Project management
- Typical role names: Account Handler/Executive/Manager (agency), Communications Executive / Manager (within pharmaceutical or medical device company), Project Manager
- This role involves the day-to-day oversight and management of all communications activity.
Grant Alison, an Account Director at Virgo Health, shares insights into the projects he works on
Medical/Scientific writing
- Typical role names: Medical writer, Scientific writer, Medical Editor
- The role involves producing the actual copy for use in communications activity. This can be anything from very scientific writing, for example producing an original manuscript for submission to a medical journal, to writing a press release or copy for a patient website.
Jonathan Neasham from Weave Health talks about his role as a medical writer
Digital/Creative
- Typical role names: Digital Executive/Manager/Strategist,Creative Manager
- These roles contribute to the development and execution of digital marketing strategies, creative campaign development, and overall marketing of healthcare communications activities.
Marketing
- Typical role names: Marketing Executive/Manager
- Marketing roles are primarily within Pharmaceutical companies and oversee all promotional activity for a brand including advertising and communications.
You certainly need to be able to understand the scientific aspects of healthcare communications and often some form of scientific qualification will help. However, there are many people working within healthcare communications without a degree and without a scientific background. Some roles, such as medical writers, need a strong medical or scientific understanding and it is not uncommon to find medical writers with science degrees, medical degrees or PhDs.
However, there are also other roles such as events management where the level of scientific understanding is much less important. If you have a medical background or scientific qualification then you will be well placed for a healthcare communications role. However, if you do not, but are somebody who can still understand health and science then there are still many options for you in healthcare communications.