Healthcare marketing is at a moment of convergence—where data, technology, creativity, and responsibility are all colliding. In Episode 10 of Doceree Dialogue, we sit down with Cliff Covey, SVP & Group Director of Digital Activation, CMI Media Group, to explore how programmatic advertising, AI, and evolving formats are reshaping engagement across HCP and patient journeys.
With over a decade at CMI Media Group and deep expertise across programmatic, video, and data-driven activation, Cliff brings a thoughtful, pragmatic lens to what’s changing—and what still needs work—in healthcare marketing.
One of the most honest takeaways from the conversation is this: healthcare has the data to personalize—but creative scale remains the bottleneck.
CMI Media Group has access to robust HCP and DTC data, enabling highly nuanced audience modeling and journey-based engagement. However, translating that intelligence into truly personalized creative—especially in video—remains complex.
The issue isn’t intent. It’s feasibility.
Creating dozens of banner variations or multiple video executions can be costly and time-consuming. While dynamic creative optimization (DCO) technologies are improving and gaining adoption, Cliff sees this as a critical area for continued advancement over the next year.
When it comes to innovation, Cliff is most excited about television and streaming environments.
Historically, TV engagement was limited to the 15- or 30-second commercial spot. Today, the landscape looks very different:
Home screens, FAST channels, ad-supported streaming platforms, and AI-enabled dynamic insertions within content itself are opening entirely new ways to engage audiences.
The ability to integrate brand presence contextually—rather than interruptively—represents a powerful shift, particularly for healthcare, where relevance and tone matter deeply.
As data capabilities grow, so does the responsibility to use them correctly.
Cliff shares how precise audience modeling has become—down to identifying patients recently diagnosed with a condition who have not yet seen a specialist. These capabilities unlock meaningful personalization, but they also heighten the importance of data privacy and compliance.
With healthcare data legislation increasingly governed at the state level, Cliff emphasizes that privacy is not just a legal requirement—it’s a shared industry responsibility. CMI Media Group works closely with data partners, legal teams, and internal governance structures to stay ahead of regulatory changes and ensure ethical activation.
In healthcare, getting privacy wrong doesn’t just impact campaigns—it risks trust.
As health-modeled audiences face restrictions in certain markets, contextual strategies are regaining importance—but with a modern twist.
Powered by AI and advanced analytics, contextual models today are far more predictive than their earlier counterparts. Cliff notes that planners are being encouraged to revisit foundational planning principles—content, environment, mindset—while leveraging new formats and smarter technology.
It’s not a step backward. It’s evolution.
Beyond video and TV, Cliff highlights audio and podcast advertising as an increasingly powerful channel. Podcasts, in particular, offer an intimate, trust-driven environment—one where listeners feel a personal connection, making the medium especially compelling for healthcare storytelling.
On the supply side, programmatic access is expanding rapidly. Inventory once reserved for direct buys—pause ads, interactive units, premium endemic placements—is increasingly becoming available programmatically, unlocking scale with control.
Globally, while programmatic healthcare activation faces unique challenges, Cliff sees steady expansion and strong momentum outside the U.S., driven by growing teams and local expertise.
Looking ahead, Cliff believes the real opportunity lies in orchestration—bringing data, channels, creative, and timing together into a cohesive, journey-based experience.
Healthcare marketers have long done this well on the HCP side. The next evolution is applying the same sophistication to DTC engagement—moving beyond one-size-fits-all messaging toward experiences tailored to where individuals are in their journey.
With the convergence of AI, data, and scalable technology, that future feels closer than ever.
Healthcare marketing is complex, regulated, and deeply human. It requires intellect, creativity, and care in equal measure.
As Cliff puts it, educating patients and supporting clinicians carries enormous responsibility—but also incredible opportunity. The industry is moving forward thoughtfully, cautiously, and with purpose.
Episode 10 of Doceree Dialogue is a conversation about progress—with eyes wide open to both possibility and responsibility.
Stay tuned for more conversations shaping the future of healthcare engagement.