Steve Telliano, M.A.
Assistant Vice Chancellor of Strategic Communications
Steve Telliano, M.A., is the Assistant Vice Chancellor of Strategic Communications for UC Davis Health. As the academic health system's chief communications officer, he oversees strategy and professional staff in media relations, marketing, brand management, digital outreach, internal communications and related areas.
Telliano's background includes firsthand experience in the news media, the government sector, corporate public affairs and in creating nationally-recognized health communications programs. Prior to joining UC Davis, he was Managing Director for Health and Public Affairs in Northern California for the global communications agency Edelman. Earlier in his career, he was primary spokesperson for the California Department of Justice and successful political campaigns, and spent more than a decade as an on-air reporter, news writer and anchor.
Telliano has worked with clients across the health care sector for more than 20 years, developing notable programs in public affairs, issues management, labor relations and stakeholder engagement for providers, physicians, patient groups, health agencies, payers, biotech companies, pharma companies and device manufacturers. He also helped to launch the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (the state's stem cell research agency) and deploy electronic medical records at multiple health systems. He has worked on programs for Kaiser Permanente, Sutter Health, Dignity Health, the California Hospital Association and the Association of California Healthcare Districts.
Telliano has developed several award-winning state and national public health campaigns around topics such as heart disease, cancer and mental health. One prominent example is Katie Couric national colon cancer awareness program, which created significant gains in key screenings and was identified as a national model by university research. Telliano also worked with several clients, including the California Department of Public Health, to create a statewide prevention campaign during the historic 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic.
Telliano holds a master's degree in government from California State University, Sacramento and is a past president of the California Capital Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America.