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What is HEOR?
Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR) focuses on demonstrating the value of healthcare interventions. This includes economic modeling, real-world evidence generation, and health technology assessment.
Key Responsibilities
Design and conduct outcomes research studies
Develop health economic models
Generate real-world evidence from claims/EMR data
Support market access and reimbursement strategies
Publish research in peer-reviewed journals
Common Job Titles
HEOR Medical Director
Director, Real-World Evidence
VP Outcomes Research
Health Economist
Medical Director, Value & Evidence
Compensation Range
Associate Director: $220,000 - $300,000
Director: $280,000 - $380,000
VP: $350,000 - $500,000+
Skills and Qualifications
Required:
MD/DO, often paired with an MPH, MS, or PhD in epidemiology, health economics, or outcomes research
Strong quantitative and study-design skills
Ability to work with claims, registry, and electronic health record data
Clear scientific writing for payers and peer-reviewed journals
Preferred:
Experience with economic modeling or real-world evidence methods
Familiarity with payer decision-making and health technology assessment
Publication record in outcomes or health services research
Work Settings
Pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device companies
Managed care organizations and health plans
Academic health economics and outcomes research centers
Consultancies specializing in market access and value evidence
Is This Path Right for You?
HEOR suits physicians who are drawn to data, methodology, and the economics of care. As payers demand stronger evidence of value, demand for physicians who can bridge clinical meaning and health economics has grown. It is a good fit if you enjoyed research and quantitative analysis in training and want to influence which treatments patients can actually access.
How HEOR Fits the Broader Organization
HEOR sits close to both Medical Affairs and Market Access. Its evidence - cost-effectiveness models, budget-impact analyses, and real-world outcomes studies - is what payers and health-technology assessment bodies use to decide whether and how a therapy is reimbursed. That makes HEOR strategically central: a strong value story can determine a product's commercial success as much as its clinical trial data. Physicians who can speak fluently to clinicians, statisticians, and payers alike are especially valuable, which is why the function rewards both scientific rigor and clear communication.
