MEET THE TEAM: Susan Heins
Understanding the patient perspective is key when conveying clinical data news. Meet Jeff Winton Associates consultant Susan Heins, who doesn't hesitate to incorporate her own story as a person with an autoimmune disease to reinforce the value of novel treatments with health care reporters.
Raised in Eastchester, New York about a half hour from Manhattan, Susan joined the workforce at Bloomingdale’s in nearby Scarsdale while still in high school. She kept that job, working nights and weekends, while commuting to Iona University.
Above: Susan visiting Grand Central Station, a place which holds fond memories for her from when she commuted to New York City for work.
“I needed a school that was both close to home and had a great reputation because I was paying the tuition and expenses myself,” says Susan. “I got a great formal education at Iona while learning about customer service at Bloomingdale’s.”
Despite earning a bachelor’s degree in English and psychology with a minor in communications, Susan had theatrical aspirations. After graduation, she performed in local and regional productions throughout New York’s Westchester County, landing 95% of the roles she sought. “Ultimately, acting didn’t work out as a career,” says Susan. "And I really wanted to experience NYC. Fortunately, the train station was five minutes from home, the rent was low, and I got to live with my wonderful parents.”
Susan was hired by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) NYC chapter as a patient education and fundraising/special events coordinator, which included traveling the five New York City boroughs as a member of the United Way Speakers & Tours committee, representing the ADA at health fairs and creating special events and fundraisers. Susan recalls, “I met celebrities such as Robert DeNiro, Andie McDowell and several of the New York Mets in addition to some of the nicest people and volunteers who helped drive the goals of this great organization.”
After six years, Susan was eager to try public relations. Her first agency job was as a senior account executive at Ruder-Finn, assigned to Ethicon’s endosurgery division. She subsequently moved to another prestigious agency, Burson-Marsteller, handling media relations when Pfizer won FDA approval for an over-the-counter version of heartburn medicine Zantac. Media relations positions at Cooper Communications in New Jersey and Pure Communications/W2O in Wilmington, North Carolina followed. The latter aligned with when Susan and her husband left the frenetic pace of New York to raise a family – first in Greensboro, North Carolina and then later in Greenville, South Carolina, where they continue to live.
Attending a recent American Heart Association meeting on behalf of a client.
In 2016, Susan’s life was upended with a diagnosis of lupus nephritis, a condition in which the body's immune system attacks its own cells and organs and causes swelling and inflammation of the kidneys. Susan could not work for about a year, and it took even longer to reach a new normal.
“Throughout my career, I’ve talked to reporters about chronic diseases, drugs and patient advocacy. Now, I know firsthand about the struggle to find the best physicians as well as the right diagnosis and treatment plan,” says Susan. “I also have a keen appreciation for the burden on the family.”
Susan getting ready to depart on an anniversary trip to Jamaica with her husband.
Thankfully, Susan is doing well as one of the lucky “lupus warriors,” a term used to recognize the strength, passion and optimism of people with lupus and their loved ones who support them.
Her life-changing diagnosis prompted Susan to become an independent consultant. As part of the Jeff Winton Associates team, Susan focuses on promoting new clinical data announcements and medical meeting presentations. With so many pharmaceutical and medical technology companies competing for attention, Susan breaks through the clutter due to her strong relationships with the medical and health industry trades and her gift for positioning how clinical data translates to potential quality of life improvements for patients.
“I am also comfortable counseling clients on media strategies, including news hooks, timing and reporter targets to ensure a successful outcome,” says Susan. “From a personal standpoint, having a chronic disease and being a ‘patient’ brings a level of empathy I never had before. Whatever data I’m pitching, my story resonates because the need for new therapies is personal whatever the condition.”
Susan and her husband are the proud parents of two sons: David, a Clemson University graduate with a degree in mechanical engineering, and Mark, a University of South Carolina graduate with a degree in computer technology. In addition, TobyMac, their “Jackahuahua” (Jack Russell/Chihuahua) is an important member of the family.
In her spare time, Susan teaches Sunday school at Brookwood Church in Simpsonville, South Carolina and ushers at the Greenville Theater. She and her husband love going to contemporary Christian concerts and traveling all over the world as well as exploring beautiful downtown Greenville with her friends and catching the latest action and sci-fi movies. As an English major, she is never caught without a book by her side! She is also a self-confessed “neat freak” who can be found cleaning and organizing her home.
Susan’s dog TobyMac with his BFF Levi.
Susan loves listening to contemporary Christian music and says faith is the cornerstone of her life. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13.