Brian Reisetter, R.Ph, MBA, Ph.D.

Partner

Medical Marketing Economics, LLC

Oxford, MS

Taking advantage of his broad background including experiences in community pharmacy practice, hospital pharmacy practice and pharmaceutical sales, Brian teamed with a group of pharmacy and health care specialists to form a consulting firm: Medical Marketing Economics, LLC. A leader in pharmaceutical value-based marketing, MME is an excellent example of pharmacy entrepreneurial leadership.

Medical Marketing Economics, LLC is a consulting firm specializing in health care goods and services with a primary focus on pricing and marketing pharmaceuticals. Their services include value-based marketing consultation, development and evaluation of marketing and pricing strategies, and proprietary simulations to improve competitive advantage. The MME leadership team is comprised of Dr. Kolassa, expert on pharmaceutical pricing and value-based strategies; Dr. Reisetter, expert consultant in pharmacy legal, marketing, pricing and strategic planning; Dr. Paul, expert on forecasting and evaluation of potential products; Mr. Lobb, pharmacist with special focus on pre-market positioning; and Mr. Patterson, a certified public accountant.

If the one constant in life is change, then MME is prepared to steer the pharmaceutical industry through the future. Brian says, “ninety percent of what we do is help companies react to change.” As a leader in pharmaceutical pricing strategy, the team at MME recently provided oversight and assistance to major pharmaceutical manufacturers as they prepared for implementation of the Medicare Modernization Act, the single largest change in the Medicare system since its inception.

Brian himself is no stranger to change.  After graduating from Drake University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in 1985 with his B.S. in Pharmacy he worked for a county health system in Des Moines.  It was during this time he also worked towards his MBA at Drake. In 1987 after finishing his MBA, his career focus shifted and he took a position as a pharmaceutical sales representative. Then in the early nineteen-nineties Brian was offered a Director of Pharmacy position for a psychiatric hospital in Chicago through a contract with his corporation, Reisetter Pharmacy Health Services, Inc. While there, he began coursework for his Doctorate of Pharmacy Administration. Brian eventually, transferred to The University of Mississippi as a PhD student in Pharmacy Administration.  It was here that he started working on consulting projects with the group that would later become Medical Marketing Economics, LLC.

Brian’s advice for pharmacists and pharmacy students considering an entrepreneurial venture includes three things. First, “luck is where preparedness meets opportunity.” Second, you “need to talk to people”. Brian says most of his opportunities came through connections within his network of peers and colleagues developed while he was in school and through his professional fraternity, Kappa Psi. And finally, it’s okay to take risks with our background because “you can always go back and practice pharmacy.”

Entrepreneurial Leadership Analysis:

1.  How did Brian, and the team at MME, identify this opportunity?

The development of Medical Marketing Economics, LLC was primarily a response to the market. The University of Mississippi received numerous calls by organizations seeking a consultant in pharmaceutical marketing. Dr. Kolassa frequently provided consulting while teaching at the University and graduate students were given the opportunity to work on these projects. The MME leadership team decided they could better serve their clients as a focused team outside the academic setting, thus their firm was formed.

2.  What is MME’s plan for harvesting the venture?

Brian’s personal goal is to have financial freedom when he is in his mid-fifties, allowing him to pursue additional areas of interest without the current monetary risks.  He hopes to continue to work in specialized areas, such as independent pharmacy research, management and consulting. MME’s most recent harvest plan includes the newly formed partnership with Optimar Strategic Consulting, LLC. This recent development offers enhanced services for their clients in the areas of pharmaceutical and medical device pricing, reimbursement, market research and strategic consulting.