Derse Strengthens Healthcare Practice with Key Leadership Additions

As healthcare engagement becomes more global, regulated, measurable, and strategic, Derse continues to invest in the expertise, guidance, and solutions clients need to succeed. Johnson and Chan each bring more than three decades of experiential marketing experience, including leadership roles supporting many of the world’s leading pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device companies.

Johnson, based on the East Coast, and Chan, based on the West Coast, will both step into senior account director roles at Derse. They were drawn to Derse because they recognized a company that shares their philosophy: putting clients first, investing in exceptional healthcare talent, remaining proudly independent, and continually evolving to meet the changing needs of healthcare marketers. 

Both most recently served in healthcare client leadership roles at Sparks and previously worked alongside Vice President of Client Development, Healthcare, Jon Ellms at Access TCA. Together, they bring decades of shared experience helping life sciences organizations maximize the impact of congresses, conventions, and healthcare professional engagement. 

Building the Next Chapter of Derse Healthcare 

Johnson and Chan’s appointments reflect Derse’s continued commitment to evolving alongside the healthcare industry and the clients it serves. Built on decades of healthcare experience and intentionally designed for what’s next, Derse Healthcare brings together experienced leadership, fresh perspectives, nationwide client support, and global execution to help life sciences organizations create more meaningful, measurable, and impactful engagement with healthcare professionals.

Lori Filloon, Vice President of Healthcare Strategy, said the additions further strengthen Derse’s commitment to helping clients build smarter, more connected healthcare engagement programs that resonate with healthcare professionals (HCPs). 

“The best creative ideas and the best-managed programs both begin with a strong strategic foundation,” said Filloon. “Carrie and Corinna complement the capabilities we’ve been intentionally building across our healthcare practice. Their programmatic convention experience and ability to infuse strategy into design strengthen our ability to combine strategic insight, creative thinking, disciplined program management, operational excellence, and meaningful measurement into a connected approach that helps clients make better decisions, maximize their investments, and create more meaningful engagement with healthcare professionals.” 

“Our objective isn’t simply to grow our healthcare practice. It’s to continually increase the value we bring to our clients. By investing in exceptional people and surrounding them with the strategic, creative, and operational resources of Derse, we’re building a healthcare organization that’s ready for the challenges our clients will face tomorrow, not just the ones they’re facing today.”

According to Jon Ellms, Johnson and Chan reflect Derse’s long-term vision for its healthcare practice. “The healthcare marketplace isn’t standing still, and neither are we,” said Ellms. “Clients are asking more from their agency partners than ever before. They need fresh, innovative thinking, deeper healthcare expertise, stronger analytics, flawless execution, and guidance that extends well beyond the show floor.”

“Carrie and Corinna bring complementary perspectives to the same goal: helping our clients succeed. Carrie has a remarkable ability to approach business challenges through a creative lens, uncovering new possibilities and fresh ways to engage healthcare professionals. Corinna approaches those same challenges through operational excellence, bringing the structure, discipline, and precision required to execute complex programs flawlessly. Together, they strengthen every stage of the client journey, from planning through execution.”