Author: Peter Llewellyn

A brief addendum for MedComms Day 2021

Peter LlewellynLeave a comment

I for one was quickly overwhelmed by the social media type activity on #MedComms Day. I treat all online metrics with caution, but it’s interesting to reflect on them. Interestingly, LinkedIn seemed far and away the busiest platform (but how to measure it?). Meanwhile Twitter Tracker results are below. Food for thought at least.

That’s it now at MedCommsDay.com, for this year at least. Scroll down to browse activity from the past 10 years, 2012-2021.

Whatever happens with #MedComms Day in the future, it’s been quite a journey! But, for now, the conversations and activities continue at and around MedCommsNetworking.com – please join us there. And please help spread the #MedComms word however you like.

Many thanks to the many who participated and supported us, one way or another.

Cheers

Peter Llewellyn, NetworkPharma Ltd, founder of the global MedComms Networking Community and Curator of the Day in the Life of MedComms.

Find me on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/networkpharma/

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The morning after MedComms Day 2021

Peter LlewellynLeave a comment

So, that’s it. I always said I’d aim for 10 years and now we’ve done it.

It’s certainly been an experience. Fraught with techie problems and sleepless nights.

My last was very different from my first. The socal media activity yesterday was overwhelming.

Times have changed. The global #MedComms community itself has evolved hugely over 10 years.

I’m well aware that it could all have been slicker, bigger, bolder. But, perhaps, it’s not been a bad effort for one old chap and his Teddy! Supported, of course, in later years by Ted, the office pup.

Most importantly, my thanks to the many in the community who joined in and supported us.

That’s my last #MedComms Day. Ideas are floating around about how it can continue in other hands. For now, do keep the conversations going and, of course, there’s plenty more continuing at and around MedCommsNetworking.com – please join us there. And please help spread the #MedComms word.

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And that’s a wrap

Peter LlewellynLeave a comment

I make no apologies for re-using my standard text below from previous years. I can’t see straight anymore! Goodnight, one and all.

I need some sleep and it does look like we’re finished here for the day. So I am calling a halt to our #MedComms Day 2021. It’s been interesting, but a lot of work again. Hopefully it’s provided a useful insight into the specialist business we call MedComms and been a bit of fun for everyone as well.

Please note, I’m very aware I now need to go back over some of the postings and tidy the content. Please feel free to email me at peter@networkpharma.com and point me at any errors that need fixing if you spot them before me.

I’d welcome comments and feedback so please do leave comments here or contact me directly. I am, as always, happy to chat anytime.

Meanwhile, please keep the conversations going on Twitter using hashtag #medcomms and join us at the MedComms Networking Facebook page and the MedComms Networking LinkedIn Group as well. Anyone working in or around MedComms is welcome to join in with the activities of the MedComms Networking Community.

Goodnight from us, wherever in the world you are now. I need a drink!

Cheers

Peter Llewellyn (and Ted and Teddy)

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MedComms Networking West Coast USA style

Peter LlewellynLeave a comment

I thought this was great fun. Thanks to all who joined in. It’s been a long #MedComms Day and I’m running out of steam, but as we now head towards the end of the day it was great to have the opportunity to chat with this eclectic group of specialists thanks to the wonders of Zoom! Discussion topics included plans for the ISMPP West 2021 (Irvine, California, USA, 21-22 October 2021), using crowd-sourced video in medical education, KOL engagement through asynchronous meetings/webinars, extending the reach of publications, and authenticity in healthcare communications.

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An exciting outlook for Medical Communications globally

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Thank you to the many who joined us for today’s #MedComms webinar. The recording is now freely available below – or you can catch up at NetworkPharma.tv or the MedComms YouTube channel, along with much, much more.. Enjoy!

The MedComms sector is thriving. If anything the COVID-19 pandemic has shone a bright spotlight on the need for accurate, timely scientific exchange and how MedComms specialists can play a pivotal role in facilitating that activity. In this webinar we are joined by representatives from McCann Health Medical Communications. Charlie Buckwell (Global President), Faye Daley (HR Coordinator and Lead for their Mental Health First Aiders programme), Folabomi (Bomi) Oladosu (Medical Writer and Member of their D&I Council) and Michael Stevinson (Global Head of Caudex) will reflect on the journey that MedComms has taken to where we are today and discuss current priorities and ponder future opportunities. And we answer questions from the audience.

 

A day in the life of a MedComms recruitment specialist

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Recruitment specialist, Maz Reive from Media Contacts describes her day…

Now that we are back in the office, my day starts that little bit earlier, so I can have a coffee before cycling along the canal from East London into lovely Islington. Luckily, today there are no imminent client or candidate emergencies (issues with interview links seems to be the most common these days!), so we have a short team meeting to prioritise our open vacancies. This is not the easiest task in the world, given we have hundreds of live roles ranging from account executives right the way through to scientific directors.

I sit down for a quick breakfast while I check the news bulletins and make sure I’m up to date on industry news. As I’m finishing, a candidate calls in to get some advice on their interview the following morning. It is our job to know our clients inside out and be able to give insight and tips to our candidates during the interview process, as well as providing the all-important pre-interview pep talk (free of charge!). During the call, I’ve had a client request for an urgent freelance healthcare PR director. Once I’ve called to get a full brief it’s straight to the phones to start calling around our freelance network putting the word out and asking for recommendations and referrals.

Lunchtime already, and today I have lots of adverts to write for our new vacancies, so I work on that while having a quick sandwich. Next up, I start to put out some calls and approaches (this tends to be either sending emails or via LinkedIn) for an exciting Senior Account Manager role with a new client. As they will look at an experienced Account Manager looking for a step up and are flexible with remote and flexible working, it should be attractive to candidates meaning I can easily get some calls set up for the next day.

In the afternoon I have a call block starting with a few candidate briefings, where I find out more about their current situation, long-term career goals and whether they have any passions in terms of therapy areas. Current demand and the nature of the current hiring market in MedComms means it is unusual not to have several options for experienced candidates. Afterwards, I move onto some account management with our agency contacts, talking them through any candidates we are working with, how we are finding the market, whether they have any new vacancies and where their most pressing needs are.

At the end of the day as I’m finishing off my admin (database maintenance, emails and writing reports from client meetings) I get the call all recruiters want… an offer! It is the second offer for the candidate, an experienced senior medical writer, which is not unusual as they tend to be highly sought after. That’s probably the best end to a day you can get in recruitment! In normal times I’d probably be meeting the candidate for celebratory drinks after work, but as that’s not viable right now it’s back off to East London I go, to recharge ready for tomorrow.

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Peter and Ted’s grand adventure

Peter LlewellynLeave a comment

Sarah Smith, once an ‘extreme’ freelance medical writer and now Principal Medical Writer with Caudex, has sent in the note below.

I should, perhaps, explain – Ted is Teddy who has been with me throughout the whole of the 10 year  #MedComms Day adventure. More recently we have aquired Ted the office puppy. Both will make their annual apearance before the day is out. Thanks Sarah, for your support over the years. Those sunsets were  really something!

The first MedComms Day in 2012 saw me contributing from the Canaries. I followed in subsequent years with posts from assorted islands in the Eastern Caribbean as we travelled as a family on our 43-foot sailing yacht (home-schooling as we went) and I continued to work as a freelance medical writer. My MedComms Day posts chronicled the evolution of internet services in unlikely places – just in case the intrepid roving medical writer needed to log on to check his or her email or send in the first draft of an Advisory Board report while exploring the River Gambia. I assumed the role of unofficial photographer, tasked with posting a fresh sunset photo from the Caribbean to punctuate the end of each MedComms Day.

In 2019 we changed tack (sailing pun intended), relocating back to the UK for a life of land-lubbing luxury (for that read flushing toilets, easy access to a washing machine and accessible healthcare – as well as fast, reliable internet). Given the emergence of COVID-19 and the cementing of Brexit since we came ‘home’, I am relieved to have got the itch to combine travel and work out of my system. Instead, I am now enjoying growing professionally in new directions as I venture back into the wider MedComms world with a ‘real job’ as Principal Medical Writer with Caudex. It’s good to be back in a big friendly work team and to be learning new skills. And I have a garden in which to get soil under my fingernails, and the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path to walk…

So, Peter (and Ted of course) – it’s been a grand adventure. Thanks for all of your hard work and lost sleep making MedComms Day happen for the past 10 years! It’s great to have been part of this annual snapshot of the MedComms world.

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Chatting with Godfrey Lisk

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MedComms Day Interview Banner - Godfrey v2

Julia Walton at Media Contacts has chatted with Godfrey Lisk, Director – Scientific Services, Chameleon Communications International

What is your current job title and company?

Director – Scientific Services, Chameleon Communications International

What is the best part of your job, the bit you like the most?

Developing my team, working with scientific directors and individual writers and giving them the resources and training that they require to do their best work.

What is the one thing you wish you’d known when starting your MedComms career? 

Be prepared to deal with stress – it’s a stressful job! At the start, everyone was saying, ‘work hard and always hit deadlines,’ and that’s true but it’s also really important to be transparent here – things will get stressful. It is so important to have a means of coping with that stress, as it’s almost unavoidable to have competing deadlines so managing that is key to success.

What’s the funniest or most interesting experience you have faced?

I was part of a marketing meeting about promoting a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. The marketing team came up with the slogan ‘everyone prefers oral’ – you can see why the whole room burst into laughter!

What’s the highlight of your career so far?

I’ve always wanted to be in the role that I am, and it was a hard slog to get here. Taking a moment to look back, I take lots of satisfaction in accomplishing that. The highlight of my career, and the most satisfying thing in the world, is seeing people I’ve previously line-managed now being directors in their own right, with their own teams and responsibilities. That legacy gives me a lot more joy than achieving my own dream.

Thanks for your time, Godfrey.

To find out how Julia could help you progress your MedComms career or help your recruitment process, get in touch with her – Julia.walton@media-contacts.co.uk.