Role of Global Medical Leaders: Perspectives from our Leaders

I chatted with some of my senior colleagues in Medical at AstraZeneca, who work as ‘Global Medical Affairs Leaders’ (GMALs), to uncover some insights in what it is like to work in these leadership roles. GMALs play a central role within the global oncology product teams, engaging across a broad group of stakeholders, from early disease through to partnering with health systems and beyond.

We continue to build our teams and if this role is of interest to you, please get in touch at the contact below.?

Here’s what my colleagues shared:?

What I have learned as a Global Medical Affairs Leader??

Sarah Payne, MBBS PhD FRCP – My role is dynamic, interconnected and continuously evolving?

I spent most of my career to date in the UK National Health Service, primarily as a specialist in medical oncology, which I thoroughly enjoyed. During my clinical career I built a significant portfolio in clinical education, which was a huge passion for me. Switching gears to a career in industry was exciting and daunting, providing great opportunities to build new skills and partnerships. The journey has been fantastic and has continued to support my growth in oncology and education. I am now also heavily involved in evidence generation to build further on pivotal data from registrational trials. This exposure has grown my understanding and respect for the power and opportunity of real world evidence and I am so grateful to the teams at AstraZeneca for all they have done to support me in my learning journey.

I currently lead the global genitourinary medical strategy for some of our oncology brands at AstraZeneca and am responsible and accountable for the cross-functional delivery of an aligned global tactical plan. It has been fantastic to be involved pre, during and post-approval projects which all demand different skills and focus. I have built many insights on healthcare systems beyond the UK, with a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities to bring meaningful changes for clinicians and patients.?

At AstraZeneca, we are empowered to lead and drive change with an entrepreneurial spirit.?As an example, I have loved the opportunity to think outside of the box and work with our digital teams to challenge our thinking on key challenges. “Doing different” is celebrated and the way we will drive forward the critical innovation needed for future success of delivering healthcare in the future.

One thing I have learned …?

Co-creation of projects with internal and external stakeholders is critical – In my experience, and with an ever-changing external environment, delivering projects which address education and evidence gaps are most successful when they are built collaboratively.?I have particularly enjoyed the engagement with the global cross-functional teams (from preclinical and development to regulatory and reimbursement), country and regional teams as well as our external stakeholders and partners. We continue to grow and forge new partnerships internally and externally at AstraZeneca, which really support that we are truly stronger together.

Mutsa Madondo – My role is a constant learning experience?

I started my career in academic research before joining AstraZeneca as a Medical Science Liaison (MSL), then became a Medical Manager, and now a GMAL. In this role, I help to drive AstraZeneca Oncology’s vision of improving cure for patients with cancer, by building the medical strategy to support AstraZeneca’s R&D program and ensuring the markets are well equipped to execute on this strategy locally. Ultimately, this helps deliver our medicines to patients and contributes to better patient care.?

One thing I have learned…?

Medical Affairs has an immense potential in informing clinical practice within a disease area - We generate and educate on data that provides clinical context to our R&D studies by addressing key clinical gaps. We are also uniquely positioned as a link between AstraZeneca’s R&D and commercial teams and the company’s external partners. This positioning allows the GMAL team to identify and address strategic gaps and opportunities in the care paradigm and, excitingly, to innovate healthcare systems. Overall, the role motivates me to be inquisitive and entrepreneurial, and has strengthened my strategic thinking skills.?

Kieran Davey – My role is based on collaboration, strategy, and is patient-focused?

I initially trained in pharmacology and decided to become a GMAL following a career in medical communications and medical training. The role empowers me to contribute to tangible improvements in clinical practice, working closely with colleagues across different departments, and has expanded my understanding of the current and future clinical landscape. This means understanding the underlying reasons for differing clinical practices, for example between geographical regions, and the specific challenges faced by healthcare professionals and patients across the world. Armed with this insight, my job is to design and execute a medical strategy that helps address the most relevant evidence gaps. My role also improves the use and impact of our medicines through education and scientific exchange to translate clinical trial data into clinical practice.??

One thing I have learned…?

Challenge dogma – To really understand clinical practice and barriers to change, it is critical to challenge assumptions and to approach problems with an open mind. We can only succeed if we consider the reality of healthcare systems and human behaviour. The complex interaction of different specialties, ever-more informed patients and healthcare infrastructure plays a huge role in how we can best serve patients.??

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James Pearson – My role is challenging, exciting and meaningful?

My career path is quite different from many of my colleagues as I had a scientific career – but everyone has a different journey! I started out in the NHS as a clinical scientist working in gastroenterology. Then I made my move to industry as an MSL, and went on to work as a Medical Manager in haematology, before stepping into my current role.?

As GMALs, we are the interface between researching a medicine and bringing it to healthcare systems, and ultimately to patients. Our work essentially begins around the time data is published at a congress; we get involved in a variety of projects and initiatives which ultimately ensure that patients can access our treatments, which healthcare professionals are comfortable to use from day one. I love the dynamic nature of my role – no two days are ever the same!?

One thing I have learned…?

How different healthcare systems function – We work across many different geographies around the world with different health systems and priorities, so bespoke local solutions are often required to allow patients’ access to our medicines. We must make decisions and support projects that work across a large number of countries, and work with the other countries to co-create bespoke local solutions.?This ensures that we impact the largest number of patients.

Paulo Andre Palhares de Miranda – My role is about dissecting evidence to instil confidence?

Having worked as a haematologist, I joined the pharmaceutical industry over twenty years ago, during a period of huge transformation in haemophilia care. My current role as a GMAL revolves around listening to patients and physicians, to understand what they need, and identifying ways to fill any gaps.?Overall, my role is about communicating the latest scientific evidence to the clinical community, and supporting our R&D and commercial teams in developing and providing innovative scientific solutions to improve care for people with hematological malignancies.?

The pharmaceutical landscape has rapidly advanced over recent years, with so many scientific innovations resulting from our greater molecular understanding, so resilience and curiousity is a key trait required for a fulfilling career as a GMAL.?I find the impact made by GMALs ?through medical education particularly rewarding, as we play a central role in ensuring that the right information and data is available, based on the latest clinical and scientific evidence.

One thing I have learned…?

Working in pharma comes with leadership responsibilities – Many doctors appreciate the opportunity to train and educate trainees and we also have ?a similar opportunity to train and mentor colleagues in pharma. There is a strong focus on developing the leadership skills that you have within yourself and furthering the leadership skills in others, by making you responsible for their professional growth. Being a GMAL also involves gaining a wider understanding of the landscape and business, and provides many opportunities to get you out of your comfort zone, by challenging you to develop expertise into new areas.?My role gives me a great sense of purpose and achievement, and inspires my curiosity to learn every day.??

If you would like to join our team or would like to know more about the roles available, please contact Amy Spencer