Pharmaceutical Market Europe • January 2022 • 42
PEOPLE
Q&A
Jeremy Clark
What gets you out of bed in the morning?
The prospect of a run through the hills and countryside where I live on the edge of the Chiltern Hills. A great way to start the day – if
I warm up properly and don’t damage myself
in the process.
What’s the best thing about working in healthcare comms?
Working with inspirational people. My current team and former colleagues but also the healthcare professionals and scientists who we have the privilege of collaborating with.
What’s the worst thing about working in healthcare comms?
That not enough people outside the industry understand what we do and the contribution we make. This is why things like the Communiqué Awards are so important to help us raise the profile of the work we do.
What’s your favourite bar or eatery?
The Cibreo Trattoria in Florence. The main Cibreo restaurant is famous but next door is a wonderful little trattoria serving food from the same menu in a much more relaxed setting.
Which book/film would you recommend above all others and why?
The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy. A great story and the writing is so evocative and musical.
Which buzzwords/office-jargon get on your nerves?
All of them! I understand in science and medicine that technical language is necessary. But in marketing and communication a lot of buzzwords are just people trying to sound clever or covering up a lack of understanding.
Which person, living or dead, do you admire the most and why?
George Lucas, the creator of the Star Wars films, for all the radical innovation that he led to bring his vision to life. He and his teams invented new cameras, new filming techniques, paved the way for surround-sound and tore up the legal/commercial rule book. He did more than make great films, he changed the film industry.
Who is your healthcare comms hero/heroine?
Tom Isaacs who was the co-founder of the Cure Parkinson’s Trust. After being diagnosed himself, Tom built a charity not just to help people cope with Parkinson’s but with the singular vision of finding a cure. He died in 2017 but the Trust continues his mission.
What has been your career highlight to date?
I think creating my own business must be the highlight. It has been a real buzz to bring together great people, see them do such great work, grow so much as individuals and win awards. And in 2022 we celebrate our 10th birthday.
What’s your golden rule/piece of advice for someone starting a career in healthcare comms?
Acknowledge and enjoy the privileged position we are in to use our skills in communications to help scientific and medical innovations fulfil their potential.
Jeremy Clark is the founder and Managing Director of Clark Health Communications