The sector “medical communications” may not sound instantly recognisable, but its work is: a report on the latest clinical trials in colorectal cancer or a website dedicated to a specific disease, for example. That’s because the work of professionals in medical communications, otherwise known as med comms, is a vital part of the health and pharmaceutical industries, and touches millions of people’s lives every day. The output is particularly crucial for healthcare workers, who need timely access to clear and succinct information.
One of the premium med comms companies in the UK is Oxford PharmaGenesis, an independent HealthScience consultancy with a global presence. Alongside numerous awards for its client work, the company has received recognition as one of the UK’s best workplaces and one of the best for women. Oxford PharmaGenesis employs graduates across a variety of roles, such as writers, editors, project managers, account managers, designers and digital specialists.
We spoke to some of its employees to learn about life in med comms at one of the UK’s industry leaders.
‘If you don’t communicate the science well, it’s not going to be taken seriously’
When Emma Wescott was finishing her science degree, she realised she really didn’t want to work in a lab. In med comms, she found a role that allowed her to use her science background but one that also had creative elements.
Her job as senior editor is “more than grammatical errors”. Most editors have a science degree or a background in the field because they need to understand the content and check the overall sense. Editors also need strong attention to detail, good time management skills and the ability to work well under pressure, because sometimes timelines can be tight. “Obviously, medical information is important to share – and if you don’t communicate the science well, it’s not going to be taken seriously. It’s good to feel that your job is important – and there’s such a range of clients and subjects, it’s never boring.”
Oxford PharmaGenesis has a large team of highly talented editors. For Wescott, this means colleagues with a great range of expertise to learn from. “You know the team has your back and will help you out if you’re stuck.”
‘Everyone here is highly motivated’
Before she joined the PharmaGenesis London office, senior medical writer Hennah Patel obtained a master’s degree in pharmacy and worked in the NHS as a pharmacist. When she was researching a change of career, Patel discovered Oxford PharmaGenesis’s YouTube channel. “There are videos of team members from each office speaking about the type of work they do and why they enjoy it. It’s an excellent selling point because it provides an insight into the company.”
Patel currently works on projects that focus on real-world evidence across a variety of disease and treatment areas. She sees herself as a HealthScience communicator whose job is to make complex scientific information understandable. She does this by contributing to scientific publications, developing online training solutions to increase knowledge of specific therapy areas or research methods, and supporting experts delivering presentations at medical congresses.
The open and collaborative culture at Oxford PharmaGenesis is very positive, says Patel. “Everyone here is highly motivated, aiming not simply to meet clients’ needs but to do better than they expect.”
‘You definitely need to know your way around a scientific paper’
A PhD, preferably in a biological or medical-related science, is an advantage, according to Cardiff-based Alistair Ray, a senior consultant. “You definitely need to know your way around a scientific paper and be able to concisely summarise a large number of publications.”
Ray says the training he’s received at Oxford PharmaGenesis is outstanding, and has sharpened his organisational skills considerably. “There’s always an opportunity to learn and train – all the company asks is that you share what you have learned with the rest of the team.”
Whether Ray is working on a long document about lung cancer treatment, making changes to a presentation deck on type 2 diabetes or working on the economics of a multiple myeloma drug to help bring it to countries or territories where it hasn’t yet been approved, he is fulfilled knowing his job is helping to make a difference to people’s lives.
‘There’s a clear progression path, so I know which steps I need to take’
Graphic designer Cat Coburn spends her days “making complicated science easier to understand”. She designs for print and digital media, creating everything from posters, animations and interactive brochures to social media posts. She works, too, on digital displays and booths for medical educational events, where healthcare professionals learn about new treatments.
Having worked for a competitor, Coburn joined Oxford PharmaGenesis after a career break. “Being an independent company means there are fewer barriers to getting decisions made, which speeds things along quite a lot.”
Clarity around employee development is another strength: “There’s a clear progression path, so I know which steps I need to take to get to the next tier.” The company also provides her with opportunities for further training.
‘There’s a lot of creative thinking and problem-solving involved’
Benedict Groves joined the digital team at Oxford PharmaGenesis as a graduate directly from university. He started as an intern in September 2019, before becoming a permanent information analyst in November. He describes his job as “taking abstract data and turning it into meaningful and useful insights to help inform people”. While his job requires technical coding skills, Groves says that “surprisingly, there’s a lot of creative thinking and problem-solving involved”.
He says the sheer variety of projects and the opportunity to learn from experienced digital developers and producers have made the role really enjoyable. As his team is relatively new, it has a very entrepreneurial feel.
‘When everyone’s in the room together, you know what they’re discussing is going to have an impact on patients’
Emily Wheeler joined the company as a project manager because she wanted “more responsibility and career development”. Since then she has had “lots of opportunity to grow”, and she was thrilled to be asked to pitch to a client when she had been in the role for just three months.
Oxford PharmaGenesis, says Wheeler, is a very friendly company. “Everyone knows each other. You can be in the kitchen with the CEO and he knows your name, he knows what you do, what team you are in and what that team is working on.”
Although she’s based in the Oxford office, Wheeler’s role takes her all over the world, organising and delivering events involving international healthcare experts. For her, “there’s nothing quite like the moment when everyone’s in the room together and you know what they are discussing is going to have an impact on patients, and that you got them there”.
