From the Portland Press Herald

One day last month, as he was delivering his daily briefing, Dr. Nirav Shah paused to drink from a bottle of Diet Coke, which produced a brief coughing spell.

He quickly assured the reporters gathered, and those listening at home, that he had not fallen ill; it was just the soda.

That may have been one of the only missteps so far by Shah, who has become the face of Maine’s coronavirus response and has earned widespread praise for a polished communication style that’s infused with anecdotes, relatable analogies and, above all, empathy.

“I think he’s a natural communicator,” said Felicia Knight, who owns a public relations firm and is a former television news reporter. “One thing that stands out: He always drives home the human significance. I’m not sure that’s something that can be taught.”

…Read the full article here.