball league, I enjoy running in the park, listening to true crime podcasts and Friday happy hours.
Learn More
Improved Access.
St. Joseph Medical Center has been a part of the community since 1873. In 2015, it joined Penn State Health, expanding Berks residents’ access to high quality care.
A Growing Network.
Penn State Health has urgent care centers and hospitals across eight counties including Berks. In 2022, a new hospital campus is opening in Lancaster.
