Brain cells…

June 7, 2017
dmcFrances O’Connor, Business Unit Head at new MedComms agency, DMC has provided an update on Riley’s progress, having first introduced us to him 2 years ago!

It has been one of those typical ‘mad’ days for me today, where, since 8 am, I have run from meeting to meeting. Looking back at the last few years of #medcommsday updates, I get to take a step back and drink in this crazy life I lead and count the brain cells I still have control over.

Two years ago on #MedComms Day, I tweeted a picture of my 4-day old baby. Today, the day after his second birthday, I’ve just video conferenced the very technologically-able little person to say Hi while he splashed Daddy’s phone with bath water (Sorry Hubs). The attached image has nothing to do with MedComms, but everything to do with the hourly updates I get from our lovely Nanny Karen, so I can still feel part of Riley’s day.

I’m staying late to get myself ready for a couple of new business meetings tomorrow, but mainly, because I have fallen in love with a new local-to-work fitness class involving trampolines that starts at 19.30, so it is not all ‘work and no play’ for me here in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.

In fact, our new venture is going so well, we’ve added three new people to the team in the last two weeks. Jack started today as our Business Development Director and he will be followed closely by another Medical Writer and Account Director. Although it is hard, hard work at the moment, I am loving every.single.moment. It feels like we’re really making a difference with some of the programmes we’re working on, and that’s all I’ve ever wanted from #medcomms.

So it is back to swotting up, then some exercise, quickly followed by falling into bed, hope you’ve all had a lovely day!

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My MedComms Day – Hannah Mace, Principal Medical Writer

June 7, 2017

Hannah Mace is a Principal Medical Writer at Aspire Scientific in the UK.

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My MedComms Day – Layla Withey, Senior Account Manager

June 7, 2017

Layla Withey, Senior Account Manager at Synergy Vision in the UK describes her typical day…

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Cat included…

June 7, 2017

Niall Harrison, Scientific Services Director at Darwin Healthcare Communications reviews his team’s day (this is a web site, we had to include a picture of a cat at some point!)

Here’s a brief snapshot of what the writing team at Darwin have been up to today – somewhat the eye of the storm, between one set of meetings and the next. In chronological order of pending delivery:

Ian Holderbeke (Senior MW) has returned to the office after a successful trip to ASCO in Chicago (including the obligatory deep-dish pizza) … Vicky Lawson (Principal MW) and Lorraine Nutthall (Associate MW) are prepping for the kick-off meeting of a new haemophilia account tomorrow (the travel for which requires one of those wincingly early starts we all love so much…) … Lindsay Queen (Principal MW) is finalising slides for a steering committee meeting in Brussels on Monday at which she will have to moderate an unruly band of immunology experts … Rachel Price (Associate MW) is hard at work identifying the key sessions to attend at next week’s EULAR congress in Madrid … Charlotte Simpson (Medical Writer) is updating a data compendium in psoriatic arthritis for internal client training … Andrea Adamou (Associate MW) is revising an educational module for a nurse and pharmacist programme whose first meetings are due at the end of this month  … and Steve Banner (Senior MW) is liaising with our internal studio department and partner digital agency to coordinate and finalise a touchscreen asset that will showcase a client’s respiratory medicine programme at an upcoming congress. Busy times! And it’s stopped raining as well.

As for me, after a trip to London yesterday for internal meetings, I’m back working at home today – focusing on account planning and development, with occasional feline interruptions.

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Virtual team meetings

June 7, 2017

Emily Mitchell writes in with news of what’s planned for later today at Caudex.

At Caudex, we’re preparing for an Employee Engagement Survey Workshop this afternoon. Three office locations (New York, Macclesfield and Oxford) and some of our Homeworkers will be Webexing in to discuss the outcomes of our survey and action plan for the hot topics. Should be an interesting afternoon, covering everything from internal communications, to rewards, to resourcing and flexible working.

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An office with a view …

June 7, 2017

Liz Johnson, a medical writer at Bioscript Group, reports in from the North West UK…

Bioscript Group is based at Alderley Park, in the heart of the glorious Cheshire countryside. Alderley Park is also home to a number of biotech companies, so there’s a great community atmosphere and always lots happening in the on-site cafés and restaurants. Luckily, there’s also a gym and woodland walks around the lake.

I’ve been here for almost 6 months and really enjoy the buzz in the office and the variety of the work that we do. A quick survey of my colleagues on #MedComms Day revealed that we are currently working on two briefing books, two protocols, a Clinical Overview, a Summary of Clinical Efficacy, and an Investigator’s Brochure. Pretty typical really!

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Plans change…

June 7, 2017

K_LeeKathryn Lee is a Freelance Medical Writer based in the UK and has had to adapt to her plans changing for the day, as they often do.

One of the things I love about being freelance is the variety of work!  Although I’m often home-based in the UK and writing documents for large Pharma companies, today I’m travelling to Switzerland to deliver protocol writing training for a new client.  Of course, such days don’t always run according to plan and my 09.20 flight from Norwich to Basel, via Amsterdam, was cancelled due to strong winds.  I’ve been rebooked on the last flight of the day which gives me extra time to catch up on a few administrative tasks, start drafting an article due later this month, and think about new medical writing projects lined up for later in 2017.

 

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A reminder to check out Twitter

June 7, 2017

This is just a quick reminder that over on Twitter there’s a constant stream now of tweets using hashtag #Medcomms – check them out.

Just some of the “Tweeps” contributing to the conversation today, include the following; + +   + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + and many more….

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A postcard from the USA

June 7, 2017

This has just arrived from the team at AMICULUM.

AMICULUM’s teams in Chicago and Princeton are the last to join in the MedComms day celebrations. We’ve recently secured more space in both places to support our growing business.

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Still loving working in MedComms

June 7, 2017

Corinne Swainger is a Freelance Medical Copywriter, Medical Writer and Editor based in London.

Greetings from breezy, sunny Pinner, in North-West London, where I’m stopping for lunch during my busy freelance day.  As it happens, my teenage son didn’t go into school today since he wasn’t well overnight. But working from home means I can keep an eye on his recovery here, while still progressing with my work. Today, at MediQuill Ltd, I’m juggling some interesting assignments. These include developing a new strategic story flow for a renal product advertising campaign, and mapping out associated content for an interactive visual aid to differentiate this drug over the competition. So it’s time to integrate some emotional messages into the campaign!

Before getting into MedComms, I started my career as a staff healthcare copywriter in a Florida hospital working with doctors, nurses and patients to promote the hospital’s clinical services. As such, I was taught that the best advertising and PR campaign messages appeal to a person’s emotions. And I think that’s still true, especially in MedComms. Sometimes, we forget that healthcare professionals are people too, and they will respond to moving messages rather than just clinical logic when making treatment decisions.

Today, I’m also ghost-writing a proposal to present the benefits of my client’s European pharmaceutical wholesaler services to a global pharmaceutical company. I’m also discussing a potential new project with a freelance medical editor whose client is looking for a PR healthcare writer. Plus, I’m getting a breath of fresh air in the local Pinner park to enjoy that lovely sunshine. Freelancing can sometimes be isolating, which is why I try to get out of the house every day to just connect with people. After 20 years, I still love working in MedComms – and this has increased over the past 10 years since I began freelancing and founded MediQuill Ltd. There is always so much diversity in this industry, as shown by the postings from around the world on #MedComms Day. I look forward to reading more of them.

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Club sandwiches and chips – standard MedComms fare at events!

June 7, 2017

Paul Richards and Cathy Baker, both of inScience Communications, are grabbing a quick lunch on site. Paul writes…

“Busy working lunch in Warsaw ahead of big investigator meeting tomorrow.  Been on site for 2 days, one more to go!”

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My MedComms Day – Philippa Flemming, Senior Editor

June 7, 2017

Philippa Flemming is a Senior Editor at Aspire Scientific in the UK.

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That to-do list never seems to get shorter

June 7, 2017

farrellKelly Farrell is the Editorial Team Lead at InspiredScience and here she describes her day.

After navigating the ‘efficient’ train systems of South London, I grab a morning coffee on my way to the office and begin by reviewing my calendar for that day. I check in on the editorial team to ensure they are comfortable with their workloads. As Editorial Team Lead, my role involves ensuring the medical writers get the opportunity to support on an interesting mix of projects, while being on hand to support with requests from the wider company, as well as any last minute requests from clients. Luckily, my role still involves a significant amount of writing, where I lead on a number of projects ranging from cardiovascular disease to immuno-oncology and nutrition. I will prioritise my writing jobs for the day and get a couple of small tasks ticked off my list.

The next part of the day is a ‘Knowledge Share’ meeting. As one of our accounts has a large number of projects currently ongoing, I ensure to run a monthly ‘Knowledge Share’ meeting to keep the team up to date with the current trends and practices in immuno-oncology, while providing them with a platform to learn further.

We at Inspired Science love a good team lunch! Today we went on a trip to Flat Iron Square, which helped us get through hump day.  The afternoon flies by as I review a slide deck, go to have a new headshot taken, and finish a manuscript outline.

That list never seems to get shorter but I do enjoy having a proper mix of work (and challenges!) to fill my day. Happy MedComms day everyone!

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Two hats… two laptops

June 7, 2017

dipiDipi Kohli is a Senior Account Director at InspiredScience who is currently on a part-time secondment with one of her UK clients. Here she describes her day.

This year’s #MedComms day will be a little different from the last as I now work from two laptops instead of one!

I was recently seconded to a client of ours, working on both the agency and client side. To explain, a secondment is a temporary change in roles that takes place within the same company or for a client to meet a particular need. Initially, I was seconded on a full time basis, working with the client to align their team in the midst of some recent changes they have undergone as a company.

On a day like today where I am based at our offices, I spend my mornings checking emails from both of my email accounts and keeping both the team and client updated. One of the advantages of being seconded is that the client’s expectations can be managed better and the team is much closer to any project updates first-hand. 

I have to admit that the secondment requires a great deal of organisation and time management. However, through continuing simple and effective practices, such as weekly team and client meetings, I have been able to manage my time in both places whilst fulfilling my responsibilities as a member of our company’s leadership team.

It’s not always about work here at Inspired Science, we love having a good catch-up and lots of team lunches! We talk about anything from house renovations to holiday plans. During my lunch break I grab a bite to eat with one of my colleagues at a local restaurant – I am a repeat Vapiano’s offender!

As the day draws to a close, I’ll do a final run through of my emails, check-in with the team and prepare my to-do list for the next day.

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MedComms Thunder

June 7, 2017

We just thundered for #MedComms Day 2017- did you “hear” it? So close to reaching 50,000 accounts. Thanks everyone for joining in.

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Every MedComms office needs a Gillan!

June 7, 2017

Elif Fincanci-Smith, Founding Director at NexGen Healthcare Communications has reported that…

“The NexGen team, proud sponsors of the MedComms Networking community, are celebrating life in #medcomms, our first month in the new gorgeous London office and Gillan, the official NexGen guard dog is on duty.”

Happy Days!

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A closing vlog from Tokyo

June 7, 2017

Karen Woolley, Director, Global Strategic Initiatives (Medical Affairs) at Envision Pharma Group is wrapping up her #MedComms day in Tokyo with a third vlog today.

Karen says; “This is how we go to and from work in Tokyo – gentle pushing, but it all works… and it is kind of fun! Temper-free transport in Tokyo – a lesson for other cities here me thinks”

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MedComms Mascots

June 7, 2017

The first #MedComms Mascots (and I know there are many) have made their public appearance today. Steven Walker has written in to report that Giles the Mouse and his many cousins at Stgilesmedical are currently having coffee in the London office.

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