Welcome to another quarterly edition of The MSL Journal! This one is packed with a variety of stimulating and informative content! Medical Affairs is in the midst of evolution that is taking this role toward greater strategic focus, more specialization and enhanced use of digital technologies. Change is necessary for growth, and it is in these times that we stretch and find new skills, capabilities, and passion for how we serve clinicians, researchers and most importantly, patients.
Our leadership team recently hosted a summit where we focused on the theme of “growing and driving value through innovative solutions”. When I reflect on this theme, certain words standout. Growing is the change we must take on to explore new ideas, approaches and ways of serving those internally and externally and it is how we learn from these experiences that fosters creativity and innovation. This edition includes articles focusing on change in career paths to serve patients in different ways. We examine how we meet needs of research patients and raise the patient voice; we look at healthcare in other countries and cultures. If you have not delved into change leadership, this is an essential area to help you lean into change with a positive mindset.
Whether one is in early or later career stages within field medical affairs, growth is a common denominator. We must all keep growing and expand creative approaches with novel solutions. Coaching and mentorship come in many forms from formal channels to informal areas such as observation, immersion and extending your network to include others who can help you grow! Ensure you are in an environment that fosters creative thinking and embraces new ideas, encouraging trying new approaches.
Another facet of the summit theme relates to driving value; this is essential in all we do. If our efforts are not aligned to medical strategy and focused on yielding results that are impactful, it is time to shift in another direction. Take stock of what you are doing, why you do it and whom your efforts best serve. This edition includes articles that consider how MSLs make a difference, how patients receive value from HEOR perspectives and what we are doing to impact rare disease. Driving value is much more than metrics and KPIs; it is vital to balance the numerical value with qualitative metrics that fully describe impact in action which is the essence of value.
Finally, the summit theme focuses on innovative solutions. We must employ our best ideas and leverage the strengths of all our team members to find the creative kernels that blossom into innovative strategies and truly extend our ability to drive value. Important to this theme is the word solutions. We are naturally curious, and we aim to solve real world problems. As we venture into the next generation of field medical affairs, we will make more use of technology, omnichannel engagement and enhanced efficiency in our fast-paced environment. Our current edition lays out multiple articles that share best practices, tips and solutions for consideration. Top of mind in the fast lane is wellness. We must all take care of ourselves in order to have the energy to take on new challenges, keep growing, driving value with impact and forging innovation with novel solutions. How does your current leadership model and support a culture of wellness?
So the theme “growing and driving value through innovative solutions” resonates in our global field medical affairs world where we are leaning into change, knowing it is necessary to guide us into the horizon where the next generation of medical affairs will be well equipped and qualified to continue rising to meet new challenges for our ultimate customer – the patient – who waits for better care and solutions that will give them the hope and promise of a better life. To this end, we keep pushing daily!
I hope you enjoy all the articles in the summer edition and they give you pause to consider how you are growing, bringing value and innovating!
Cheers to summer fun and time to grab a chair in the sun to read!
Cherie Hyder
Cherie Hyder, PharmD
Cherie Hyder is Syndicated National MSL Director at Syneos Health. In her previous job at Biohaven Pharmaceuticals, she supported a virtual launch of Nurtec ODT for acute migraine. She has been involved in drug development for more than 30 years, working at FDA in CDER and pharmaceutical companies including Pfizer, Lilly, Novartis, Solvay, and Avanir, among others. At the University of Missouri, she received a Doctor of Pharmacy degree with the intention to devote her career to pharmaceutical research. She has multiple adjunct faculty appointments and enjoys teaching opportunities.
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