Jon Morton, Agency Lead at Comradis (an AMICULUM agency), explains what MedComms means to them, what they do, how they do it, what makes them different and why and how they focus specifically on rare diseases.
Recorded 3 August 2016 at a MedComms Networking event in Oxford. Produced by NetworkPharma.tv
[Find out more about Comradis here]
[Find out more about AMICULUM here]
Matt Evans, Agency Lead at Seven Point Four (an AMICULUM agency), explains what MedComms means to them, what they do, how they do it, what makes them different.
Recorded 3 August 2016 at a MedComms Networking event in Oxford. Produced by NetworkPharma.tv
[Find out more about Seven Point Four here]
[Find out more about AMICULUM here]
Anna Timbrell, Account Director at Darwin Healthcare Communications, explains what MedComms means to them, what they do, how they do it, what makes them different.
Recorded 3 August 2016 at a MedComms Networking event in Oxford. Produced by NetworkPharma.tv
[Find out more about Darwin Healthcare Communications here]
The first issue of this new magazine, supported by Oxford University’s Careers Service, includes a series of insights written by PhDs and postdocs who have moved from Academia into medical communications.
Porterhouse Medical, a global scientific communications agency, explains in their new corporate video why they focus on their people and the company’s values.
[Find out more about Porterhouse Medical here]
While studying for my A levels, I wasn’t sure what to study at university, although my interests were English and biology. Knowing that there wasn’t much that I could do with an English degree and that a biological one would stand me in better stead, I pursued the scientific course. However, I wanted more from my degree than pure biology, preferring to keep my options open. Imagine my delight when I found a biological and forensic science course! Not that I was looking for a career in forensic science; I just wanted to keep things interesting, and 3 years of studying forensic science WAS interesting. My lecturer came from the Forensic Science Service, so not only did he have numerous horror stories for us, but he also had plenty of experience – enough to warn us that working in the field would mean lots of research and monotony. Maybe, then, forensics was not for me…
Published in the June 2016 issue of Medical Writing, written by Peter Llewellyn and Annick Moon
Abstract: NetworkPharma has been running a series of careers events and workshops aimed at entry-level jobs in MedComms, and publish a careers guide, From Academic to Medical Writer, which is updated annually in March. In this article, Peter Llewellyn from NetworkPharma, and Annick Moon, author of the careers guide, answer some of the most prevalent questions asked by entry-level candidates at the workshops they have attended over the past decade. The areas covered focus on jobs in MedComms, particularly medical writing in the UK.
Published in the June 2016 issue of Medical Writing, written by Benjamin Gallarda
Abstract: The transition out of academia can involve a good deal of change. For PhDs who enjoy writing, a career in medical communications is a viable option. The field of medical writing is broad, encompassing everything from regulatory affairs, to writing and editing manuscripts, to medical education and promotion. Despite numerous novel experiences offered by medical writing, several skills typically acquired during the course of a PhD programme align nicely with the new requirements and responsibilities. From the perspective of a medical communications agency, PhDs form an important bridge between the need for deep and thorough biomedical knowledge and the daily responsibilities of writing, editing, educating and promoting. Should one choose to apply these skills to medical writing, the result can be an interesting and enjoyable work for the PhD, and a benefit to the employing agency.
They say:
There are lots of reasons why, as individuals, we do the jobs we do. But at Ashfield, why do we do what we do?
Of course, we’re here to make money. And yes, we want to be successful. But, ultimately, we do what we do because we have the opportunity to improve people’s lives.
It’s not just what we do, it’s how we do it.
[Find out more about Ashfield Healthcare Communications here]
McCann Complete Medical Group have published this review about working in an agency.
Six benefits of working agency-side… and the three questions you should ask to make sure it’s the right move for you
Two decades ago, working in a healthcare communications agency might have been regarded as a stepping stone to a career in mainstream pharma. But times have changed. As the industry’s reliance on outsourced services has grown, so too has the recognition that a good agency can offer alternative, but equally stimulating, benefits to working in-house at a pharmaceutical company. With the best agencies providing robust pathways for career development and genuine opportunities for personal growth, an agency role is no longer just a gateway into pharma. In fact increasingly, the traffic is coming the other way. It’s a growing trend – and for those that make the journey, it has real benefits.
Whether you work for a drug company or a communications agency, a career in healthcare is both motivational and rewarding. What’s more, as outsourcing has become de rigueur, the dynamics of agency/pharma relations have evolved from being “master and servant” to ones built around collaboration and partnership. The goal is the same on both sides; to develop innovative treatment strategies that deliver real-world benefits to patients. It’s a great industry. But the specific benefits of working agency-side are numerous – and may surprise many who have not previously considered making the move.
FirstMedCommsJob.com 