Alex Hodkinson recently joined Mtech Access as a Consultant Statistician in our Evidence Synthesis Team. In this interview, we learn about his career to date and what inspired him to join Mtech Access. Alex also shares some of his experiences since joining the team.
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.
