What led you to pursue a career in market access?

I studied for a PhD in Developmental Neurobiology at the UCL Institute of Child Health, investigating the genetics and cellular processes involved in neural tube defects (NTDs), such as spina bifida. My research group was also interested in the mechanisms by which folate (folic acid) during pregnancy reduces the risk of NTDs, and it was the global debate around folic acid fortification of food that sparked my interest in healthcare policy and decision-making.

Outside of the laboratory, I really enjoyed the analytical and writing aspects of my PhD. As I considered a career away from academia, I discovered the world of medical writing, which led me to market access and health economics. In 2013, I joined an established market access consultancy as an Associate Medical Writer, and haven’t looked back!

How did your career progress?

As a medical writer, I had the opportunity to work on a wide variety of projects and therapy areas for both Pharma and Medtech clients. I developed global value communication materials, health technology assessment (HTA) submissions and Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) dossiers, local customer-facing tools, visual leave pieces, and publications. I also conducted targeted literature reviews, bespoke landscape and policy research, value proposition testing with payers and clinicians, and interactive client workshops.

As I gained experience, I enjoyed the discussions I was having with clients around content and messaging, as well as product launch strategy and positioning in different markets. Project management felt like a natural next step and my role expanded such that I was leading global projects and providing consultancy, as well as remaining actively involved in the writing side of things. In recent years, I’ve also enjoyed mentoring and training junior colleagues, and supporting business development, for example through writing proposals and developing relationships with new clients.

As part of my professional development during this time, I completed a Certificate in Health Economics and Policy at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), and a City & Guilds Diploma in Leadership and Management.

What interests you most about developing global value materials?

I love the storytelling element of developing global value materials, and find it really satisfying to see these projects through from start to finish. I enjoy immersing myself in a therapy area, reviewing policy information and detailed medical data for a new product, before consolidating all of that and crafting a compelling narrative. It’s often really interesting and valuable to gather insights from external stakeholders as part of this process, to ensure the final deliverable is fit for purpose and resonates with decision-makers in key markets.

I particularly enjoy the more bespoke or challenging projects that really require us to work as part of a client’s extended team to help them navigate challenges. It could be researching a specific policy area and presenting the findings and recommendations in a concise visual slide deck, or developing a credible dossier and value narrative for a product with only limited evidence available.

Ultimately, I strive to develop high-quality, evidence-based materials that inform decision-making and support timely patient access to new treatments.

Are there any therapy areas that particularly interest you?

Yes – with my background in biology and genetics, I particularly enjoy working in rare diseases and on cell and gene therapy projects, where the need for innovative therapies is often urgent, and the pathway to reimbursement is complex. With the high number of advanced therapies currently in development, and the potential of these products to transform the lives of patients with few treatment options, it’s a really exciting area of market access to work in.

During my career, I’ve had the chance to work on rare diseases such as haemophilia, growth hormone deficiency, spinal muscular atrophy, and Duchenne muscular dystrophy, as well as rare oncology indications. As a team, we’re about to start working on an AMCP dossier for an antibody for a rare blood disorder, and I recently wrote a proposal for a suite of value communication tools for a client’s new treatment for a rare genetic condition.

What motivated you to join Mtech Access?

I was looking for the next step in my career and was keen to work across both global value communication and market access strategy projects. When the role at Mtech Access came up, it felt like a really good fit – and an exciting time to join the team, with the company recently joining Petauri™. The company’s reputation for delivering high-quality work, and its collaborative, people-first culture were also key factors in my decision to make the move.

What have you got involved with since joining Mtech Access?

It’s been an exciting few months of getting to know colleagues within Mtech Access and across the wider Petauri business. I had a comprehensive induction programme when I first started, which helped me to understand the company structure, and how the different services and supporting teams (e.g. Editorial, Marketing, and Commercial) all collaborate. I’m working mainly remotely, but it’s been great to visit our Manchester and York offices to meet and socialise with colleagues. I also attended an in-person company meeting to discuss plans for 2025.

I’ve taken a strategic lead role on a variety of projects across therapy areas such as oncology, epilepsy, chronic kidney disease, and wound care. I’ve also written proposals for a range of global value communication and market access strategy activities. It’s been really varied – every week has been different.

What have you learnt from your first interactions with the team?

I’ve definitely learnt how welcoming and supportive everyone is! In my first week, lots of people got in touch to say hello and offer help with settling in. Everyone is approachable and always finds time to discuss things or lend a hand, regardless of seniority or how busy people are.

I’ve also been impressed with the quality of project management, and the training and best practice structures that are in place. There’s a strong work ethic and high level of professionalism; everyone I’ve met is focused on delivering excellent results for our clients.

What are you most looking forward to?

I’m looking forward to getting stuck into some exciting new projects this year, many of which involve collaboration with teams across the business. For example, I’ll be working with colleagues in our systematic literature review (SLR), Digital, and US HEOR teams. I’m also heading to ISPOR 2025 in Montreal in May, so I am really looking forward to that.

If you could swap your expertise and role with a colleague from another team, who would you swap with?

It would be an exciting time to work in the HTA team, particularly with the introduction of EU European Union Joint Clinical Assessments (EU JCAs) for new cancer medicines and advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) from January of this year. It would also be interesting to deepen my understanding of our Digital team’s capabilities – coding is a whole different language to me!

When you are not at work, what do you like to do?

I live on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales, so I try to get outside with my family for walks and days out whenever we can. When I’m not running our children around to their hobbies and parties, I try to squeeze in my weekly yoga class and the occasional swim or spinning session, or curl up with a good book.

To learn more about our expertise in global value materials and global market access strategy, please contact us here.

If you are interested in joining our team at Mtech Access, please visit our careers page for details of our current vacancies.

The post Global value and strategy: Sophie Streeton on her career, passions, and joining Mtech Access appeared first on Mtech Access.

What led you to pursue a career in evidence synthesis and statistics?

Prior to joining Mtech Access, my career was deeply rooted in academia and healthcare research. I began by earning a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from the University of Liverpool. This was followed by a Master’s degree in Medical Statistics from Lancaster University. Later, I completed a PhD in Medical Statistics from the University of Liverpool.

My first postdoctoral position was at the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (CRD) at the University of York. There, I worked on mixed health technology assessment (HTA) submissions. These included single technology appraisals (STAs), highly specialised technologies (HSTs), and multiple technology appraisals (MTAs), as part of an Evidence Review Group commissioned by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

6 years ago, I moved to Manchester for a second postdoctoral position, which shifted my focus towards primary care research. In this role, I evaluated interventions through network meta-analyses (NMAs) and explored causality. I also worked on workforce and exposure health data science projects using Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data with the National Health Service (NHS), as well as rich primary care record data from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD). My research also addressed important public health issues, including the incidence of self harm among patients and the impact of burnout on primary care staff in the UK.

With extensive experience in evidence synthesis, my research has been particularly focused on long-term conditions, digital health, and interventions aimed at improving the quality of care, and the mental health and wellbeing of healthcare workers.

What motivated you to join Mtech Access?

I spoke to many people in the market access field and consistently heard great things about Mtech Access. It is widely regarded as a leading organisation for market access and HEOR in the UK. At one point a few years ago, I had considered joining Delta Hat, which has since become a Petauri™ partner along with Mtech Access.

What drew me to Mtech Access was how well the organisation aligns with my skillset. Their collaborative approach across the specialist teams resonated with me. My strong quantitative background, particularly my statistical expertise, means that I can directly contribute to a wide range of projects to help clients navigate the complex technical requirements needed to achieve successful NICE approval.

How will joining Mtech Access help you achieve your career goals?

I’m excited to make the transition from academia to a commercial consultancy. I’m looking forward to working on a broader range of projects and eager to apply advanced statistical methodologies to tackle complex questions. The opportunity to work across various specialisms, including Health Economics, Systematic Review, and NHS Insight & Interaction, is something that I’m particularly looking forward to. Collaborating with multidisciplinary teams in these areas promises to be an enriching experience.

I also anticipate numerous opportunities to both provide training and develop new skills, learning from the different service sectors within the company. Moreover, the potential to innovate and create tools that streamline work processes across the three teams is something that I find particularly motivating.

What have you been involved with in your first few weeks with Mtech Access?

I’ve attended numerous induction meetings to get to know the team and quickly gained exposure to several exciting projects. This includes work on an oncology treatment, where I was involved in matching-adjusted indirect comparisons (MAICs) and propensity score analysis. I have also been working on NMAs evaluating interventions for Parkinson’s disease, as well as contributed to several proposals during this time.

Collaboration with our new US-based Petauri partners, The Kinetix Group, on a proposal has been another highlight.

It’s been great to get to know the team through socials too. I attended a Manchester office social featuring axe throwing and darts. I also had the chance to meet the wider team during an all-company meeting in my first week.

What have you learnt from your first interactions with the team?

The team has been incredibly positive, bringing a wealth of expertise across a wide range of skills. My new colleagues are supportive and always willing to help whenever approached, fostering a collaborative atmosphere.

In turn, I’ve received numerous statistical queries, such as requests for explanations on how vendors model longitudinal data, as well as non-statistical questions, including advice on Delphi consensus techniques.

What has most surprised you about Mtech Access?

The news about joining Petauri came as a bit of a surprise, but it’s an exciting development that promises a wider range of projects. The induction process was well-structured and organised, and the People/HR Team have been incredibly helpful throughout.

I’m particularly impressed by the diverse resources and expertise within the team, which offer great opportunities for growth. I’m especially looking forward to learning more about Connected Insights from Iain Shield – his recent showcase webinar was illuminating. Working alongside the Medical Writing and Editorial Teams has also provided further insights into technical writing and styles, which I’ve enjoyed exploring further.

If you could swap your expertise and role with a colleague from another team, who would you swap with?

Global Market Access – I’ve found learning about the team particularly fascinating. I am especially interested in how we support pricing strategies across different countries.

When you are not at work, what do you like to do?

I like to spend my free time with family, often mountain biking, likely in North Wales, or taking part in yacht or dinghy racing on a lake or reservoir.

To learn more about how our Evidence Synthesis Team can support your HEOR strategy, please email info@mtechaccess.co.uk.

If you are interested in joining our team at Mtech Access, please visit our careers page for details of our current vacancies.

The post Meet Alex Hodkinson: New Consultant Statistician at Mtech Access appeared first on Mtech Access.

What led you to pursue a career in health economics?

My first degree was in Chemistry, which I studied at the University of Bristol. After that, I worked as a commercial strategy consultant in the healthcare sector for many years, nurturing a long-standing interest in pursuing another degree. During my time advising clients on critical commercial issues, I realised the importance of understanding the economic principles that drive decision-making within healthcare systems. This curiosity and desire to deepen my knowledge led me to explore the field of Health Economics, which I studied at the University of York while working for a medical technology developer.

What motivated you to join Mtech Access?

I have known Mtech Access for a while and have always admired the people there, as well as their ethos and work culture. The combination of my practical experience, academic knowledge, and appreciation for Mtech Access ultimately led me to join the team.

Here, I can leverage my expertise to help clients navigate the complex landscape of healthcare economics and strategy in an environment that aligns with my values and professional aspirations.

What have you been involved with in your first few weeks at Mtech Access?

After an eventful first week, I found myself immersed in a variety of projects. My tasks ranged from developing a commercial cost calculator tool to contributing to a NICE HTA submission.

Additionally, I engaged in business development activities, facilitating several introductory calls and submitting a proposal for an evidence generation project for a major Medtech client.

The dynamic environment and diverse responsibilities have already provided me with valuable experiences and insights into the impactful work that we do here.

What have you learnt from your first interactions with the team?

The team at Mtech Access represent an incredible wealth of expertise. The collaborative working culture here allows me to access and benefit from this extensive knowledge at any time. Beyond just what happens on individual projects, the team and Mtech Access seamlessly help each other; rather than waiting to be told what to do, people are proactive about complementing each other’s know-how and skills on every project.

If you could swap your expertise and role with a colleague from another team, who would you swap with?

I love what I do, and while I greatly admire the work of my colleagues, I wouldn't want to trade roles with anyone.

When you are not at work, what do you like to do?

When I’m not at work, I like to spend time with my family, have dinner parties with friends, go to the theatre, and read.

To learn more about how our Health Economics Team can support your HEOR strategy, email info@mtechaccess.co.uk.

If you are interested in joining our team at Mtech Access, please visit our careers page for details of our current vacancies.

The post Introducing Evelyne Priestman: Her journey to health economics and Mtech Access appeared first on Mtech Access.

What led you to pursue a career in market access?

Over time, as I went along my career pathway, I picked up lots of skills and experience that eventually led me to a career in market access. Initially, I completed a 4-year MSci (Hons) in Chemistry at The University of Nottingham. I knew I wanted to continue with science, but was unsure of continuing down a pure chemistry path. So, I did a gap year in South America, undertaking volunteer work with Raleigh International in Chile and further travel across the continent.

On returning, I worked in business development for an environmental laboratory. I enjoyed the work but quickly realised I’d like to explore healthcare as a career option. I gained a place on the NHS graduate scheme in Clinical Biochemistry. After completing my initial training, I returned to university to complete a PhD in Personalised Medicine, investigating cancer signalling pathways. This offered lots of opportunities with several industry sponsors, as well as training in laboratory techniques and computational skills (e.g. mathematical model building, AI, advanced statistical techniques). Additionally, I spent some time in Berlin as part of a collaboration with Charité Hospital.

After completing my PhD, I successfully secured my own funding to continue my research as a Doctoral Prize Fellow. Alongside my studies, I joined the Oxbridge Biotech Roundtable, where I worked on several consultancy projects, including technology transfer policy and diagnostics market assessment for a large pharmaceutical company.

I really liked the variety that consultancy offered, so I decided to switch from academia to a full-time role in consultancy, eventually specialising in market access. In my last role, I branched out into digital transformation and explored how AI, data, and analytics could be used to improve processes across pharmaceutical functions.

What motivated you to join Mtech Access?

I was attracted to Mtech Access as they offered opportunities for providing innovative solutions to clients compared with larger multinational companies. Additionally, I had been working on digital transformation for pharmaceutical clients and wanted to return to a role focused solely on market access.

What have you been involved with in your first few months at Mtech Access?

I completed a comprehensive induction and got to know people from across the different services; everyone has been very friendly.

I’ve also written several thought leadership pieces, such as our article, Top 10 HEOR trends – A detailed look at ISPOR’s 2024–2025, in response to ISPOR’s trends. Recently, I’ve been engaging with clients and developing a lunch and learn presentation on Medtech reimbursement pathways, as well as developing proposals and contributing to project work.

Overall, the company has been really welcoming. Before joining, the company invited me to the company-wide Christmas party and a smaller office gathering in Manchester.

What have you learnt from your first interactions with the team?

Everyone that I have come across has been friendly and eager to help – a great collaborative and supportive working culture. There is a theme of excellence that runs through the company in everything the team does, both internally and externally. It is great to be here in such a people-first environment.

What has surprised you most about Mtech Access?

The quantity of work that the business is undertaking in Medtech. Especially since it’s such an exciting time, with new regulations in the EU (e.g. the AI act) and ever-changing reimbursement pathways. Additionally, there are opportunities to work on interesting and innovative technological advancements, such as digital and AI.

If you could swap your expertise and role with a colleague from another team, who would you swap with?

I would probably swap with the Health Economics Modelling Team, as their work is similar to the mathematical component of my PhD, but with a difference – modelling cost effectiveness rather than modelling cancer signalling pathways.

When you are not at work, what do you like to do?

I love getting out to the mountains, be it hiking, climbing, swimming, or kayaking. I am currently focused on completing all 282 Munros, the highest mountains in Scotland. I also love live music and going to gigs.

To learn more about our expertise in market access strategy and pricing, please email info@mtechaccess.co.uk.

If you are interested in joining our team at Mtech Access, please visit our careers page for details of our current vacancies.

The post Navigating a career in market access: Louise Maddison’s journey to Mtech Access appeared first on Mtech Access.

What led you to pursue a career in market access?

I come from a science background, having studied Biochemistry at the University of Oxford. My course was a 4-year combined undergraduate Master’s, with a year in the lab. I quickly found that lab work wasn’t for me, but I still wanted a job based in science, just outside of the lab.

I found a job working for a boutique consultancy, where the bulk of the work involved primary and secondary (desk-based) research. Our research informed market assessments and product evaluations for assets that were in the early stages of development.

From there, I moved to a broader market access consultancy, working on a wide variety of projects across the product lifecycle. I particularly enjoyed the medical writing and value communication side of things, which led me to where I am now!

As a Medical Writer, what do you most enjoy working on?

I would say that manuscripts are probably my favourite. I love the challenge of writing a condensed piece that fully communicates the study and implications for the therapy area or healthcare system.

Most of my experience is in writing manuscripts, global value dossiers (GVDs), and value propositions. I’m excited to get involved in more health technology assessment (HTA) submissions at Mtech Access, as there’s such a wealth of knowledge and experience in the team.

What motivated you to join Mtech Access?

I was keen to specialise in medical writing and progress in a technical role, rather than taking on a broader project management consulting role as my career advanced. Mtech Access have a specialist Medical Writing Team, with a more technical career pathway. This means that I can stay involved in the writing and data.

Through the interview process, it was clear that Mtech Access had a really friendly atmosphere within the team. They also offer flexible working and great benefits. It was a no-brainer really!

What have you been involved with in your first few weeks at Mtech Access?

There have obviously been a handful of induction sessions to introduce me to the company and ways of working. I’ve had a mix of meetings with different members of the team, along with some hands-on tasks to immerse myself in Mtech Access’ house writing style.

I was able to get involved in some project work early on too. I’m currently working on a manuscript and conference poster. These report the results of a systematic review and meta-analysis conducted by the Mtech Access Evidence Team.

In the next few weeks, we’ll also be kicking off a project working on a formulary pack and value proposition for a client’s diabetes treatment.

Outside of the project work, I’ve been involved in a marketing piece looking at Mtech Access’ view on ISPOR’s top 10 HEOR trends for 2024/25. It has been interesting to work on something a little different, and to read the perspectives of some of our experts in the team.

I’m home-based most of the time (it’s great to have that flexibility!), but my closest office is Manchester. I’ve managed to make a few trips in to see the team there. We’ve had a team lunch and there’s also another social planned soon. Everyone has been super welcoming!

What has surprised you most about Mtech Access?

Thankfully there haven’t been any huge surprises, as they were very transparent throughout the interview process! The culture communicated on the company website is very ‘people first’, and indicates a company aiming for an ‘egoless’ organisation. I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how much this is actually reflected in reality. Everyone is so open to helping with any queries and sharing knowledge.

If you could swap your expertise and role with a colleague from another team, who would you swap with?

I’m really spoilt for choice on this one, as there are so many different areas of expertise in the company. I think I’d have to choose the Health Economics Team. They work with such complicated technical models, and the work they do is very impressive.

I’d also swap with the NHS Insight & Interaction Team. A lot of my previous experience has been with Global and US-based clients, so I’d love to have their knowledge on the UK market.

When you are not at work, what do you like to do?

I have a 1-year-old daughter and a 4-year-old toy labradoodle, both of whom keep me very busy outside of work! Hobby-wise (when I have the time) I love anything creative – painting, calligraphy, photography, and also baking.

Would you like to learn more about our Medical Writing expertise and how this is utilised across global value dossiers, reimbursement and health technology assessment dossiers, and local communication materials? If so, please email info@mtechaccess.co.uk.

Are you interested in joining our team at Mtech Access? Visit our careers page for details of our current vacancies.

The post Joining a specialist Medical Writing Team – an interview with Hayley Shoel appeared first on Mtech Access.

What led you to pursue a career in HEOR?

My undergraduate degree, Economics and Mathematics at the University of Liverpool, introduced me to Health Economics. The content of this module was so fascinating that I was inspired to pursue a career in this area.

This led me to work for the NHS as a Data Analyst at a Mental Health Trust. Then, after taking a career break to travel, I decided to develop my knowledge of HEOR by completing an MSc in Health Economics and Decision Modelling at the University of Sheffield. It was at this point that I moved into consultancy, where I have been for 8 years.

I worked as a Health Economist, whilst also having a focus on evidence projects. This involved building and reviewing health economic models, conducting systematic literature reviews, facilitating structured expert elicitation, sourcing country-specific data, and reviewing submissions for NICE, SMC, NCPE, and AWMSG. I was also an assessor for the SMC.

What motivated you to join Mtech Access?

After 8 years of working for a small consultancy, I felt it was time for a change. I was ready to explore the next step in my career and wanted to experience what it was like working for a larger company. However, I appreciated the values of the smaller, family-run company that I was used to. Luckily, I found this middle ground between the two at Mtech Access, where the ethos is very much about putting people first.

I was also conscious of wanting to join a company where there was emphasis on ‘quality over quantity’. I felt Mtech Access had this positive reputation.

Whilst I was sure that I wanted to join Mtech Access, I wasn’t quite sure where I’d best fit in, as my background covers health economics, evidence, and market access. Chris Costello (Talent Acquisition Manager, Mtech Access) helped me find the right role that would suit me.

What have you got involved with in your first few weeks with Mtech Access?

I’ve had lots of training across all aspects of the company. It has been great to be introduced to the different people and teams in Mtech Access. This has helped me gain an understanding of how the company fits together as a whole, and become familiar with all the different faces. It has been a useful process, and it was nice to do the onboarding with some other new starters, so we weren’t on our own during the process.

Before I’d even started at Mtech Access, I felt very welcomed. I attended both the whole company Christmas party and the Manchester office Christmas social. It was there that I met my team and lots of others, before joining in the new year.

Following the initial 2-week onboarding, and around ongoing training, I’ve also started to get stuck in with projects. I’ve been working on systematic literature review updates in oncology and blood disorders.

What has most surprised you about Mtech Access?

I have found it really reassuring to have all the training. It feels like there is a really supportive culture. The values on the website are all accurate. Everyone is really responsive, happy to help, and on the ball!

It’s a nice atmosphere, everyone seems happy and positive, and overall it’s exceeded my expectations.

If you could swap your expertise and role with a colleague from another team, who would you swap with?

A role in the Commercial/Marketing Team would be interesting. Their work is so varied and covers an array of different outputs and topics. They’re also able to collaborate with colleagues across all aspects of the business.

When you are not at work, what do you like to do?

My 2-year-old boy keeps me busy and well-entertained. I also enjoy anything active: netball, CrossFit/Metcon classes, cycling, swimming, and walks with our dog; as well as watching sports and socialising with friends and family.

As a family, we also love to travel. Last year we completed a ‘bucket list’ trip to Sri Lanka and the Maldives with friends, which was a dream come true. This year, we’re going to Bali and Australia. We also enjoy exploring the UK and Europe. The dream would be to have a campervan, so we can go on more trips like this!

To learn more about our Evidence Synthesis and HEOR services, please email info@mtechaccess.co.uk.

If you are interested in joining our team at Mtech Access, please visit our careers page for details of our current vacancies.

The post A people-first consultancy – joining the Evidence Team appeared first on Mtech Access.

What led you to pursue a career in market access?

Before Mtech Access, I was offering freelance tutoring and editing services to help students with their dissertations. It quickly snowballed into extensive reviews of PhD theses on topics such as medicine, economics, and technology.

As it was only freelance, I also worked part-time at a Patent law firm. The firm specialised in copyright and trademark services for Pharmaceuticals, Medical Devices, and engineering developments.

Both of these roles gave me a good insight into the life sciences industry. So, I knew it was an area that I wanted to continue working in.

Very soon after deciding to pursue freelancing full time, Mtech Access reached out to me on LinkedIn. That’s when I learnt about market access. As I studied Psychology and my background was in life sciences, I jumped at the opportunity to apply my editing skills to a range of deliverables, in a field that I already found fascinating!

What motivated you to join Mtech Access?

From the outset, Mtech Access’ talent acquisition manager, Chris Costello, was clear about the role and keen to chat with me to see what my goals and interests were. Throughout the interview process, both the team and Chris checked in to see if the role still aligned with my career interests and whether I felt like I would fit in with the culture. The ‘it goes both ways’ attitude was a refreshing approach to a normally daunting interview process. After all, interviews can often feel one-sided!

I also read their Articles to make sure that, if I joined, I would be making a positive difference. Their insights from the NHS Transformation Symposium and incredible webinars with guest speakers like Shefali Shah showed me that Mtech Access were at the forefront of important changes in industry. At that point, I knew I wanted to be part of the team and contribute to the amazing work they were doing!

How will this move help you advance your career goals?

From the start, it was clear that this role involved working on a variety of deliverables. Everything from 100-word LinkedIn posts to 400-page systematic literature reviews. The opportunity to work on such a wide range of materials meant that my skills would improve, as different pieces of work require distinct approaches.

Hopefully, with time, the Editorial Team will expand further. Being a part of this growth will hopefully give me a good insight into how our team can provide more in-depth reviews. It will also give me an insight into the process for creating editorial guidelines across different deliverables.

What have you got involved with in your first few weeks with Mtech Access?

As is pretty typical for a new role, I had inductions for my first few weeks. This gave me a good idea of all the different services that Mtech Access offer. It also showed me how my role in a cross-functional team will allow me to collaborate with almost all of the other teams.

It was jam-packed, but most inductions were interspersed with tea breaks. So, that gave me a chance to get to know the medical writers a bit better!

I also went to my first social in the Cambridge office. We had a picnic and did some needle-felting (I made a fox!).

In terms of the projects I’ve worked on, I’ve already had the opportunity to work on a range of deliverables. These have included systematic literature reviews, proposals, ISPOR posters, LinkedIn posts, newsletters and market outreach, technical reports, and a digital budget impact tool. These have also spanned quite a few disease areas, including epilepsy, nephrology, oncology, and mental health.

What have you learnt from your first interactions with the team?

That the culture is phenomenal. Everyone I’ve worked with so far has been keen to collaborate and share insights to improve the piece of work. You’re actively encouraged to ask lots of questions, get involved in projects you find interesting, and contribute to the improvement of your service and team.

The Medical Writing and Editing Team hold a huddle every week where people can talk about what they’re working on and those who may have time can offer to help others. The team also hold a Medical Writing Club each month. Here, members of the team share insights from recent projects, tips for improving writing/editing skills, and shortcuts for different functions in Word and PowerPoint.

What has most surprised you about Mtech Access?

What’s surprised me most is how true everything is to what was said at the first interview. Also, how everyone’s attitude aligns with the company’s values. Every person I’ve met has been so positive and collaborative. You can sense that people are passionate about what they do each day!

I was also surprised at how transparent Mtech Access are. In one of our earliest inductions they encouraged us to give them an honest review on GlassDoor and to submit ideas for social media posts, if people wanted to contribute.

If you could swap your expertise and role with a colleague from another team, who would you swap with?

Hands-down the Digital Team! Their iPad tools are really impressive. Although I know I would be terrible at the coding/Excel part of things, the outputs would be very satisfying!

I think I would also find the Design Team’s work fascinating. As part of Editorial, we get to collaborate with the Design Team on certain projects. So it would be interesting to switch the focus from words to visuals.

When you are not at work, what do you like to do?

I have quite a few hobbies, mostly around crafts and music. I enjoy making and tailoring my own clothes. I also love writing pieces for the piano and handpan (a Swiss percussion instrument) and drawing graphic designs in my spare time.

When I actually find time to get out-and-about, I usually go to galleries in London. A few good ones I’ve been to recently are the Evelyn Hofer exhibition in The Photographers Gallery and Sophie Tea’s Carnaby Gallery. Equally, I love activity bars with friends, playing darts, shuffleboard, or, most recently, axe throwing.

To learn more about how our editorial team contribute to the quality of the work delivered across Mtech Access, please email info@mtechaccess.co.uk.

If you are interested in joining our team at Mtech Access, please visit our careers page for details of our current vacancies.

The post Our Editorial Team has grown! Meet Boo Baker-Munton appeared first on Mtech Access.

What led you to pursue a career in market access?

Having completed my PhD in Applied Biosciences for Health at the University of Lincoln, and subsequently undertaking a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Clinical Respiratory Exercise Physiology at McGill University, Canada, I returned to the UK seeking opportunities outside of academia.

However, I wasn’t sure how I could apply my skills outside of an academic context. When a recruitment consultant approached me via LinkedIn stating that having 7+ years’ experience undertaking systematic reviews and 5+ years’ experience working as a methodologist on clinical practice guidelines would stand me in good stead to apply for a position as a systematic reviewer in the HEOR sector, my eyes were opened to exciting new possibilities.

As I researched the HEOR sector for positions as a systematic reviewer, I came across Mtech Access, and the rest is history!

What motivated you to join Mtech Access?

Having tried with a few agencies, Mtech Access were the first agency to pick up the phone and speak to me. Chris Costello (Talent Acquisition Manager, Mtech Access) was in charge of my recruitment process and he took the time to engage on a personal and professional level.

During our many conversations, both over email and on the phone, we went into the possible reasons for the challenges I was facing in grasping that initial chat. Chris suggested that, to many companies, taking on a candidate with an academic background would mean extra investment to make that transition work, thereby making me less favourable. Mtech Access, however, see things differently. They place value in my academic experience, with several members of the Systematic Review Team also having similar backgrounds before moving into consultancy. Chris, and then subsequently, Shona Lang and Jodie Worrall (Associate Directors in the Systematic Review Team), laid out the pathway for my transition and development.

Having a company which outlines transparent career progression pathways with accompanying support processes to achieve this, even prior to starting, made me feel valued as a potential employee and motivated me to join Mtech Access.

What have you been involved with in your first few weeks with Mtech Access?

As with all new positions, the initial 2 weeks were intense, with insightful inductions into company values and operations. Despite the intensity of inductions, there was still time for me to get down to business on discipline-specific work, one of which was a systematic review project in hematology, which I will be progressing with moving forwards. More recently, I’ve been contributing to a Parkinson’s disease project too.

Given my academic background and skillset, the Systematic Review Team are hoping to leverage my knowledge of R statistical analysis software. During my first month, I have been tasked with developing a training module for the team on this topic.

Finally, we recently had our Systematic Review Team meeting, which was a nice opportunity to get the whole team together from multiple sites to share experience and learnings. It was also a great opportunity to build team rapport. We had an ice breaker challenge where we were split into two groups. Each group had to build the highest tower with a marshmallow on top using only spaghetti, tape, and string.

What have you learnt from your first interactions with the team?

The transition from academia to consultancy was always going to have its challenges, however, since joining, I’ve already discovered new approaches to working that facilitate the mantra of ‘work smarter, not harder’.

I’ve also been exposed to the importance of delivering to budget targets, something that wasn’t necessarily part of my academic experience. Exposure to differing types of systematic reviews and statistical approaches, as well as how these contribute towards a collaborative multi-team HTA submission, have proved hugely insightful.

What has most surprised you about Mtech Access?

When a company outlines their culture, I often overlook that as ‘marketing waffle’, but Mtech Access have proved to be a surprising exception to that. The company’s culture and values were made clear during the recruitment process and in my induction, stating that personnel were a priority. Since starting, I have felt well looked-after and it is clear to me that Mtech Access place emphasis on looking after employees.

If you could swap your expertise and role with a colleague from another team, who would you swap with?

Definitely the Health Economics Team. Health economics is an area that I’ve often found quite intimidating as an outsider, especially given it’s importance in healthcare decision making. I find the deliverables they develop, especially economic models, to be really interesting and part of me wishes I was clever enough to work on the development of such models!

When you are not at work, what do you like to do?

I enjoy having days out with my family, catching up with close friends from across the country, and I’m a big sports fan (mainly football, cricket, and F1), so a lot of my time is spent enjoying sport on the TV.

To learn more about how our Systematic Literature Review Team can support your evidence and HEOR strategy, please email info@mtechaccess.co.uk.

If you are interested in joining our team at Mtech Access, please visit our careers page for details of our current vacancies.

The post How 7+ years’ experience with academic systematic reviews gave me the skills for HEOR appeared first on Mtech Access.

What led you to pursue a career in HEOR?

I started my journey in Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR) after completing my master's degree in Pharmaceutics at the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education And Research (NIPER) Hyderabad, India. During my time at university, I worked on a project that focused on developing dosage formulations for diabetes. Although wet lab work wasn't my strong suit, I developed an interest in researching healthcare environments, which led me to secure my first job at a consultancy, as part of a campus placement.

Since then, I spent over 5 years working at two different consultancies, gaining valuable insights and skills in HEOR.

What motivated you to join Mtech Access?

I moved to the UK in February, as my partner landed an exciting job opportunity here. I was on the lookout for a role that both matched my background in HEOR and systematic literature review (SLR), and offered room to learn and grow.

What really stood out to me about Mtech Access specifically, was the fascinating projects that they’d worked on, which were outlined in their Case Studies. It clearly demonstrated the company's dedication to impactful work in this field, which perfectly aligned with my career goals.

I also learnt that the Systematic Review (SR) team were highly experienced, with many of the team having worked directly with the Evidence Review Group and England’s Health Technology Assessment (HTA) body: the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). This gave me the opportunity to gain deeper insights into how SRs are assessed by these bodies.

After the interview, the team left a lasting positive impression on me, as everyone I met was super friendly. It reflected the company's welcoming culture and made me even more excited to be part of their team.

What have you got involved with in your first few weeks with Mtech Access?

In my first few weeks, I dove into induction meetings and training. This gave me a better understanding of the different teams and the company’s vision. I've also had some fun team outings, like a welcome lunch in Bicester and a BBQ boat social in London – the food was surprisingly yummy!

In terms of the work that I’ve been involved with, I’ve provided support with SLRs for HTA submissions in areas such as obesity and oncology. I've also been hands-on with several project proposals, which has given me a solid grasp of project budgeting.

Right now, I'm managing a couple of clinical and non-clinical SLRs intended for HTA submission in oncology. It's been a engaging experience so far!

What have you learnt from your first interactions with the team?

I've noticed a warm and friendly atmosphere. Everyone is approachable and ready to help, which has given me the chance to ask questions. Even though the SR team is spread across different offices, we stay connected and collaborate seamlessly through Teams. It's a great environment for teamwork and mutual support, where the organisational structure encourages collaboration.

What has surprised you most about Mtech Access?

What struck me as most remarkable was the absolute clarity and transparency in their goals and objectives during the initial probation period. The roles were exceptionally well-defined, leaving no room for ambiguity.

Additionally, I was pleasantly surprised by their strategic choice of office location in London, right by Paddington station. It’s perfect – when you step out, you find yourself right at the station platform. It's a hidden gem.

If you could swap your expertise and role with a colleague from another team, who would you swap with?

I'd probably pick someone from the Health Economic Modelling team. I'm really curious about the work they do with those intricate Excel and macro tools – it would be fascinating to see how they build those.

Or I would swap to the market access team. I do have some experience in that area, but it's interesting to see how payers perceive evidence in the real world.

When you are not at work, what do you like to do?

I love spending time with my husband. We really enjoy heading to the nearby farmer's market and taking leisurely walks through our neighbourhood. Since we both share a passion for trying new foods, we often explore new places to indulge in different cuisines.

To learn more about how our Systematic Review team can support your evidence and HEOR strategy, please email info@mtechaccess.co.uk.

If you are interested in joining our team at Mtech Access, please visit our careers page for details of our current vacancies.

The post New country, new consultancy – joining our Evidence team appeared first on Mtech Access.

What led you to pursue a career in market access?

I studied Medical Sciences at the University of Leeds. I really enjoyed my degree; particularly researching a wide range of disease areas, reading about trials of innovative treatments, and writing reports.

However, I wasn’t 100% sure what I wanted to do after finishing university. So I followed my interest in clinical trials and psychiatry, and worked in an NHS mental health trust for a year supporting patients to enrol in research studies.

Then, I wanted to try a role that was more creative. So I moved to a healthcare communications agency where I worked on projects across marketing, public relations, and market access and research. I particularly loved the research-based and market access projects I worked on with pharmaceutical clients. So, it seemed like a natural choice to specialise and further my career in this area.

What motivated you to join Mtech Access?

When looking to begin my career in market access, I researched a wide range of companies. It was important for me to find a company where I felt I could grow, develop, and reach my full potential.

I thought that Mtech Access had a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. Whereas, some of the other companies I looked at that were a bit more corporate.

When I first applied, I had a nice call with Chris Costello (Talent Acquisition Manager), which gave a great first impression. Everyone I met during the interview process was lovely, which further put my mind at ease and helped me to make my decision.

After trying a few different roles since graduating, the move into market access at Mtech Access felt very right!

What have you got involved with in your first few weeks with Mtech Access?

It has been a busy and enjoyable first few weeks. I have been updating our ‘Market access and reimbursement in key european markets’ guide for the 2023 edition. This has been a great way to learn more about the most important market access developments in Europe that may be affecting our clients.

I’m also working on a client project looking at launch pricing strategies in the UK, Italy, Germany, France, and Spain. We have been conducting interviews with regional affiliates and payers and I’ve enjoyed sitting in on the interviews with the affiliates and understanding more about their markets.

During my induction it was great to be able to meet someone from every team at Mtech Access and get to know people at high levels of the company. This made me realise how approachable everyone at Mtech Access is. I also visited the Bicester office for a team lunch.

A standout highlight of my first few weeks was definitely the latest London office social. We did a BBQ on a boat in Canary Wharf; it was very windy and a bit stressful at first but we had a great time, and I discovered I have a talent for boat-steering!

What has most surprised you about Mtech Access?

Everyone I’ve met is so knowledgeable and happy to share their insights. It’s also been surprising how quickly I’ve settled in. I’ve not at all been treated like ‘the new person’. I’ve felt like a valued member of the team from my first day.

If you could swap your expertise and role with a colleague from another team, who would you swap with?

Probably someone in the digital team or health economics team. I would love to know what it’s like to have their technical knowledge and skills with data and coding.

Katie Rose (Consultant – Market Access) showed me how one of our budget impact models began as an Excel sheet and has been transformed into a fully functional digital tool. It was fascinating to see how it was created and it looked extremely sophisticated.

When you are not at work, what do you like to do?

In my free time I love running around all the many lovely parks in East London. I have recently taken up painting and have enjoyed this as a way to relax in the evenings. I also love reading, cooking, yoga, and spending time with friends and family.

To learn more about how our market access team can support your work, please email info@mtechaccess.co.uk.

If you are interested in joining our team at Mtech Access, please visit our careers page for details of our current vacancies.

The post First steps in market access: Researching European reimbursement strategies appeared first on Mtech Access.