Adapting to AI in HEOR

LLMs and AI have Arrived with Authority!

Many academics, research groups, consultancies and pharmaceutical companies are rapidly adopting large language models and AI to gain efficiencies in Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR), and this will revolutionize the space in short order. While this progress is generally extremely exciting and I’ve heard about many very novel applications already (e.g., systematic review automation, economic and RWE modeling, increased role in medical writing deliverables, predictive analytics for market access strategy), there have also been stories of individuals losing their jobs as a consequence of this progress, which is extremely unfortunate. It’s important that we working in HEOR find ways to continue to improve our skill sets to add to our capabilities and complement the use of AI successfully while remaining indispensable in our roles. Conversations with folks in the HEOR space in recent weeks have shed light on some common themes that seemed worthy of sharing for those seeking potential strategies to adapt their careers in consideration of the broadening applications of AI.

Potential Strategies to Enhance HEOR Capabilities to ‘Adapt’ to the Role of AI

1.?????? Embrace AI and Machine Learning: Seek to understand and leverage AI to enhance your role and performance. Exploring machine learning fundamentals on available learning platforms to see how AI can be applied effectively within HEOR can help improve your performance and grow comfort with the use of AI (i.e., no longer your enemy!). Opportunities from many resources (e.g., Coursera, Google AI Education, amongst others) offer readily accessible and helpful materials for those wishing to learn more.

2.?????? Enhance Your Analytical Skills: Dive into advanced analytics by mastering languages like R or Python—key tools for data analysis in the HEOR world for many key tasks. Platforms like Coursera, DataCamp, Edx and others offer highly valuable courses to get started. Becoming proficient/certified in industry-standard software such as SAS and STATA can be impactful toward one’s career. Use of LLMs to help your coding abilities is also great!

3.?????? Build Your Soft Skills: In an era where AI will handle increasingly more technical tasks, skills like critical thinking and ethical judgment are becoming more crucial than ever. These skills ensure you can interpret data meaningfully and engage effectively with stakeholders (tasks which aren’t always AI friendly). Adopting this perspective opens new opportunities.

4.?????? Commit to Continuous Learning: The HEOR field is rapidly evolving—keep up with the latest trends, research, and regulations by attending relevant workshops and conferences. This can also include maintaining awareness with new applications of AI as it continues to evolve in its potential applications. Rapid gains will continue and its great to heighten our awareness of them.

5.?????? Specialize in Niche Areas: Consider specializing in complex or rare diseases where in-depth knowledge can safeguard your position as technologies advance. In-depth knowledge of this form, especially for highly active disease areas and rare diseases (e.g., psoriasis, myeloma), can be a defining quality.

6.?????? Enrich your Network: Strengthen your connections within the industry through professional associations and online forums. Networking can open new doors and provide critical support as the industry evolves. Conference attendance, joining online groups of similar-minded individuals, and use of online tools like LinkedIn can prove extremely helpful.

7.?????? Build Awareness on Ethics and Compliance: With increasing use of AI, understanding the ethical implications and regulatory requirements in HEOR is becoming ever more important.

These strategies can be helpful for all of us in the HEOR space toward adapting (and perhaps even thriving!) in this rapidly changing landscape as we figure out the most beneficial ways to leverage AI.

Please freely share in the comments strategies that are missing, those you are working on, and any resources you feel have been a huge benefit toward your own personal evolution. This can help others in similar circumstances.

Thanks for reading!

Brian Hutton, MSc Stat, PhD Epidemiology