Dalia Elsaid, PMC Communications Specialist
By Jake Johnson
“Serendipitous” is how Dalia Elsaid described her journey into communications.
It wasn’t a field she initially had much interest in, she said, and instead, Elsaid went to college to study politics. Born and raised in Cairo, Egypt, Elsaid’s job at the Canadian Embassy as a Press and Public Affairs Officer sparked her interest in the way information was conveyed and understood. The tumultuous political landscape of Egyptian politics during that period instilled in her an even greater understanding of the power of communications.
Although she would only pursue a career in communications later in life, Elsaid’s love of narrative and storytelling has been with her since childhood. Growing up, Cairo’s rich history and vibrant social life surrounded her with a community of storytellers. None were more important to Elsaid at an early age than her parents, who she said introduced her to the importance of narrative as a way of understanding the world.
When Elsaid moved to the United States in 2016, her passion for storytelling came to use again as she earned her master’s degree in journalism at West Virginia University. Elsaid takes pride in her roots and sees them as an asset to her communications work, providing her with experience navigating different cultural traditions and broadening her worldview.
In March of 2024, the Penn Memory Center’s (PMC) communications and outreach team welcomed Elsaid as the center’s new Communications Specialist. She joined PMC with extensive experience in communications and working in a clinical research setting.
Prior to PMC, Elsaid worked as a communications specialist for West Virginia Clinical and Translational Science Institute (WVCTSI). This position was similar to her current role at PMC, and greatly deepened her communications experience. Elsaid made deep connections with colleagues and loved her work, but the completely remote nature of the role left her wanting a more “on the ground” and dynamic position. This made Elsaid’s application and eventual acceptance to the Penn Memory Center very exciting but also bittersweet.
In her short time at PMC, Elsaid has already gone above and beyond her role, quickly taking on the many responsibilities of the position while adding her own personal touch. Among her many duties, Elsaid produces PMC’s newsletter, Insight, manages the center’s social media and website, and plans coverage for a wide range of PMC events. Elsaid’s experience was particularly pivotal in the planning and promotion for the “Arts on the Mind Festival” in the spring of 2024.
“The communications work of our center is equal parts art and science, and Dalia is both artist and scientist. She’s creative yet critical and thoughtful in her work and has already left a lasting impact on our center,” said Terrence Casey, Director of Communications and Outreach.
Working at PMC has already been exciting and deeply meaningful to Elsaid. “The environment at PMC is dynamic and inspiring. The organization operates like a well-oiled machine, with each person driven by a mission to improve the lives of those affected by cognitive impairments,” she said. “The dedication to clinical excellence, social work, research, and trials is palpable, and I am thrilled to be a part of it.” Additionally, Elsaid noted that the ability to raise awareness about those with cognitive impairment and dementia has also made the job truly special.
Her goal is ultimately to be a part of something bigger than herself. She believes anyone can make lasting change, whether profound or incremental, driving Elsaid in her personal life and communications work.
“Communications to me is all about connection—connecting ideas with people, science with everyday life, and stories with hearts,” she said. “This ability to connect and inform feels not just exciting but deeply meaningful, especially in a field as impactful as memory care and Alzheimer’s treatment and research.”