Healthcare PR vet Batisha Anson has been named to the newly created role of global head, patient diversity and health equity at Syneos Health, the firm said Thursday.
Anson, who brings more than 20 years of health communications expertise to the position, will work to improve diversity in clinical trials and commercialization across the organization, Syneos said. Her remit also involves helping inform diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) strategies for investigator sites, patient experience, access and launch.
“Today, it is more important than ever that we reinforce the importance of diversity, equity and representation in the work we do – and our workplace – to enable our customers’ success,” stated Syneos Health CEO Michelle Keefe. “Batisha is a top industry talent with a clear vision for how we continue to advance health equity and patient representation.”
Most recently, Anson served as EVP at Syneos Health’s Biosector 2 boutique healthcare shop where, over the course of the last two decades, she led multiple DE&I initiatives. Those included DE&I strategic frameworks, leadership communications and employee engagement plans for several of the agency’s top biopharma customers.
Prior to joining Biosector 2, Anson worked at Syneos sister PR firm Chandler Chicco Agency following an initial stint at MSL. She has supported multiple DE&I programs at Syneos Health, including its internal council and patient voice consortium, which works to co-create clinical trial designs, access initiatives and commercialization and launch strategies.
“Syneos Health is fully invested in supporting DE&I through an inclusive culture and community actions,” stated Anson. “I’m excited and honored to take on this new role and continue to work alongside talented and committed individuals to advance diverse representation, access and equitable treatment for all people.”
Earlier this month, Syneos Health said it had agreed to be bought by a consortium of private equity firms for $7.1 billion. The group set to take Syneos from a public to a private company consists of Elliott Investment Management, Patient Square Capital and Veritas Capital.
The blockbuster PE deal is expected to be completed later this year, subject to approval of Syneos shareholders as well as other customary closing conditions and regulatory greenlights. The pending deal was just the latest healthcare play by Elliott Investment and Veritas Capital, who had jointly acquired health software-as-service company Athenahealth in 2018 for $5.7 billion before flipping it for $17 billion in 2022.
