2018 40 Under 40 Yearbook: Teresa Coyan, 35

Then: Manager of physician relations and legislative affairs, CoxHealth
Now: Director of public affairs, CoxHealth

Officially assuming her director post in the summer of 2017, Teresa Coyan went from handling local communications to managing public affairs for at least half a dozen CoxHealth hospitals and clinics throughout the region.

“That’s kind of been the biggest thing,” Coyan says of the job that includes federal, state and local legislative work. “I now work exclusively on legislative and public affairs for our system. I don’t necessarily work just for the Springfield hospitals. I work for the entire system.”

She’s also maintained an active role with Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce’s young professional’s group The Network, and this year became the first female chair person of the chamber’s Government Relations Committee. In 2016, Coyan also helped create CoxHealth’s Young Professionals Council.