WPP collaborates with the NYU SPS on new Healthcare Marketing and Communications Certificate

WPP has joined forces with the NYU School of Professional Studies (NYU SPS) to establish a first-of-its-kind industry Healthcare Marketing and Communications Certificate.

The fully online program starts in the Fall 2021 semester and will directly strengthen WPP’s offer for healthcare clients by equipping its teams in the US with the latest skills to stay competitive in the field of healthcare marketing and communications. Consisting of two required foundation courses and two electives completed over the course of six to eight months, the program will provide a foundation in the unique demands of healthcare and actionable insights into ways the field is developing. Designed with flexibility in mind, students will be able to complete their virtual coursework when it best suits them.

The program is open to individuals at multiple levels within WPP agencies and can benefit those across a wide range of specialty areas. The program can accelerate the development of early-career talent, while at the same time upskilling mid-career talent currently working outside of healthcare marketing. The initiative also creates a path for high-potential team members to switch roles within an agency. In addition, agency leaders will have future opportunities as guest speakers as case studies are integrated into the course.

Brian Baker, Global Head of Talent Management and Client HR, said: “The new WPP and NYU SPS collaboration on the Healthcare Marketing and Communications Certificate is a further investment in our people and their careers by upskilling existing teams with the expertise essential to succeed in the ever-growing field of healthcare marketing, while also attracting cutting-edge talent in a critical field.”

Michael Diamond, Clinical Assistant Professor of Marketing at NYU SPS in its Division of Program in Business commented: “We are excited to work with WPP on this program and provide applied professional academic opportunities for WPP’s talent, helping to upskill and reskill in this critical area of growth for marketing and communications.”

Future plans for an expanded relationship with NYU SPS include recruiting directly from their talent pools engaged in the school’s award-wining PR and marketing programs, collaborating on DE&I projects, rotating WPP and agency leaders as faculty members and experts in the Certificate program, and including WPP case studies as part of the program's curriculum.

This initiative also forms part of a broader strategy to create a more diverse pipeline to recruit the best, most creative people and offer growth opportunities in the industry to historically underrepresented groups. From 2022, WPP will sponsor scholarships for underrepresented health science students in HBCUs and other universities, training them for careers in the field.

Read more about NYU SPS’ offering here.