[Hiring] Patient Educator @Acadia Pharmaceuticals

Role Description

As a Patient Educator, you’ll be at the heart of our mission to empower patients and caregivers navigating the challenges of Parkinson’s Disease Psychosis (PDP). In this vital role, you’ll deliver compassionate, clear, and actionable disease state education—helping individuals understand their condition and explore treatment options, including NUPLAZID®. You’ll serve as a trusted guide during early patient engagement, bridging the gap between diagnosis and ongoing support. By ensuring a smooth transition to ACADIA Connect and Patient Access Managers (PAMs), you’ll help patients access the resources they need for coverage, affordability, and long-term treatment adherence.

Key Responsibilities

• Patient Caregiver Support
  • Deliver pre-prescription (pre-NBRx) disease state education to patients and caregivers via small group meetings and presentations to advocacy groups, community-based organizations, and professional societies.
  • Provide information regarding product efficacy, safety, and access support available through ACADIA Connect to patients and/or caregivers who have opted in through various programs.
  • Offer approved educational resources helping patients and caregivers understand their disease and empower them to talk to their doctor about PDP.
  • Distribute approved educational materials to enhance patient and caregiver awareness of PDP and potential treatment with NUPLAZID®.
  • Build trusting relationships to ensure patients and caregivers feel supported throughout their journey.
• Access & Coverage Coordination
  • Collaborate with Patient Access Managers (PAMs) to address patient or caregiver questions related to coverage, reimbursement, and affordability.
  • Facilitate the referral and transition process for patients into ACADIA Connect for comprehensive access assistance.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Partner primarily with Neurology Sales Specialists and Long-Term Care Sales Specialists to ensure community-based healthcare providers are aware of Patient Educator resource provided by ACADIA.
  • Respond to inquiries generated through patient/caregivers, key customers, community organizations, and/or advocacy events.
  • Collaborate with community-based organizations, advocacy organizations, and professional societies to support patient and caregiver education programs.
• Education and Program Enhancement
  • Provide feedback and insights to the marketing team to improve patient engagement and educational initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in nursing, social work, psychology, or a related healthcare field; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of 3–5 years of experience in pharma with preferred candidates having experience in patient education, patient navigation, advocacy, or pharmaceutical patient support services.
• Knowledge of neurology, psychiatry, or movement disorders preferred, experience with Parkinson’s Disease or PDP strongly desired.
• Demonstrated ability to build empathetic and supportive relationships with patients and caregivers.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and active listening skills.
• Experience collaborating across marketing, patient support services, advocacy, and field-based teams.
• Familiarity with compliance standards for patient-facing pharmaceutical roles.
• Ability to meet travel requirements, including driving and overnight stays; air travel as needed.

Competencies

• Patient-Centered Focus – Dedicated to improving patient and caregiver experiences.
• Empathy & Emotional Intelligence – Skilled at providing compassionate support.
• Collaboration & Teamwork – Works effectively across functions and with external partners.
• Strong Communication – Clear and effective educator with patients, caregivers, and internal teams.
• Adaptability & Initiative – Proactive in meeting evolving patient needs.
• Privacy, Compliance & Confidentiality – Consistently safeguards patient health information and adheres to company compliance and privacy standards; exercises discretion in all patient and caregiver interactions.

Physical Requirements

This role involves regular standing, walking, sitting, and the use of hands for handling or operating equipment. The employee may also need to reach, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, and maintain visual, verbal, and auditory communication both in a standard office environment and while working independently from remote locations. Employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. This position requires the ability to travel independently overnight and/or work after hours as required by travel schedule or business needs.

Must reside within the territory (or within 30 miles of its border) and, depending on territory needs, within reasonable proximity to a major airport. Requires eligibility to drive a company vehicle and ability to travel independently by air. Travel may be up to 75% of the time, including occasional after-hours work based on business needs.