When RTC Relationship Marketing, an agency with a majority of pharmaceutical clients, hired me as writer ACD, it was trial by Pharma. I had to learn how to work with a regulatory team and use the word “may” five times in a single sentence without flinching. I gained a new appreciation for research, especially patient focus groups. And I became a bit of a strategy nerd, because in Pharma, that’s where a lot of the creativity comes in. Since relocating to the West Coast, I have rounded out my healthcare experience with hospital work while continuing to freelance on pharmaceutical accounts. Some healthcare highlights:

• When it ran, my unbranded “Men’s Facts” TV spot for LEVITRA was the most successful in GSK history, raising market share by 2 points.

• My parent education booklet on RSV, using painstakingly researched family photos of actual preemies, was deemed “best collateral piece we’ve ever done” by the MedImmune reps.

• As copy lead on the Novo Nordisk pitch I helped RTC Relationship Marketing win the account.

• My work won awards for RTC Relationship Marketing, including a Webby and finalist certificates at the Echo, MM&M and RX awards.

• I received a special agency appreciation award from Bristol Myers Squibb for my work on ABILIFY.

• I rewrote the entire collateral suite for El Camino Hospital.

• My campaign for the El Camino Hospital Annual Fund revived their dormant planned giving program. Within days of the first run, they received a $250,000 annuity from a single donor, and multiple donors followed suit.

• I worked on the re-branding of Marin General Hospital, contributing the new theme line, newsletter and capabilities brochure.

• My radio campaign for the Women’s Surgery Center in Greater Washington DC brought in 40% of the new patients at that practice’s four locations.