Joanna Frketich is the health reporter at The Hamilton Spectator, specializing in pharmaceutical research, public health policy, and healthcare infrastructure. With over a decade of experience, her work bridges complex medical science and community impact stories.
"The best stories show how lab breakthroughs translate to better patient outcomes."
We trace Joanna Frketich’s evolution from a self-described "news junkie" to one of Canada’s most trusted health reporters. Her career at The Hamilton Spectator has been marked by:
This 2023 investigation revealed how McMaster University researchers identified novel antibiotic compounds in urban soil samples. Frketich’s reporting combined:
"The dirt beneath our feet might hold solutions to one of modern medicine’s most pressing threats."
Frketich’s 2024 coverage balanced community worries about facility expansion with in-depth analysis of Canada’s plasma supply chain. The piece featured:
Frketich prioritizes stories demonstrating measurable community impact, like her 2023 series on reducing ER wait times through nurse practitioner-led clinics. Successful pitches should include:
Her reporting on McMaster’s antibiotic research shows particular interest in homegrown R&D. Effective pitches should:
We constantly need new drugs': Discovery in Hamilton backyard could lead to new antibiotics
Private clinic Grifols Hamilton Plasma expansion approved despite neighbourhood concerns
Local healthcare workers push for improved mental health resources in hospitals
At PressContact, we aim to help you discover the most relevant journalists for your PR efforts. If you're looking to pitch to more journalists who write on Health, here are some other real estate journalist profiles you may find relevant:
