October T2B Comm Convo: Policy, Politics, and Public Perception of Biopharma
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POLICY, POLITICS, AND PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF BIOPHARMA
With elections looming and significant global events unfolding, being equipped to lead strategic communication around government affairs is critical. In October’s Comm Convo, an expert panel will discuss key issues impacting our industry, including elections and geopolitical dynamics. Gain practical insights into managing social and political engagement, determining the right communication moments, and navigating access narratives during election cycles.
PANELISTS
John Heffernan – Principal @ Park Street Strategies
Michael Miller, M.D. – Communications, Policy and Advocacy Consultant, Coach & Advisor @ HealthPolCom Communications Consulting
Michele Oshman – Senior Vice President of External Affairs and Head of BIO’s Patient Advocacy Center of Excellence
Moderator: Lynnea Olivarez, Founder and Community Manager @ Ticket to Biotech
WHY ATTEND?
Gain insights into how to align corporate policy priorities with your communication strategy and subsequent rollout internally and externally.
Consider practical guidelines for communicating during election cycles, including approaches to employee engagement and voter encouragement.
Learn effective strategies for assessing communication timing, like deciding when to engage publicly on political issues and when intentional silence can be advantageous.
MEET OUR SPEAKERS
John Heffernan
John Heffernan is currently principal at Park Street Strategies, LLC, which he founded in 2014. He represents a diverse clientele focused on biotechnology and life sciences, as well as other sectors within the innovation economy. John is a seasoned professional in association management, coalition building, government affairs and economic development. He was formerly a member of the senior management team at MassBio, the largest life sciences trade association in the world, where he oversaw federal and state policy, as well as economic development. He spearheaded efforts to create and maintain a climate in which the life sciences industry can thrive. He also led an effort to revitalize the Massachusetts Biotech Caucus, which creates a venue to educate legislative staff, elected and appointed officials and other stakeholders on the vital role innovation plays in the local economy and global healthcare.
John is a native of Boston and received a Bachelor of Arts from Fordham University and successfully completed the Emerging Leaders Program at the Center for Collaborative Leadership at the University of Massachusetts, Boston.
Michael Miller, M.D.
For more than 30 years, Dr. Michael Miller has been supporting the development, reimbursement, and appropriate use of clinical and scientific innovations to expand access to better, more affordable care and improve outcomes. He has written and presented widely about how policy, advocacy and communications intersect to improve health care through private and government programs - and particularly how legislative, regulatory and budgetary actions affect health care delivery, access and affordability.
In his work as a health care and life sciences expert, Dr. Miller has worked with large and small organizations and private companies, including AdvaMed, Amgen, Ariadne Labs, Bread for the City, Breakaway Policy Strategies, CITL, Center for Medical Technology Policy, Cytokinetics, Endo, Feinstein Kean Healthcare, Foley Hoag, GE healthymagination, Gilead, HealthyWomen, Johnson & Johnson, Lever, Inc., Monitor, NEHI, Novartis, OnDeck Biotech, the Personalized Medicine Coalition, Pfizer, and PhRMA. He has also worked with governmental organizations, including the National Governors Association (and various state agencies and executives), the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate, the National Institutes of Health, and the White House’s Office of Management and Budget.
He currently manages the Scientific Advisory Board of Why We Vax (a non-profit focused on promoting vaccine confidence), and has participated in the past 4 World Vaccine Congresses in Washington DC as a presenter, panelist, moderator and session chair. He is very close to finishing a book titled “Reversing Misinformation,” which builds on his experience with vaccine misinformation and focuses on how people can productively communicate with their misinformed friends, family and co-workers. He has served as a mentor to entrepreneurs and innovators, (including through Lever and Entrepreneurship for All), and as part of his communications services provides speech and presentation coaching.
Dr. Miller graduated magna cum laude from Williams College with a B.A. in chemistry, and received his M.D. from the Yale University School of Medicine. Dr. Miller has volunteered in Bread for the City’s free medical clinic in Washington DC, served on their Board of Directors, and chaired their Fundraising Committee. He has also assisted Bread for the City’s CEO with major speaking engagements and strategic planning activities. He was the Secretary of the Williams College DC and Boston Regional Alumni Associations, was a founding co-chairs of the Yale Life Sciences Alumni Association’s Boston Chapter, was the longstanding honorary “Team Physician” for the political satire troupe the Capitol Steps, and many years ago became an Eagle Scout.
Michele Oshman
Michele M. Oshman is Senior Vice President of External Affairs and Head of BIO’s Patient Advocacy Center of Excellence.
The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) is the world's largest trade association representing biotechnology companies focused on human health, agriculture, and the environment.
In her role, she leads BIO’s engagement with patient advocacy and other key stakeholder communities, drives BIO’s support for members’ patient advocacy and external engagement needs, and ensures BIO’s policies reflect patient perspectives.
Ms. Oshman joined BIO in January 2020 after a successful 18-year career at Eli Lilly and Company, where she led federal alliance development outreach. She started her career as a clinical neuroscience researcher and served in multiple clinical development and corporate leadership roles. She earned a Six Sigma Black Belt in 2005 and led multiple transformational efforts across the company before joining the advocacy team in 2007.
From 2012-2015, she served as Chair of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization Alliance Committee and held the same position with the PhRMA Alliance Development Section in 2016. She chaired the Arthritis Foundation Industry Forum from 2014 - 2016, and currently co-chairs the Lupus Foundation of America corporate council.
Ms. Oshman serves on the Board of Directors for the National Health Council (NHC). Created by and for patient organizations more than 100 years ago, NHC brings diverse organizations together to forge consensus and drive patient-centered health policy, promoting increased access to affordable, high-value, sustainable and equitable health care. Made up of more than 160 national health- related organizations and businesses, the NHC’s core membership includes the nation’s leading patient organizations. She is serving her second term on the Board of the American Brain Coalition, a non-profit organization comprised of the United States’ leading professional neurological, psychological, and psychiatric associations and recently completed her tenure on the Board of Directors for Capital Clubhouse, a Washington DC community mental health agency.
In 2023, she was elected to Health On Wednesday, a women’s organization whose membership is limited to 45 executive health policy leaders. Ms. Oshman also serves on the prestigious Committee on Nominations and Leadership Development for the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
An active member of the Japan America Society of Washington DC, Ms. Oshman graduated from American University with a dual degree in Political Science and Communications. After completing her undergraduate studies, she pursued a Doctor of Pharmacy at University of Maryland, Baltimore before being recruited by Lilly while on maternity leave from pharmacy school. She has two amazing adult children, a loving husband of over 25 years, an oversized dog and absolutely no regrets about leaving pharmacy school.