My entry into MedComms was somewhat accidental. I’d just joined the consumer products team at a marketing and public relations agency when the healthcare team issued a call for help. Initially only part of my time was seconded to the health team, but I loved the work so much I ended up joining it full time.
Since then, my MedComms journey has been varied, challenging and hugely rewarding. Over the past 7 years I have worked on advisory board meetings, videos, infographics, publications, product launches, medical education programmes, patient engagement and even a global marketing campaign for a consumer health brand.
I joined the Singapore office of AMICULUM Asia in early 2020. As an account director, I am the gateway through which clients access our various specialist teams in design, digital content, editorial, market access, healthcare learning and events. Often these clients come to us with only a rough idea of what they are trying to achieve. It is my job to understand their needs and help them find the best strategy and mix of tactics or content within a given budget and time frame. All of this also needs to remain compliant in a strict regulatory environment. If you like problem solving, I highly recommend a career in account management.
One of the best things about being at AMICULUM is the breadth of projects that I get to work on. From medical affairs to market access, and from patient engagement to internal communications, I’ve been able to explore many facets of the healthcare ecosystem due to the wide range of specialisations across the company. I also work closely with colleagues in the UK and around the world, including Hong Kong, Shanghai, Auckland, Dubai and the USA. Even after 7 years in the industry, I’m still finding new challenges and learning every day.
It is also a great time to be in MedComms. MedComms is a rapidly growing industry here in Singapore, as pharmaceutical companies increasingly turn their attentions towards Asia. The ways in which we communicate are also rapidly evolving in a hyperconnected world. Podcasts and WeChat content may be just as relevant to a doctor as a journal publication, or even more so. Patient and caregiver voices are increasingly important in defining clinical guidelines and policies. As medical communicators, we play a vital role in ensuring stakeholders are heard and their perspectives given the right consideration. It’s a role that I’ve found greatly fulfilling over the years and I hope to see many more people taking it up in the future.
This personal profile first appeared in the FirstMedCommsJob careers guide, The business of medical communications: a guide to getting started in account management, published January 2022
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