BTS Health Digest #61 - Want to Become a Project Manager? Start Here.
Welcome to BTS Health Digest #61
Your weekly dose of curated insights, news, and resources to help you confidently navigate your transition into health tech careers.
This week, we dive into the essentials of project management, plus key events, podcasts, and tips to keep you ahead of the curve.
Let’s get started! 🚀
Feature Article - Want to Become a Project Manager? Start Here.
Every week, I hear the same question from clinicians ready for change: “How do I get into project management?”
What most people don’t realize is—they’re already doing it.
If you’ve ever coordinated a busy ward, led a quality improvement (QI) initiative, managed locum rotas, or organized a clinic redesign—you’ve been managing projects without the official title. The challenge is translating that experience into a new path. This week’s digest breaks down how healthcare professionals can confidently explore project management (PM) as a career transition option.
What Is Project Management in HealthTech?
Project managers in healthcare and health tech lead initiatives that improve systems, processes, and outcomes. That might include:
Rolling out a new EHR (Electronic Health Record) system
Leading a pilot project for remote monitoring
Managing a service redesign in a community health setting
Coordinating the development of a health app
Overseeing transformation programmes in ICS or NHS Trusts
You’ll find roles like Project Coordinator, Project Manager, Programme Manager, and increasingly in tech, Delivery Manager and Scrum Master.
Why Health Professionals Are a Natural Fit
You may not have the job title, but you’ve already got the experience. Consider the transferable skills:
Communication & Stakeholder Management – liaising with consultants, managers, and multidisciplinary teams.
Organization & Prioritization – juggling patients, audits, and team schedules.
Critical Thinking & Problem Solving – working through real-time challenges on the ground.
Empathy & People Leadership – guiding teams and patients with care and clarity.
Add in your deep system knowledge of how healthcare works, and you’re ahead of many entry-level PMs.
Common Myths About Project Management
Let’s bust a few misconceptions that hold clinicians back:
“You have to be technical.”
Most PMs aren’t coders. Your job is to align stakeholders, timelines, and deliverables—not to build the software.“I need to be certified before I apply.”
Certification can help (like PRINCE2 or Agile), but it’s not mandatory to get started—your experience matters.“It’s all admin and Gantt charts.”
While structure is key, good PMs focus on people, outcomes, and momentum. It’s dynamic and rewarding.
Key Skills to Cultivate
If you’re thinking of transitioning, here are skills that make you stand out:
Time and priority management
Clear communication and documentation
Risk management and mitigation
Facilitation of team meetings and retrospectives
Understanding tools like Trello, Monday.com, Asana, or Jira
Start small—manage a timeline in Trello or shadow a transformation project within your trust.
Your First Steps Toward Project Management
Take a short course – PRINCE2 Foundation or AgilePM.
Get involved – Volunteer for transformation or digital innovation projects at work. This could be in your local hospital, Trust, Integrated Care Board etc.
Translate your experience – Frame your QI projects, audits, rota redesigns, or teaching programmes as “projects.”
Update your CV – Reflect PM language: scope, objectives, stakeholders, outcomes.
You’ve Already Got the Bones of a PM
If you’ve managed a clinical shift with rotating staff, unexpected issues, limited time, and high stakes; think about managing the Outpatient department of your hospital or the ED, ensuring things are moving smoothly all the time - you’ve done more than many junior project managers ever have.
Project management isn’t a wild leap; it’s often a reframing of what you already do.
So, if you’re curious, lean in. Explore. Ask questions. Volunteer. And when the time feels right—take the next step.
Success Story Spotlight
Dr. Omasan Edun began his medical career not from a burning passion for medicine, but through a logical decision based on academic strengths and exam strategy. Despite a successful start in clinical practice, he soon realized that his interests extended beyond patient care. Driven by a desire for systems thinking and impact at scale, he explored alternative paths.
His transition wasn’t accidental—it was intentional and strategic. Through self-reflection and exposure to digital transformation projects in healthcare, Omasan discovered project and delivery management. With a blend of clinical insight and operational acumen, he re-skilled, adapted, and positioned himself for opportunities in the health tech space.
Today, as a Delivery Manager, he oversees the execution of complex projects, translating healthcare needs into actionable solutions. His story is a powerful example of how clinicians can leverage their background to lead change beyond the bedside.
Watch the full conversation here:
Industry News & Trends
Key news in Health Tech last month:
Upcoming Webinars & Events
Step Into Project Management: Navigating Your Career Transition.
Curious about what it takes to move from clinical work into project leadership roles? Join us for a live session with Dr. Omasan Edun, a former clinician turned Delivery Manager.
✅ Date: 28/06/2025
🕒 Time: 6PM BST
🎙️ Speaker: Dr. Omasan Edun
Click Here to Register: https://zfrmz.com/uoyL7en4cjBCm7i5a8jc
Top Job Opportunities
Curated list of latest HealthTech roles from Last Week.
Looking to take the next step into a digital or non-clinical role? We’ve handpicked the most exciting HealthTech and NHS transformation jobs to help you transition with confidence.
From project support roles to digital analyst positions, these openings are curated to match the skills and potential of healthcare professionals ready for change.
🔗 View last week’s top picks and apply now.
Resource Roundup
Recommended podcasts, books, tools, courses
Spotify: The Healthtech Podcast
Article / Guide: Structuring NHS Supporting Statements Effectively.
Your Action Plan for The Month!
This month, take one step towards your health tech career: update your LinkedIn profile.
Stay Connected
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That’s a wrap for this week’s digest!
If you found this helpful, consider sharing it with a friend or colleague exploring the health tech space.
Got thoughts or questions? Just hit reply—I’d love to hear from you.
Until next week,
Cheers!
Dr. Ron
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