Patient Educator, Great Lakes

Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc.; Pennsylvania; Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 137,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary + equity

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Life and disability insurance

401(k) plan with company match

ESPP plan with 2-year lock-in

Vacation days

Paid holidays

Sick time

Parental leave

Tuition assistance

Job summary

Acadia Pharmaceuticals is seeking a Patient Educator to empower patients and caregivers navigating Parkinson’s Disease Psychosis. Deliver disease state education, bridge diagnosis to support, and help patients access resources through ACADIA Connect and PAMs.

The role requires 3–5 years pharma experience in patient education or patient support services, travel up to 75%, and a background in neurology or movement disorders is preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in nursing, social work, psychology, or a related healthcare field.
• Minimum of 3–5 years of experience in pharma with 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.

Responsibilities

• Deliver pre-prescription 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.
• 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.
• Partner primarily with Neurology Sales Specialists and Long-Term Care Sales Specialists to ensure community-based healthcare providers are aware of Patient Educator resources.
• Respond to inquiries from patient/caregivers, key customers, community organizations, and advocacy events.
• Collaborate with community-based organizations and advocacy groups to support education programs.
• Provide feedback and insights to the marketing team to improve patient engagement and educational initiatives.

Job description

About Acadia Pharmaceuticals

Acadia is committed to turning scientific promise into meaningful innovation that makes the difference for underserved neurological and rare disease communities around the world. Our commercial portfolio includes the first and only FDA-approved treatments for Parkinson’s disease psychosis and Rett syndrome. We are developing the next wave of therapeutic advancements with a robust and diverse pipeline that includes mid- to late-stage programs in Alzheimer’s disease psychosis and Lewy body dementia psychosis, along with earlier-stage programs that address other underserved patient needs. At Acadia, we’re here to be their difference. Seeking talent near: Detroit, MI; Washington DC; Pittsburgh, PA; Columbus, OH

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.

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.

Location & Travel

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.

Compensation

In addition to a competitive base salary, this position is also eligible for discretionary bonus and equity awards based on factors such as individual and organizational performance. Actual amounts will vary depending on experience, performance, and location. Salary Range $109,500 — $136,900 USD

What we offer US‑based Employees:

• Competitive base, bonus, new hire and ongoing equity packages
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Employer‑paid life, disability, business travel and EAP coverage
• 401(k) Plan with a fully vested company match
• 1:1 up to 5% Employee Stock Purchase Plan with a 2‑year purchase price lock‑in
• 15+ vacation days
• 13 -15 paid holidays, including office closure between December 24th and January 1st
• 10 days of paid sick time
• Paid parental leave benefit
• Tuition assistance

EEO Statement

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every one of the qualifications in the exact way they are described in job postings.

We are committed to building a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and innovative company, and we are looking for the BEST candidate for the job.

That candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional background or may meet the qualifications in a different way.

It is the policy of Acadia to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and employment applicants without regard to considerations of race, including related to hairstyle, color, religion or religious creed, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, gender transition, country of origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, legally‑protected medical condition or information, marital status, domestic partner status, family care status, military caregiver status, veteran or military status (including reserve status, National Guard status, and military service or obligation), status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking, enrollment in a public assistance program, or any basis protected under federal, state or local law.

As an equal opportunity employer, Acadia is committed to a diverse workforce.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you have the right to request a reasonable accommodation.

Furthermore, you may request additional support if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access Acadia’s career website due to your disability, along with any accommodations throughout the interview process.

To request or inquiry about your reasonable accommodation, please complete our Reasonable Accommodation Request Form or contact us at [e-mail] or 858‑261‑2923 .

Please note that reasonable accommodations granted throughout the recruiting process are not guaranteed to be the same accommodations given if hired. A new request will need to be submitted for any ADA accommodations after starting employment.

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