Mickey McDermott, Healthcare Marketing Communications Strategist & Innovator
My Story
I started out as an account guy, then I ended up doing a stint at Dancer, Fitzgerald, Sample, in New York, where Cliff Freeman and his denizens roamed the halls and came up knock 'em dead creative ideas like "Where's the Beef?" -- I was converted on the spot.
A small entrepreneurial agency in suburban Philly, Dudnyk, gave me a shot at being a copywriter, and I was smitten. We grew fast, landing the Pfizer Animal Health account, which was among the most coveted in the animal health space, and creating their very first television commercial, which helped a lagging brand spring back to life. From there I helped found their independent healthcare division which exists to this day and continues to be successful financially and creatively.
From there I began a series of back and forths between the agency and client sides of healthcare communications. I was the in-house creative director for SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals (where we worked on backwater assignments like "managed care marketing" and "online marketing" - activities that have since launched entire industry segments). From there I helped found a satellite office of Saatchi & Saatchi Healthcare in PA that grew from 4 to 40 people, then became a global marketing manager at Pharmacia Animal Health, and finally returned to the agency scene as the creative director/copy then creative director for Ferguson/CommonHealth.
Most recently I have been in marketing and corporate communications roles at Novartis Animal Health. Some ask me "can't you make up your mind and be an agency guy or a client?" I suppose I could, but the truth is I never saw the difference between the agency and clients sides - nor between "suits" and "creatives" -- as being that great, and I've greatly enjoyed both experiences. We all want to make brands successful. We all want to do great work. And we all pride ourselves in being part of an industry that helps people live longer, better lives.
