Patient Educator
Ascendis Pharma
August 24, 2026
Remote friendly (Charlottesville, VA)
United States
Patient Advocacy
The Patient Access Liaison (PAL) is a field-based role providing education and reimbursement support to adult and pediatric patients and caregivers.
Responsibilities
- Serve as primary point of contact for patients/caregivers for disease/product education and therapy access/administration questions.
- Build and maintain patient/caregiver relationships via in-person and virtual interactions.
- Assess individual patient needs and develop action plans using approved resources to empower advocacy.
- Provide individualized education on disease state and product using approved resources.
- Educate patients on insurance coverage and the process to obtain therapy.
- Conduct medication administration education once coverage is established.
- Provide affordability resource information as needed.
- Manage long-term relationships via a communication plan tailored to patients and care teams.
- Collaborate with cross-functional internal teams; partner with Patient Advocacy and attend patient education symposia.
- Partner with Patient Safety/Pharmacovigilance and Complaint Management to report adverse events and product complaints.
- Ensure compliance with relevant regulations/standards.
- Up to 50% travel (including overnight, weekends), including visits to patient homes.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree and at least 5 years in a direct patient support role; ability to explain disease state, product, and access/reimbursement concepts to consumers.
- Clinical/Allied Health degree/licensure preferred; at least 5 years clinical experience in pediatrics, endocrinology, neurology, ENT, orthopedics, or related.
- Minimum 2 years pharmaceutical industry experience.
- Bilingual preferred.
- Preferred: experience with orphan/rare disease product launches; educating patients/caregivers on injectable administration; patient education with reimbursement obstacles.
- Familiarity with HIPAA, FDA, and OIG compliance guidelines.
- Ability to work autonomously, communicate cross-functionally, adapt quickly, and maintain strong interpersonal skills.
Benefits
- 401(k) with company match; medical/dental/vision; life and AD&D; short/long-term disability; pet and legal insurance; EAP; employee discounts; professional development; HSA/FSA; incentive plans; additional insurance; mental health resources; paid parental leave.
Responsibilities
- Serve as primary point of contact for patients/caregivers for disease/product education and therapy access/administration questions.
- Build and maintain patient/caregiver relationships via in-person and virtual interactions.
- Assess individual patient needs and develop action plans using approved resources to empower advocacy.
- Provide individualized education on disease state and product using approved resources.
- Educate patients on insurance coverage and the process to obtain therapy.
- Conduct medication administration education once coverage is established.
- Provide affordability resource information as needed.
- Manage long-term relationships via a communication plan tailored to patients and care teams.
- Collaborate with cross-functional internal teams; partner with Patient Advocacy and attend patient education symposia.
- Partner with Patient Safety/Pharmacovigilance and Complaint Management to report adverse events and product complaints.
- Ensure compliance with relevant regulations/standards.
- Up to 50% travel (including overnight, weekends), including visits to patient homes.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree and at least 5 years in a direct patient support role; ability to explain disease state, product, and access/reimbursement concepts to consumers.
- Clinical/Allied Health degree/licensure preferred; at least 5 years clinical experience in pediatrics, endocrinology, neurology, ENT, orthopedics, or related.
- Minimum 2 years pharmaceutical industry experience.
- Bilingual preferred.
- Preferred: experience with orphan/rare disease product launches; educating patients/caregivers on injectable administration; patient education with reimbursement obstacles.
- Familiarity with HIPAA, FDA, and OIG compliance guidelines.
- Ability to work autonomously, communicate cross-functionally, adapt quickly, and maintain strong interpersonal skills.
Benefits
- 401(k) with company match; medical/dental/vision; life and AD&D; short/long-term disability; pet and legal insurance; EAP; employee discounts; professional development; HSA/FSA; incentive plans; additional insurance; mental health resources; paid parental leave.