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CHICAGO, USA // Stephen’s philosophy for a great creative campaign is simple — it should make a human connection. Stephen joined AbelsonTaylor as a young designer seeking to make a difference. He did just that with the Hytrin balloon campaign, which depicts the discomfort of an enlarged prostate as a water-filled red balloon. The campaign, which launched in 1993, lifted medical ads out of their sameness and changed the medical advertising field forever. It emphasized that creativity in healthcare advertising need not depend on molecules, charts, or weighty content to help physicians connect emotionally with a brand. Two decades later, the campaign was inducted into the Medical Advertising Hall of Fame.

Developing creative that connects with customers is a common goal at AbelsonTaylor as Stephen continually encourages creative teams to push the envelope. Under his leadership, the agency has won more than 125 creative awards in healthcare advertising, including CLIO Awards, Global Awards, and awards from Medical Marketing & Media, The Rx Club, DTC National, Manny Awards, and many others.

Not surprisingly, Stephen is invited frequently to judge creative awards competitions. In June of 2015, he judged the Cannes Lions Health Competition held in Cannes, France. Additionally, when the CLIO Healthcare Awards was established in 2009, he was given the honor to chair its program. His creative perspectives are cited in industry publications and, occasionally, he pens engaging articles on a variety of topics.

*Executive juror