Vivian Hackman
Director Marketing – Medical Expert Engagement
ImmunoGen, Inc.
Pioneering Innovative Connections in Healthcare
Ask Vivian Hackman what her superpower is, and she’ll tell you it’s connecting people. It’s hard to argue with that, given Vivian’s successes in bringing specialized groups of experts together in the fields of neuroscience and gynecologic oncology.
Forging powerful connections is a hallmark of Vivian’s career. Her Women in Neuroscience initiative for Novartis is a clear example of that. During her time at Novartis, Vivian’s engagements with the neurology community revealed unmet needs of female healthcare professionals—better work-life balance, greater presence at congress podiums, and ways to advocate for themselves. Seeing an opportunity for connection, Vivian launched Women in Neuroscience, an initiative to generate conversations, gather insights, and effect change.
Vivian has continued such efforts at ImmunoGen, Inc, where she started a Women in Gynecologic Oncology initiative. In just a year, what began as a small group of 10 grew to over 30 top female experts in the field. At a recent Women in Gynecologic Oncology event, Vivian partnered with an executive coach for an engaging discussion on emotional intelligence, the key role it can play in women’s leadership, and its ultimate impact on patient care.
Vivian’s commitment to connecting with customers and learning from specialty groups such as female clinicians, advanced practice providers, fellows, and emerging leaders has informed her approach to content development. Such connections and conversations inspired a program at Novartis—View on MS—modeled on the talk show The View. The program featured a panel comprising a neuropsychologist, a urogynecologist, a neurologist, a nurse practitioner, and a National Multiple Sclerosis Society advocacy representative. Brought together, their diverse perspectives on multiple sclerosis drew hundreds of people to programs across the country.
Through such innovative efforts that offer value beyond just the brand, Vivian has given industry a greater understanding of influential networks and enabled new engagements with formerly no-see clinicians.
“I am a big believer that if you do unbranded things well, you’re branding yourself, building trust, and ultimately creating awareness for your product,” Vivian says. “Over time, that builds advocacy for the organization and in turn opens doors for the field force.”
Superwoman indeed.
