Bedrock Healthcare Communications spoke to our Scientific Director Janisha Ladva about how she started in medical communications, the challenges and rewards of her role, and what attracted her to Bedrock. And much more…
What got you interested in a career in MedComms?
I had always loved writing and science separately; I studied English Literature at A-Level along with my Biology and Chemistry choices, and when I was deciding what to study at university, I was torn between my two passions. At one point I wanted to become a journalist! In the end, I decided to go with my passion for science and understanding how disease and the body works and chose to study a BSc in Medical and Pharmacological Sciences. It wasn’t until my university careers advisor told me about MedComms and guided me to FirstMedCommsJob.com that I found that I could in fact blend my two passions together.
What’s your earlier background?
After completing my BSc in Medical and Pharmacological Sciences, I was torn between further education and going out into the field of work straight away. I have always been quite ambitious and driven, and ended up wanting to begin my career in MedComms as soon as possible. I started off by getting a place on a graduate scheme and stayed at my first company for just over 5 years, working my way up the scientific ladder. It was only when I started getting involved in more strategic projects and partnering with clients on their medical plans and overall objectives that I realised I had an interest in this side of MedComms. I had the opportunity to make an internal move to the specialised services company and become an Associate Medical Director particularly for Biotech clients. I am really excited to now be at Bedrock and collaborate with like-minded individuals on a variety of projects.
What attracted you to Bedrock?
I was drawn to Bedrock for two main reasons. Firstly, the people. The culture seemed to fit in with my personal values and beliefs, and every individual shared the same genuine passion for their everyday work and science. I love geeking out over new advancements, data, and research, and so being around people who are also driven by this really excited me. My second reason was the real opportunity to be with a company at an exciting time of growth – I am really looking forward to seeing what’s in store for Bedrock over the coming years.
How would you describe Bedrock culture?
The Bedrock culture is exactly as our values outline. Everyone is fuelled by the same genuine passion for delivering work that goes beyond expectations. We are all an open bunch and positively challenge each other to do better, think differently, and learn from our previous ways of working.
What’s been your Bedrock career highlight so far?
I joined at a time of great momentum for Bedrock; the team had just done an amazing job and won a large portfolio of work for a new client, becoming their agency of record. Since I’ve joined, I have had the pleasure of being part of such a wonderful team that have driven immense growth and exceeded client expectations in just a short period of time (8 months). Reflecting back on this short time period and how much we, as a team have achieved, and the brilliant client partnerships we have already built, is extremely rewarding.
What’s it like to be a Scientific Director at Bedrock?
Life as a Scientific Director at Bedrock is never dull – no two days are alike. One moment I’m checking in on projects to ensure they are running smoothly and reviewing scientific materials, the next I’m catching up with clients and listening to their challenges at work and problem-solving with them. There are also lots of team and people-focussed initiatives I’m involved in where we think about operations, and how best we can support the scientific team. It’s full-on, but that’s what I love about it. I get to work with brilliant people, build strong relationships and see the real impact we make together in healthcare and ultimately on patient’s lives.
What do you find rewarding about your role?
Developing strong, sustained client partnerships and seeing their trust and respect in the team grow over time, and in turn, seeing my team around me flourish.
What is the variety of work like?
Everyone does always say the cliche line “No day is the same” – but it’s really true. One day you could be working on an animated infographic and partnering with creative and digital teams, and the next you could be participating in an internal client workshop discussing medical plans and tactics.
Any advice for others thinking about MedComms as a career?
Speak to others that have been in the same role that you are thinking of, and if you love science – and a fast-paced, ever-changing environment that will satisfy you intellectually then go for it! There are so many ways to shape your career once you’ve been in MedComms for a while, the opportunities are endless.
What gets you up in the morning?
Coffee, definitely. But also, the excitement of not knowing what is in store for the day ahead and being able to start from a fresh canvas each day.
What do you enjoy outside of work?
Baking and cooking (and on the flip side eating and trying new restaurants) and going to the gym or any fitness classes – I don’t feel like me if I haven’t had sufficient movement in the day.
