
#165: Leading With Purpose in the Fight Against Cancer – Nisha Morris on Brand, Trust & Innovation at City of Hope
From The Crux of the Story by Gary Sheffer and Mike Fernandez
March 31, 2026 · 33 min
About this episode
Nisha Morris discusses the strategic communications behind City of Hope's mission in cancer research and treatment.
City of Hope’s mission is bold: deliver the cures of tomorrow to the people who need them today. As one of the nation’s largest cancer research and treatment organizations, it sits at the forefront of scientific discovery, compassionate care, and national expansion. In this episode, Nisha Morris – Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer – takes us inside the strategy behind one of the most respected names in cancer research. She shares how City of Hope communicates breakthrough science with humanity, builds trust in an era of health care skepticism, and supports patients through some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. Nisha also reflects on lessons from her career across tech, health care, and even national security, including her year leading communications for the NSA. The conversation explores brand differentiation, reputation risk, AI and data science in cancer research, and what it means to lead communications for an organization whose work literally saves lives. A powerful episode for communicators, health care leaders, and anyone interested in how mission‑driven organizations tell stories that matter.
People in this episode
Hosts: Gary Sheffer, Mike Fernandez
Guest: Nisha Morris
Topics covered
- cancer research
- health care
- communications
- trust
- innovation
- brand differentiation
Keywords
- cancer
- trust
- innovation
- health care
- communications
- AI
- data science
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: City of Hope, NSA
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