Grant Tower, PhD
Wellington,FL
Summary
Highly driven, collaborative, and results-oriented professional with 16+ years of successful experience in medical communications/education. Areas of expertise include advisory boards, KOL mapping, segmentation and engagement (traditional and digital), content creation, communication plans, and peer-to-peer education. Therapeutic expertise includes oncology/hematology/immuno-oncology, immunology/rheumatology, neuroscience, and rare disease. Adept at coordinating diverse resources to accomplish challenging objectives.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Freelance
VP Medical Director/Strategist
04.2016 - Current
- Planned and executed advisory boards and internal multi-departmental meetings for clients
- Created and executed promotional pre-launch publication plans for an immuno-oncology client that received high client praise
- Developed brief, animated journal article summary videos
- Acted as a medical expert and strategist to develop and present overarching approach, messaging, and case studies as part of new business pitch teams
- Produced and updated mobile apps for patients, care partners, and their HCPs that capture day-to-day symptoms, QoL, and disease management changes in patients with chronic conditions and provide disease-specific tools and information for patients and care partners in collaboration with KOLs
- Created Global communication strategy and plan and messaging matrices
- Delivered draft Global communication strategy and plan to a sizable cross-functional team and moderated workshop
- Created capabilities presentations on client's expertise, approach, and experience (case studies) in rare disease
The Lynx Group
Director, Patient Engagement & Advocacy
05.2018 - 09.2018
- Developed and executed patient advisory boards and roundtable meetings
- Collaborated with cancer patients, caregivers/advocates, advocacy groups, and pharmaceutical clients to develop publication plans and write and edit primary and secondary manuscripts and white paper supplements
- Created strategic and tactical plans for pharmaceutical clients for disease state education and stakeholder engagement
- Generated 3-year conference plan for competitive intelligence and KOL engagement for an emerging biotechnology company's rare disease pipeline
- Developed needs assessments and grant submissions for pharmaceutical company support for cancer patient-centered initiatives
Evolution Medical Communications
Sr Medical Director (2012-2015); Medical Strategist (2015-2016)
12.2012 - 03.2016
- Planned and executed 20+ advisory boards, with 13 in one calendar year, and delivered all required documentation (rationale forms and executive summaries), attendee list, meeting content and materials, surveys, and break-out group activities
- Drove the development of medical content, including pre-launch disease state and branded slide decks and MOA/MOD videos that received accolades from top KOLs across diverse therapeutic areas
- Performed KOL mapping, segmentation, and engagement planning and execution across multiple therapeutic areas
- Supported strategic planning and development of scientific platforms
- Achieved client growth of >20% through business development activities, including medical communications Agency of Record account for an immuno-oncology product
- Grew two medical communications Agency of Record accounts by ~300% ($1 million and $2.4 million in revenue to $3 million and $6.4 million, respectively, in planned revenues)
- Successfully launched six new products and additional indications
- Built strong relationships with internal stakeholders, key clients, agency partners, and KOLs
- Managed team of up to 14 people (4 director reports, up to 10 freelancers) within the same time frame
BioScience Communications
Senior Medical Director
02.2010 - 08.2012
- Designed and executed gap analysis and messaging workshops, summit meetings, and advisory boards
- Successfully devised and implemented strategic and tactical plans for branded and non-branded personal and non-personal programs that exceeded client objectives
- Designed and executed multi-channel publication plans for both commercial and Medical Affairs clients
- Established strong long-term relationships with internal stakeholders, clients, and KOLs that led to long-term engagement
- Garnered scientific insights at national medical meetings that drove successful campaigns
- Acted as medical expert across departments and teams to develop digital assets and deliver competitive intelligence
Freelance
Medical Director
06.2009 - 02.2010
- Delivered effective strategic plans and medical content for existing products
- Won new account for an orphan drug in phase 3 studies
- Generated novel communication tactics as part of a larger Scientific Communication Platform
The Falk Group
Medical Director
10.2008 - 06.2009
- Cultivated strong relationships with KOLs within infectious disease, mental health, and neurology
- Achieved client goals via effective data analysis and development of enduring materials, including manuscripts (primary, reviews, and white papers), posters, and slide presentations
- Won new accounts as a core member of business development teams
Health Science Communications
Associate (2007); Medical Director (2008)
04.2007 - 10.2008
- Implemented and managed live professional meetings, such as advisory boards, and consultancy and speaker training meetings
- Delivered a wide range of highly scientific medical education materials, including publications and posters, slide presentations, and educational videos
- Built strong relationships with KOLs across oncology, cardiometabolic disease, transplant, immunology, and virology
- Implemented and managed live professional meetings, such as advisory boards, and consultancy and speaker training meetings
- Collaborated with client lead and national/global KOLs to determine direction, topics, and medical content for a 1 ½-day multidisciplinary symposium attended by 75+ KOLs
Thomson Healthcare, Gardiner-Caldwell US
Medical Writer
09.2006 - 04.2007
- Demonstrated strong ability to identify and develop professional relationships with KOLs in fields of medicine pertinent to marketing strategy
- Wrote primary and secondary manuscripts in collaboration with KOLs
Education
Postdoctoral Research Fellowship - Division of Inflammation And Antimicrobials
Schering-Plough
Kenilworth, NJ2006
PhD - Molecular and Cellular Biology
Dartmouth College/Geisel School of Medicine At Dartmouth
Hanover, NH2003
BS - Biology
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Troy, NY1997
Skills
- Scientific strategy
- Translating complex concepts
- Mentorship and leadership
- Strong presentation skills
- Competitive intelligence
- Critical and creative thinking
- Cross-functional communication
- Regulatory compliance
Achievements
- Secured >$25 million in planned revenue through business development and organic growth; 2009-2016
- Received Employee Recognition Award for client growth (Evolution Medical Communications); 2015
- Selected speaker at Susan G. Komen National Meeting, Washington, DC; 2002
- Won three-year Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Division grant ($66,000); 2001
- Chosen speaker at Annual Association of American Cancer Researchers Meeting, San Francisco, CA; 2000
- Awarded two-year Susan G. Komen Foundation grant ($30,000); 2000
- Granted Association of American Cancer Researchers Travel Fellowship; 1999
Personal interests
- Patient advocacy as a member of the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) Rare Action Network® and for the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI)
- Volunteering with animal rescues and acting as animal foster (e.g., Second Chance Animal Rescue)
- Mentoring and tutoring at-risk youths in math and science
Timeline
The Lynx Group
Director, Patient Engagement & Advocacy
05.2018 - 09.2018
Freelance
VP Medical Director/Strategist
04.2016 - Current
Evolution Medical Communications
Sr Medical Director (2012-2015); Medical Strategist (2015-2016)
12.2012 - 03.2016
BioScience Communications
Senior Medical Director
02.2010 - 08.2012
Freelance
Medical Director
06.2009 - 02.2010
The Falk Group
Medical Director
10.2008 - 06.2009
Health Science Communications
Associate (2007); Medical Director (2008)
04.2007 - 10.2008
Thomson Healthcare, Gardiner-Caldwell US
Medical Writer
09.2006 - 04.2007
Postdoctoral Research Fellowship - Division of Inflammation And Antimicrobials
Schering-Plough
PhD - Molecular and Cellular Biology
Dartmouth College/Geisel School of Medicine At Dartmouth
BS - Biology
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
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