Josie Grist is a Senior Analyst in our London office, working across the Market Access and Health Economics Teams. She first joined Costello Medical in 2022 as a Scientific Intern, before returning in 2023 as a full-time Analyst.
Before joining Costello Medical, I studied Biological Sciences at Durham University, where I graduated with a first-class degree. During my time at university, I became particularly interested in applying science to real-world challenges. My final-year literature review focused on a rare condition, exploring the disease understanding and unmet needs in patient care. This topic was especially meaningful to me due to a personal connection, which strengthened my motivation to pursue a career where I could contribute to improving patient outcomes.
Alongside my academic studies, I also completed a Biological Enterprise project, where we designed a medical product and developed a business case for its implementation. This involved considering not only the science behind the product, but also how it could realistically be brought to patients, including market access conditions and operational requirements. This experience gave me an early insight into the type of work I now do in my role.
I first joined Costello Medical as a Scientific Intern in 2022, which was a fantastic opportunity to gain hands-on experience and better understand both the field of medical consulting and the company itself. After finishing my internship, I spent some time travelling before returning in 2023 as a full-time Analyst.
One of the things I enjoy most about my role is the variety of projects I get to work on within Market Access. This can range from HTA landscaping, advisory boards and early- and late-stage strategic projects, through to dossier development and building compelling value narratives for clients. Each project brings new challenges and opportunities to learn.
I also really value the opportunity to apply my scientific background in a more real-world, client-facing environment. Before joining Costello Medical, I had assumed that a lab-based career was the main route available with a biological sciences degree, but this role has shown me the breadth of opportunities beyond that.
Finally, the people at Costello Medical are a huge part of what makes the role so enjoyable. Everyone is incredibly friendly, approachable and knowledgeable, and I feel very grateful to work alongside such supportive and intellectually driven colleagues every day.
What really draws me to Market Access is how dynamic and constantly evolving the field is. It sits at the intersection of science, strategy and real-world decision-making, which means there is always something new to learn and consider.
This has become even more apparent recently, with major developments such as Joint Clinical Assessments (JCA), changes within NHS England and increasing global interconnectedness in pricing and access decisions. There is a growing emphasis on earlier strategic planning (such as shaping clinical trial endpoints, comparator choices and evidence generation well ahead of submission) which makes the work both challenging and highly impactful.
It’s also a space where broader external factors, from healthcare policy to global dynamics, play a significant role. While this can make the landscape more complex, it also makes the work genuinely interesting and rewarding, as you’re constantly thinking about how to navigate these challenges to ensure patients can access new treatments.
Overall, Market Access offers the opportunity to combine scientific understanding with strategic thinking in a way that directly contributes to improving patient outcomes, which is what makes it such a compelling area to work in.
9:00am
I usually start my day at the London office by checking my emails and reviewing my to-do list, making sure I’m clear on priorities for the day. This often includes responding to client queries via email and checking in on ongoing projects to ensure everything is progressing as planned.
10:00am
A large part of my morning is spent on project work, which can vary significantly depending on the day. I might be working on developing a value narrative, contributing to a dossier, or working on a technical report for a model for a project in my other team (Health Economics). I also spend time reviewing work from Analysts and providing feedback to help maintain high-quality deliverables.
11:30am
I often have client calls throughout the day to discuss project progress, align on next steps or provide strategic input. These conversations are a key part of the role and help to build strong relationships with clients.
12:30pm
Lunch is a great opportunity to catch up with colleagues, whether that’s within the Market Access Team or across other teams. These conversations often spark new ideas and help strengthen collaboration across the company.
1:30pm
In the afternoon, I continue with project work and internal responsibilities. This might include preparing or delivering training sessions, for example, supporting new colleagues who typically work in Market Access to better understand health economics concepts, given I work very closely with this team.
2:30pm
There’s often time for an informal tea break or a quick catch-up with team members – whether that’s discussing a tricky aspect of a project, sharing ideas, or just taking a step back from the day. These moments are a great way to stay connected with the team and often lead to some of the most useful problem-solving on our projects.
3:00pm
I often spend part of my afternoon on business development activities alongside project work. This could include drafting proposals, contributing to capability calls with prospective clients, or thinking about how we can expand our Market Access offerings, such as deepening out expertise in sub-national access through cross-team collaboration.
5:00pm
Towards the end of the day, I check in with project teams to ensure everything is on track and align on priorities for the next day. I also take some time to plan ahead and reflect on ongoing projects, ensuring we continue to deliver high-quality, impactful work for our clients.
No two days are the same, which is one of the things I enjoy most about the role.
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