Case Study: New England Journal of Medicine
The Challenge
As one of the world’s premier medical journals, the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) delivers groundbreaking research, clinical insights, and expert commentary. Their digital platform needed to engage a broad audience—including physicians, medical researchers, and students—while maintaining a rigorous editorial standard. The goal was to balance a wealth of specialized content with an intuitive, user-friendly interface that would serve both subscribers and visitors seeking medical insights.
My role as Product Manager
While overseeing resources, timelines, and overall project coordination as a producer, I simultaneously acted as a product manager by:
• Synthesizing feedback from editorial teams, medical experts, and technology stakeholders
• Defining core features and updates that aligned with NEJM’s brand, audience needs, and editorial workflows
• Creating a product roadmap focused on an improved user experience, streamlined access to articles, and efficient content management tools
Planning and execution
I organized the project into iterative sprints covering core functionalities such as search, content curation, subscriber logins, and mobile responsiveness. Regular check-ins with editorial leadership helped refine how articles, case studies, and peer reviews were presented. User testing offered valuable insights into navigation and content discoverability, allowing the team to iterate on layouts, filtering options, and subscription workflows.
Results
• Enhanced content discovery: A more intuitive site structure and sophisticated search functionality allowed readers to access relevant research quickly
• Improved user experience: Clear categorization of topics, streamlined subscription processes, and mobile-friendly design supported both casual browsers and returning subscribers
• Robust editorial collaboration: Improved content management tools streamlined updates, publication scheduling, and peer review processes, enabling NEJM to publish faster and more efficiently
Why this project stands out
Balancing high-volume academic content with a seamless user experience required careful orchestration between editorial standards and technical deliverables. By integrating the producer’s logistical oversight with a product manager’s strategic vision, I ensured NEJM’s digital platform met the high expectations of its readership. This comprehensive approach supported the Journal’s mission to provide reliable, cutting-edge medical information to healthcare professionals worldwide.