Andrew, Mark & Drew

As the week and my GLOBALHealthPR Employee Exchange draw to a close in New York City, I can only describe the experience as amazing.

Every day has brought me brand new, exciting opportunities in which I have been able to uncover “The Spectrum Way” of working, meet with new friends and team members, and continue to build a relationship with my U.S.-based colleagues.

Over the past fortnight, my eyes have been opened up to an entirely new world of healthcare communications. I’ve been privileged to immerse myself in the offices, while also being provided opportunities to share my knowledge of the Australian marketplace as well.

Presenting to Spectrum at its New York offices

This week, I was able to present to the New York office about the work VIVA! does in Australia, share case studies, and discuss an upcoming collaborative Asia-Pacific regional disease-awareness campaign, all while taking questions from the audience.

I’ve also been able to take in some of New York City, and was very privileged to meet with Peggy Peck, Vice President and Editor-in-Chief of MedPage Today, who provided me a very detailed overview of how the US healthcare system works, and how this differs from the Australian healthcare model.

At the ball game:
Tim, Mark, Andrew & Drew

I’ve spent time with many team members, discussing the different practice-areas (Biopharma, Consumer Science, Biotech/Specialty) and cross-functional teams (including digital/creative and finance) that Spectrum team members represent, as well as the GHPR model of communicating globally. And, despite the business of the week, some of the team even took me out to a ballgame at the famed Yankee Stadium.

I’m excited to share all of my experiences with the team when I return home to Australia.

Tomorrow, I am booked for a tour of the NBC Studios, where I hope to learn a little more about the American television and radio media.

More than anything else, I want to express my personal gratitude to everyone in the Washington DC and New York Spectrum offices. You have all made me feel so welcome, and helped to create a one-in-a-lifetime experience, and I am beyond appreciative.

Mark participated in the GLOBALHealthPR Professional Exchange Program as a representative of the exclusive Australian partner, VIVA! Communications. The program aims to enhance the connectivity of GLOBALHealthPR agencies through collaboration, best practice sharing, and insights into the drivers that affect health and science communications in different markets worldwide, and to build professional relationships with other GLOBALHealthPR personnel around the globe.

About Mark: Mark Henderson is Queensland Branch Manager at GHPR Australia partner, VIVA! Communications. Follow his experiences on the GLOBALHealthPR Professional Exchange Program online, using the #GHPRConnects hashtag.

The post Some final thoughts – GHPR Employee Exchange 2016 appeared first on GLOBALHealthPR.

“I was amazed at the sheer size of the place”

I was met and given a tour of the new office space, in Battery Park, close to the most southernmost tip of Manhattan Island and located on the 26th floor of a skyscraper, by Senior Vice President, GLOBALHealthPR at Spectrum, Tim Goddard.

Tim gave me a tour of the very sleek, modern office, which offers a magnificent view over Battery Park, while also offering the chance to see the Statue of Liberty from the office balcony.

Leaving the office, Tim took me to visit the 9/11 memorial pools, and museum, which, although a somewhat heavy experience, allowed me to get a real insight into how that tragedy has shaped the New York City of today.

On Monday, I spent my first day in New York office, and was privileged to meet with many of the team, as well, as allowing me to participate in the BioPharma Monthly Team meeting, and to discover lots about the different brands and companies that the BioPharma team works with in the USA.

And, later in the day, I had a phone call to discuss the Consumer Science Practice with Senior Vice President, Darby Pearson. Unlike much of the biotech and pharma-specific work done by Spectrum, the Consumer Science Practice focuses on telling the scientific story of certain consumer products.

This was very interesting to discuss with Darby, and, I was able to offer my feedback and insight around some of the campaign ideas and suggestions that her team is working on, which was a real privilege.

Although the day flew in, it was fascinating to see the New York Office as it came to life, and it’s been really nice to get to meet with some of the team. I look forward to what the rest of the week has in store.

Mark is participating in the GLOBALHealthPR Professional Exchange Program representing exclusive Australian partner, VIVA! Communications. The Program aims to enhance the connectivity of GLOBALHealthPR agencies through collaboration, best practice sharing, and insights into the drivers that affect health and science communications in different markets worldwide, and to build professional relationships with other GLOBALHealthPR personnel around the globe.

About Mark: Mark Henderson is Queensland Branch Manager at GHPR Australia partner, VIVA! Communications. To follow his experiences on the GLOBALHealthPR Professional Exchange Program online, use #GHPRConnects to join the conversation and follow all of the 2016 exchange programming.

The post Arriving at Spectrum New York appeared first on GLOBALHealthPR.

This week I’ve participated in several interesting brainstorming sessions focusing on campaign concepts and new business development. Observing the communications process involving Spectrum team members across the U.S., from Washington D.C., and New York to Atlanta, and those working from ‘virtual’ offices at home, has proven a truly fascinating exercise.

I was also granted the opportunity to meet with some of the business leads at Spectrum D.C., including Public Affairs lead, Al Jackson, who explained the pivotal role that communication plays in U.S. health and medicines-related politics. Citing several case studies, Al broke this somewhat complex subject matter down with ease, affording me unique insights into the invaluable role that both he, and the Public Affairs division plays at Spectrum, to ensure fairness of communication for U.S. healthcare providers, pharmaceutical companies and patients.

The highlight of my week was obtaining a glimpse into U.S. healthcare policy and public affairs. On Tuesday, I visited Capitol Hill to observe a U.S. Senate hearing into health policy, focusing on the potential ramifications of introducing Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for laboratory-developed tests (LDT’s) of a certain type of in-vitro diagnostic. Currently, no such approval is required.

The hearing armed me with fascinating insights into the American approach toward deliberating the role of administration, and government in diagnosing illnesses and delivering precision medicines to the public. Those in favour of FDA regulation (primarily the Democrats) argued LDTs had not been sufficiently validated, and were therefore at risk of inaccuracy, and that patients are not informed that their tests fail to undergo rigorous FDA approval. Those Senators opposed to drug regulation claimed that such approval would slow the process of diagnosing illnesses and introducing life-saving medications to market. Furthermore, those against (mainly the Republicans) stated the labs (including branches of leading care centres and research hospitals) would go bankrupt if they had to pay for such regulation.

GHPR Employee exchange particpants Mark & Kaitlin

Further to this, I was able to meet many members of the Spectrum team, including Kaitlin Bowen, who, like me, is participating in the 2016 GHPR exchange program. This allowed us a great opportunity to chat about the program, and I was able to provide some insight as to what I had uncovered about Spectrum, while allowing Kaitlin to ask questions about VIVA!, and how we work in Australia.

As a former journalist, I also really enjoyed my visit to D.C.’s Newseum, which offered me a great insight into how journalism has been involved in capturing and shaping American history. Each of the exhibits in the Newseum offered fascinating insight into the history of US news reporting, and allowed me an idea of some of the most iconic news stories ever published in the US.

For me, it was amazing to learn about the role that the first amendment has played in the history of news reporting in the USA, while also being allowed to recognise the sacrifice made by many journalists in telling the story, with a wall of remembrance to those who had lost their lives in the service of news reporting.

On Thursday, I was given the opportunity to present about my work, and the way we work at VIVA! Communications in Australia to a “full house” at the D.C. office brunch and learn.

The response from the team who tuned in, and listed to me talk was really great. It was really humbling to listen as the team responded to the presentation, with lots of questions being asked, and great feedback from everyone.

Mark & Bob Chapman

And, on Friday, my final day in Washington D.C., I was granted a fantastic opportunity to visit the advocacy office of the American Cancer Society (ACS), and to spend some time with Bob Chapman, Managing Director of Global Relay for Life, who provided me with some phenomenal insight around the history and aims of ACS and how it works to achieve its goals, both in the U.S. and globally.

After meeting with Bob, he invited me along to listen to a talk being given by Uruguayan cardiologist, and one of the survivors of the 1972 plane crash in the Andes mountains, dubbed the “Miracle of the Andes”, Dr Roberto Canessa.

Listening to Dr Canessa talk was captivating, as he shared the story of his survival, and the impact it had on his life moving forward. It was definitely a highlight of my time in D.C.

Every day I gleaned new and invaluable insights into the U.S. health communication marketplace. I can’t wait to see what unfolds this week in New York City.

To Jonathan, Andrew and all of the team in D.C. I want to extend my wholehearted thanks. You were wonderful hosts, and provided me an opportunity, friendships and an experience I will remember for the rest of my life. Thank you all for that.

Be sure to follow my exchange with GLOBALHealthPR at #GHPRConnects.

The post Looking back on a packed first week in America’s Capital appeared first on GLOBALHealthPR.

Day 1 of Mark Henderson’s GLOBALHealthPR Exchange at Spectrum, Washington, D.C.

Mark Henderson (centre) joins GHPR team members Andrew Bailey (L) and Drew Wallace (R) at the Spectrum DC office.

Since arriving in Washington, DC as part of the GLOBALHealthPR Professional Exchange Program, I’ve been privileged to witness a lot of American history, from Capitol Hill (the seat of the United States Congress and legislative branch of the US Federal Government), to The White House (the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the US, also dubbed “The Nation’s Most Famous Address”).

Warmly welcomed by Andrew Bailey, and the Spectrum team at its Washington DC offices today (Monday, September 19, 2016), I’ve been given a tour of the office and met many staff. I’ve also been privy to an orientation from Spectrum’s HR lead, Julian, who documented the company’s 20 year-long history, founded on the idea of “transforming complicated science into compelling stories,” to its dramatic growth in the past four years, which has seen the company double in size to upwards of 60 staff members across three offices (DC, New York and Atlanta), and those who work remotely.

Further to this introduction, I’ve been privileged to participate in several brainstorm sessions, and teleconferences that have offered me an opportunity to begin to understand the way in which business gets done at Spectrum. I’ve been truly impressed by all that I’ve learned since arriving here.

New koalas took up residence in Washington thanks to Mark’s arrival from VIVA in Australia.

I was privileged to speak with Tim Goddard, Senior Vice President of GlOBALHealthPR, who provided me a warm welcome to the company, and outlined many of the different opportunities I will experience in the United States during my two week tenure here. Notably, I will be meeting with each of the four Functional Group Leads for Spectrum, including those representing the BioPharma, BioTech, Consumer Science and Public Affairs divisions, along with a host of other senior staff, such as the business managers who work within each of these groups.
It’s only day one, but I already feel like I’ve learned so much about Spectrum, its rich and vibrant history, and plans for the future, and I very much look forward to what the coming weeks have in store, both Washington DC, and in New York City.

Mark is participating in the GLOBALHealthPR Professional Exchange Program representing exclusive Australian partner, VIVA! Communications. The Program aims to enhance the connectivity of GLOBALHealthPR agencies through collaboration, best practice sharing, and insights into the drivers that affect health and science communications in different markets worldwide, and to build professional relationships with other GLOBALHealthPR personnel around the globe.

About Mark: Mark Henderson is Queensland Branch Manager at GHPR Australia partner, VIVA! Communications. To follow his experiences on the GLOBALHealthPR Professional Exchange Program online, use #GHPRConnects to join the conversation and follow all of the 2016 exchange programming.

The post The 2016 GLOBALHealthPR Exchange is Underway! Week 1 – Washington, DC appeared first on GLOBALHealthPR.