Meet Our Team: Monica Lizarraga
Meet Monica Lizarraga, MPH, Account Manager at Rx4good, in this week’s Meet Our Team blog. Monica joined the Rx4good team earlier this year. She is a public health professional with 15 years of experience in domestic and global programs and project management. At Rx4good, Monica manages the day-to-day account activities of several large clients. Her passion for supporting partnerships among life science companies, clinicians, patients, and their families through engagement and education, along with her international experience, brings a unique perspective to her clients’ work.
Q: What has been exciting and daunting about joining Rx4good?
The most exciting thing has been doing a different kind of work than I’ve ever done before. I previously worked for a nonprofit medical professional society, most recently working with physicians on provider and patient education tools. Coming into Rx4good and doing external client-facing work was a whole new ballgame, and it can be daunting at times. But it’s also been exciting to view the work through our clients’ perspectives. It gets your brain working in a different way, and it’s been really interesting.
Q: What services have sparked your interest so far?
I’ve been working on some really creative projects with our clients to help raise awareness about health conditions. I’ve been able to bring together advocacy groups, help to gather patients’ input, and work with our clients from start to finish on these campaigns. I’ve also been enjoying working on patient advisory councils, including helping clients set them up, recruit patients, and gather and synthesize the insights they need to best serve their communities.
Q: What have you learned about your clients?
I’ve learned that it’s not just about the bottom line for our clients. They really care about the patients they serve and want to do right by them. They take their patients’ views, opinions, and thoughts into account so that their products or drugs can best serve the needs of the people they’re intended for. I’ve also learned how different every client is. It’s been so interesting to learn about each company’s unique culture and personality and see their internal processes.
Q: How would you describe Rx4good’s culture?
Rx4good has a very welcoming culture, with a strong focus on nurturing employees. Rx4good fosters growth and learning opportunities for us and ensures that we feel supported in the work we’re doing and that we have all the tools we need to accomplish it.
Q: Where do you want to make your mark?
I’d like to make my mark by helping to make complex topics simpler for patients. Before joining Rx4good, I worked on developing patient education tools, and I’ve seen the importance of clear communication. The health care system can be so complex on so many levels – from understanding medical jargon and the clinical trial process to navigating insurance – all while patients are facing health challenges. I’d like to make my mark by doing what I can to make health care more digestible to help patients have a better experience along their health care journey.
Q: Why do you think patient-centricity is important?
There’s a phrase we often use that really resonates with me: “Nothing about me without me.” There’s a whole health ecosystem – from drug companies and insurance companies to health care providers – but within that, the patient should always be at the center. At the end of the day, it should always be about the patient, because they are the reason health care exists, and everything else is built around that.
Q: Tell us about you as a human.
I live right outside of Philadelphia with my family, which includes my three kids, who are 7, 5, and 1. Almost all of my free time is dedicated to them, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
-Q: Favorite food? I have a sweet tooth, so anything chocolate.
-Q: Favorite TV show? I like to watch The Handmaid’s Tale or reruns of The Office.
-Q: Favorite place you’ve ever been? Mexico is my favorite: I lived there, my husband is from there, his whole family is there, the food is great, the culture is vibrant, and they have beautiful beaches.
-Q: Your hobbies? Spending time with my family, reading, taking walks, and baking
