We asked our clinical trials recruitment (CTR) teams on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean for the top trends and issues unfolding in this important space.
by ghmc
We asked our clinical trials recruitment (CTR) teams on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean for the top trends and issues unfolding in this important space.
We asked our partners for their perspectives on healthcare communications trends and opportunities in 2023. Here’s a look at what’s unfolding in Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, and Latin America.
The addition of the Bogotá-based agency brings more than a decade of industry-leading experience in a strategic market possessing a rapidly growing healthcare sector
NEW YORK and BOGOTÁ, COLOMBIA, February 1, 2023. Global Health Marketing & Communications (GHMC), the largest and most robust network of independent healthcare agencies worldwide, today announced the addition of Monodual Libera Ideas, a Colombia-based strategic communications and consulting firm, as its newest member. The partnership strengthens the ties GHMC has established in Latin America, while providing exceptional on-the-ground knowledge and capabilities for healthcare clients.
Since its founding in 2011, Monodual has focused on creating and executing high-impact projects. With its membership in GHMC, Monodual will continue to be a driving force in understanding the ever-changing field of the healthcare industry, while creating insights that translate into strategic results.
“We are thrilled to welcome our new Colombian agency partner, Monodual, to the Global Health Marketing & Communications family,” said GHMC President Tim Goddard. “Monodual’s values, innovative approach and diverse capabilities in the healthcare sector are unmatched in this important Latin American market. We look forward to collaborating with the Monodual team to deliver world-class integrated healthcare solutions to our clients in the region and beyond.”
Colombia is an important strategic market for GHMC and the healthcare industry. The country has the second largest population in South America, and its pharmaceutical sector is expected to continue to experience strong growth of 7% year over year, reaching more than $6 billion by the end of 2026. These factors, combined with a talented workforce, make Colombia a hub for science, technology and innovation.
“Becoming part of GHMC’s partner agencies around the world and having exclusive representation in Colombia is the result of extensive work aligned to the agency’s growth to significantly support the healthcare industry to ensure our clients get the best global experience combined with unparalleled execution,” said Director Juan David Sánchez. “We are excited to be part of a global community of top agencies and will undoubtedly bring our knowledge to the Latin American region and to the entire world.”
Monodual will work hand-in-hand with other leading GHMC agencies in South America, including Paradigma in Argentina, Strategika in Chile and Tino in Brazil, sharing resources to help clients both locally and globally.
About Global Health Marketing & Communications (GHMC)
GHMC is the largest and most robust network of independent healthcare agencies worldwide, dedicated to improving outcomes through the delivery of dynamic, health-driven experiences that drive meaningful global change. With more than 700 health-specialist communications professionals spanning more than a dozen disciplines, from patient engagement to advertising to clinical trial recruitment, the agencies that make up the partnership share a belief in insights-driven strategies and a commitment to collaboration. Today, GHMC has capabilities and reach into more than 60 countries. For more information, visit www.GHMCNetwork.com or follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.
About Monodual
We are Monodual, a consulting and strategic communications firm that unleashes powerful ideas that contribute to the progress of humanity.
More than 50 collaborators in Colombia. More than 10 sectors and more than 110 brands in 10 years generating trust.
For more information, visit www.monodual.com or follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn.
As we toast to the holidays, Global Health Marketing & Communications partners from around the globe share some of their favorite traditional holiday drinks. Try out some of the delicious recipes below!
Singapore
Singapore Sling
The Singapore Sling is a gin-based sling cocktail. This drink was developed sometime before 1915 by bartender Ngiam Tong Boon, who was working at the Long Bar in Raffles Hotel, Singapore. It is a tourist must-try.
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Spain
Queimada
There are many myths and mysteries surrounding the ritual of making queimada, the “fire drink” of Galicia, which is thought to have originated in ancient times when Celts established villages and settled in the region of Galicia, though historians dispute if this timeline is possible. Although this drink is made with orujo, a strong liqueur similar to grappa, much of the alcohol is burned off in the flames. This is the perfect specialty drink for an outdoor Halloween or winter party, as it’s traditionally served at family gatherings. It’s also popular on “Witches Night,” also known as St. Jon’s Night, which is celebrated annually on the night of June 23.
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Italy
Aperol Spritz
Often described as an Italian sunset in a glass, the Aperol Spritz originated in the city of Padua and has become one of the most famous cocktails from Italy. The Aperol liqueur became a beloved apéritif in Padua and out of its rising popularity the Aperol Spritz was born during the chic 1950s in Northern Italy.
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Argentina
Lemon Champ
“Lemon Champ” (either as a dessert or a drink) is present in many Argentine tables during Holidays. Nevertheless, it is not a local creation but just a rename of the ancient Italian drink “Sgroppino”, originated in Venice in the 16th century as digestif. The receipt of the Sgroppino later evolved with new ingredients that differ from our traditional Lemmon Champ. In Italian “Sgroppino” means “little knot” and refers to the characteristic sensation that invades the body after eating a lot.
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Canada
Maple Whiskey Sour
Of all the Canadian stereotypes – our unwavering love of maple syrup is by far the sweetest. And, if we’re being honest, ‘Canada’ and ‘Maple Syrup’ are basically synonymous at this point! With that in mind – wondering what to do when the Canadians in your life inevitably gift you yet another bottle of Maple Syrup? Try putting it to new use with the Great White North’s very own take on a classic drink. Perfect for the Holiday’s, the Canadian Maple Whiskey Sour is festive, delicious, and easy to make!
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US
Eggnog
Eggnog is an American classic, first mentioned in writing in Philadelphia in 1796. With its indulgent, almost custardy flavor mixed with warm, seasonal spices, few holiday drinks can compare to eggnog when it comes to taste or tradition. American cookbooks have featured recipes for eggnog with alcohol, sugar, cream, and eggs since 1839, and by the early 19th Century, eggnog had become the traditional drink for Christmas and New Years’ revelers. In fact, its tie to the holidays was immortalized in the Christmas Eggnog Riot of 1826 when eggnog and a prickly argument over a trigonometry problem led to a wholesale brawl at West Point. This (true!) debacle led to court-martials for 20 students, and lesser punishments for 70 more. So please — drink your eggnog responsibly.
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Colombia
Sabajón
It is a drink based on egg and aguardiente, with a sweet and creamy flavor. The Colombian drink by nature is aguardiente, an alcoholic beverage made from sugar cane. Many people drink it directly, other people, such as mothers, grandmothers, prefer to soften it with this type of recipe.
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Chile
Cola de Mono (Monkey Tail)
Translating to “monkey’s tail,” this creamy and smooth libation is rumored to have you “swinging like a money” (hence the name) thanks to a potent dose of heady aguardiente. With a taste and texture similar to a White Russian cocktail, cola de mono is also a great substitute for eggnog lovers, as eggnog isn’t readily available in Chile. Most households have their own unique, stylized recipe which they make for Christmas and New Years, and it pairs nicely with Chile’s quintessential seasonal treat, pan de pascua (fruitcake).
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Portugal
Ginjinha
Ginjinha, or simply ginja, is a liqueur obtained from the maceration of the sour cherry fruit, similar to the cherry, very popular in Portugal, especially in Lisbon, Óbidos, Alcobaça and in the Algarve. It is customary to serve it with a tanned fruit at the bottom of the glass, popularly said “with them”, or, when pure, “without them”.
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India
Lassi
Lassi is a cool, creamy, frothy, yoghurt-based drink savored all across India. Known to be originating in the lands of Punjab and Multan around 1000 BC, it is referred to as an “Ancient Smoothie”. It looks like a modern milkshake and comes in variations of sweet, salt and is sometimes, cannabis-infused. This fermented food is also a great immunity booster. It’s rich in calcium, vitamin B12 and phosphorus. Having curd during winter days boosts your overall health, though people with respiratory issues should minimise consumption
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UK
Mulled Wine
The Brits love a mulled wine during the run-up to Christmas. Mulled wine originated in the 2nd century. It was created by the Romans who would heat wine to defend their bodies against the cold winter. As the Romans conquered much of Europe throughout the next century, their love for mulled wine spread across their empire and the regions they traded with.
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Latest acquisition expands Spectrum’s global capabilities; provides enhanced resources, expertise and experience to award-winning Aurora team
WASHINGTON, DC and LONDON, UK (August 11, 2022) – Spectrum Science, an independent, integrated marketing, communications and media agency hyper-focused on health and science, today announced the acquisition of UK-based strategic communications consultancy, Aurora Healthcare Communications and other group agencies under This is Avalon Group (Aurora). Spectrum and Aurora have worked together for more than a decade as part of Global Health Marketing & Communications (GHMC). The two companies will now formally join forces under the GHMC brand, each as a GHMC Company. GHMC remains the largest network of fully independent healthcare communications agencies; Spectrum serves as founder and chair of GHMC.
“After 14 years of close, trusted and successful collaboration, we are thrilled to formalize our partnership with Aurora, building upon our existing global business and expanding capabilities to best meet client needs,” says Jonathan Wilson, owner and CEO of Spectrum and chairman and CEO of GHMC. “The past several years have been a period of great growth for Spectrum as we’ve transformed to a fully integrated marketing and communications agency with 250 employees spread all over the country. As the logical next step in this exciting journey, we’re looking forward to bringing our model to even more clients across Europe, further expanding our global work while supporting Aurora’s evolution along a similar path.”
As leading independent healthcare communications agencies in two of the most important global markets, this mutually beneficial partnership allows both organizations to further strengthen their transatlantic offerings and create new, exciting opportunities and career pathways for staff.
Aurora will continue to operate under the Aurora brand with ongoing leadership from co-founders Claire Eldridge and Neil Crump, with no change in day-to-day operations. Neil will assume the role of Chief Growth Officer for GHMC, working closely with the network’s President, Tim Goddard, to drive an expansion of capabilities, geographic presence and new business. Claire will continue in her role as Chief Executive Officer of Aurora and will focus on leading the integration with Spectrum in addition to setting the strategic direction for the agency to unlock its growth potential.
“We are delighted to build on the strong foundation we’ve established through our long-standing collaboration with Spectrum,” says Claire Eldridge, Chief Executive Officer of Aurora. “For nearly 20 years, we have focused on expanding our capabilities across communications, patient engagement and social impact to best serve our clients and tell meaningful stories to improve lives and prove it. Now in partnership with Spectrum, we can continue to grow our offerings with an eye towards today’s rapidly evolving industry, and a diversified set of clients who want to have the same impact we do for patients.”
Additionally, Chris Bath will continue in his role of Managing Director of Aurora, working closely with the existing Aurora leadership team to oversee the agency’s strategic direction, daily operations and existing client business, with the potential for more shared opportunities and global work. Aurora’s 34 permanent employees bring further expertise in patient engagement, medical communications, social impact and brand and corporate communications.
The Aurora acquisition closely follows two previously announced acquisitions for Spectrum: The Seismic Collaborative and SONIC Health. Financing for all three deals was provided by Monroe Capital.
Aurora is a strategic communications consultancy helping the world’s leading healthcare organizations improve lives and prove it. Since 2005, Aurora has run campaigns that reach, inspire and activate audiences including patients, families and caregivers, healthcare professionals and beyond. We do this for top global pharmaceutical companies, charities, MedTech firms and device manufacturers. Our approach works, and we evidence our impact using our comprehensive Acumen framework. Our work is multinational. As the UK partner and EU hub of GHMC, we match international best practice with on-the-ground local knowledge. Through insights, co-design, audience activation and communication management, we help businesses deliver healthcare for good. Visit www.auroracomms.com to find out more.
About Spectrum Science
Spectrum Science is an integrated marketing, communications and media agency like no other. An independent, full-service agency with end-to-end capabilities, Spectrum’s team are experts in science—focused on strategic engagements with our audiences. We leverage human-centered insights, motivating creative, innovative storytelling and technology to reach audiences where they are with the content they need and want. Spectrum offers global reach as the US partner and chair of Global Health Marketing & Communications (GHMC). For more information on how Spectrum goes Beyond the Science Quo, visit www.spectrumscience.com or follow @SpectrumScience on Twitter.
About Global Health Marketing & Communications (GHMC)
GHMC is the largest and most robust network of independent healthcare agencies worldwide, dedicated to improving outcomes through the delivery of dynamic, health-lingual experiences that drive meaningful global change. With more than 700 health-specialist communications professionals spanning more than a dozen disciplines, from patient engagement to clinical trial recruitment to advertising, the agencies that make up the partnership share a belief in insights-driven strategies and a commitment to collaboration. Today, GHMC has capabilities and reach into more than 60 countries. For more information, visit www.GHMCNetwork.com or follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.
NEW YORK and MILAN, June 10, 2021 – GLOBALHealthPR, the largest independent health and science communications agency partnership worldwide, is thrilled to announce today that its Italy partner office, Connexia, has been named the official global creative agency for World Blood Donor Day 2021 (WBDD), working on behalf of the World Health Organization (WHO) and key Italian public health stakeholders including the Ministry of Health.
World Blood Donor Day was established in 2005 to raise awareness of the importance of regular blood donations. In particular, this year’s WBDD targets young people (ages 18-25 years) and focuses on the essential contribution this generation can make by saving and improving lives with their donations.
The WHO selected Italy to host this year’s World Blood Donor Day Global Event in Rome from June 14-15. The two-day event will feature a series of special initiatives promoted by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the National Blood Center (CNS) and donor associations. The inauguration of the Virtual Donors’ Village, a digital space for meetings, scientific symposia and information, aims to raise awareness and provide information on the importance of voluntary donation. A virtual concert will also be held on June 14, featuring Indonesian singer-songwriter Anggun and other special guests.
Connexia created the concepts for the integrated campaign, developed a communication strategy and deployed all assets on a global level. The slogan for this year, Give Blood and Keep the World Beating, plays on the word “beating,” linking heartbeats and sound rhythms while speaking to the international and intergenerational language of music.
The campaign also features a 30-second film that uses animation to depict the extraordinary journey of a bag of blood — from the donor to the patient receiving it. The act of donating triggers a rhythm and a visual narrative that comes to life through the drawings of international illustrator Margherita Premuroso.
This digital short, available on-air in a 30-second format on all Italian television programming RAI channels, will also be available in a 40-second version that will be released on the official channels of the WHO, Ministry of Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità and Italian donor associations.
“For me, donating blood is an extraordinary act that helps the health service to function effectively every day, ensuring that it is fit for its purpose,” explains Minister of Health Roberto Speranza in a video-message focused on health. “Italy is striving to invest [in this cause] with all its energy, but we need more and more people to do their part: we need women and men who are prepared to devote a little of their time and give a little of their blood to a cause that is just and important. We will work hard to organize our networks as best we can, but we clearly need the consent and support of many other people. I would like to thank everyone who has decided to donate blood, because it is a compassionate and wonderful act that really helps our National Health Service to function. And I also want to express my gratitude to all those who will be working hard over the next two days and weeks to ensure that this event will once again send out a positive message of revival and strength to our National Health Service.”
“We are thrilled to collaborate with the World Health Organization, the Ministry of Health, the National Blood Center and donor associations for World Blood Donor Day 2021,” remarked Paolo d’Ammassa, CEO & Founding Partner of Connexia. “The campaign that we have created for the occasion, which will be featured on television networks and social media, aims to reach a worldwide audience made up primarily of young people, whose donations are increasingly crucial but experiencing a steady decline. In order to convey such an essential and vital message in a language that speaks to young people, we chose a direct creative approach, combining the simplicity of drawings with the rhythm of music.”
“Never before has the importance of communication in promoting basic health practices — from proper hand washing to the usefulness of vaccinations — been more apparent than during the pandemic. Effective communication can make a difference and save lives, as it has continued to do during the COVID-19 emergency. The video made for World Blood Donor Day is a perfect example of how to make difficult messages — which can struggle to “hit home” and raise awareness among certain categories of people — more engaging,” explains Vincenzo De Angelis, CNS Director. “The campaign is truly global: it is aimed at citizens of all countries and all ages. The video, like the other materials produced, has managed to strike a universal key that we hope will bring the world of donation closer to those who are not normally interested in this type of message, such as young people.”
“I am delighted to see young people at the center of World Blood Donor Day this year,” noted Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “Our young people have suffered in particular during this pandemic, but they have also shown extraordinary resilience and adaptability. Many of the world’s blood donors are young and it is time for their vital contribution to health and to the community at large to be recognized: by donating blood, young people can save lives. So, we would like to say a big THANK YOU to all the young blood donors of today and tomorrow. Give Blood and Keep the World Beating!”
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About Connexia
Communicate, Connect, Engage: Connexia is a fully integrated, data-driven, marketing and communications agency based in Milan. For more than 20 years Connexia has been considered the leading PR, digital, social and mobile agency in Italy, thanks to a strategy-first approach that allows us to activate across media types. Through a combination of passion, strong expertise and creative strategic thinking, Connexia partners with top companies across the globe to strengthen their positioning and to bolster their visibility. For more information, visit www.connexia.com/company/ or follow @connexia on Twitter.
About GLOBALHealthPR®
GLOBALHealthPR is a partnership of independently owned and operated health and science communications agencies that choose to work together based on common values. With more than 700 health-specialist communications professionals, researchers and medical advisors on staff serving more than 200 organizations globally, the agencies that make up the partnership share a belief in insights-driven strategies and a commitment to collaboration in order to provide clients the best possible counsel and execution. GLOBALHealthPR’s presence spans more than 60 countries, covering Europe, North America, Latin America, the Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific. For more information, visit www.globalhealthpr.com or follow @GLOBALHealthPR on Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.