MSLead Chronicles

In this episode of MSLead Chronicles, Chad and Mary hang out with Sarica Klein, PharmD, to discuss the significance of team bonding, especially in remote settings. They explore how cohesive teams lead to success, the importance of psychological safety, and innovative strategies for fostering connection among team members. Sarica shares her experiences and insights on leadership, emphasizing the ne...

In this episode of MSLead Chronicles, hosts Chad and Mary discuss the nuances of interviewing, sharing humorous and insightful stories about candidate mishaps and hiring manager blunders. They explore the challenges of virtual interviews, the importance of preparation, and the lessons learned from real-life experiences. Although the conversation is lighthearted, it is informative, providing valuab...

Chad and Mary welcome Chris Hansen, PhD, Divisional General Manager for the Rare Disease Medical Affairs team, East, with Sanofi. This conversation explores the transition from traditional metrics to a more meaningful impact-driven approach in the field. Chris shares his journey, insights on the importance of both qualitative and quantitative metrics, and how to drive meaningful interactions with...

Chad and Mary are joined by the great Lee Gervitz, PhD, MBA, SVP of Medical Affairs with Xenon Pharmaceuticals to talk about being strategic and intentional in creating multiple avenues and opportunities for professional growth for the people within your medical affairs organization. There are endless examples of big wins Lee shares over the course of his career, including one that could not have...

They delve into the field of medical affairs training, exploring the roles and responsibilities of medical trainers, the significance of identifying educational gaps, and the necessity for high-impact training programs. The discussion emphasizes the need for consistency in training across organizations and the challenges faced in delivering effective medical affairs training. In this conversation,...

Sharing "Best Practices" with your peers is central to information learned at your industry's conferences. Mary has just returned from the Pinnacle Society's Spring meeting, and Chad is curious to hear the crossover of learnings between medical affairs and recruiting.  The Pinnacle Society, is an exclusive invitation-only organization for the top recruiting professionals in Nor...

In this episode, Chad and Mary welcome Denise Clark, PharmD, a senior MSL in rare disease with Amgen, to recap the recent MAPS conference. There was so much incredible content available that we weren't able to cover it all, but topics discussed include the importance of defining value in medical affairs, and the role of AI and additional technological resources, and compliance in the industry...

In this episode of MSLead Chronicles, Chad and Mary are joined by Will Joseph, PhD, Sr. Director of Field Based Medicine with Xenon Pharmaceuticals, who shares insights on effective pre-launch planning, the significance of stakeholder engagement, and the role of AI in enhancing competitive intelligence efforts. The conversation emphasizes the need for early planning, customization of strategies, a...

This week, Chad and Mary’s guest is Marsie Ross, PharmD, who is currently the Sr. Director of Alliance Management and Public Policy with Harmony Biosciences. She will share information on the role this function plays in pharma. In addition to learning about this impactful role, listeners will gain valuable takeaways on how to navigate their careers and the importance of building meaningful connect...

In this episode of MSLead Chronicles, Chad and Mary hang out with Margaret Alabi, a passionate key player in patient advocacy in the pharmaceutical industry. They discuss the significance of patient advocacy, its impact on healthcare companies, and the evolving role of the patient advocates, themselves. Margaret shares her journey from pharmacy to becoming an MSL and then realizing her goal of bui...

Chad and Mary engage with Coach Jacob, who specializes in helping individuals improve their relationship with technology. The conversation explores the impact of technology on focus, performance, and mental health, particularly the role of dopamine in our daily lives. Jacob shares insights on how technology can create a cycle of stress and distraction, and offers strategies for rewiring our respon...

In this episode, Mary and Chad interview Shelby Oksman, founder of Thrive MSL. Shelby shares her journey through the MSL industry, her experiences with Ikigai, and how it led her to launch her MSL/medical affairs-centered coaching company. The discussion emphasizes the importance of professional branding, personal development, and the need for MSLs to align their passions with their careers. Shelb...

In this episode of MSLead Chronicles, Chad and Mary welcome John Sandstrom, a seasoned professional in medical affairs to discuss MAPS, The Medical Affairs Professional Society. They discuss the evolution of medical affairs from a support function to a key player in strategic planning within the pharmaceutical industry. John emphasizes the importance of mentorship, work-life balance, and the role...

Chad and Mary discuss the purpose of making new year's resolutions and what they have in mind for 2025.

In this episode, Chad and Mary reflect on their podcast journey over the past year, discussing key themes, listener engagement, and the importance of various topics covered.  Finally, they tease future plans for the podcast in 2025!! Happy New Year!

In this episode of MSLead Chronicles, hosts Chad and Mary welcome Rachel Hawley, a PharmD and an inaugural US Medical Affairs Fellow at Alnylam Pharmaceuticals. Rachel shares her journey from pharmacy school to the pharmaceutical industry, emphasizing the importance of self-advocacy, building relationships, and giving oneself time to learn in a new role. The conversation delves into the competitiv...

Our guest for this episode is Blanca Richardson, who has a Master's in Human Resource Management and Organizational Leadership, and holds a SHRM-CP and SPHR.  She has more than 25 years in talent acquisition in the pharmaceutical industry.  Chad and Mary talk with Blanca about the strategic approach to recruitment where she shares her insights on networking, the significance of recruitment st...

In this episode of MSLead Chronicles, hosts Chad Fellers and Mary Morton welcome Cathy Andorfer, PhD, to discuss her new book, 'The Art of Excellence: Build a Rockstar Career as a Medical Science Liaison and Beyond.' Cathy shares insights on the importance of emotional intelligence, the evolution of the MSL role, and practical tips for success in the field. The conversation emphasizes th...

In this episode of MSLead Chronicles, hosts Chad Fellers and Mary Morton engage in a lively discussion with Carl De Luca, PhD, about the importance of insights in medical affairs. They explore Carl's new role focused on medical insights and analytics, the challenges of gathering and socializing insights, and the significance of training MSLs to ask the right questions. The conversation also t...

In this episode, Chad and Mary engage in a conversation with Zach Henney, who shares his journey from an individual contributor to a leadership role in medical affairs. The discussion covers key takeaways for aspiring leaders, the importance of building a network, and the mindset shift required when transitioning to a leadership position. Zach emphasizes the significance of servant leadership, tru...

In this episode of MSL Lead Chronicles, hosts Chad and Mary delve into the significance of understanding and adapting to different communication styles, particularly in professional settings. They explore the four primary social styles—driving, expressive, amiable, and analytical—and discuss how recognizing these styles can enhance interpersonal communication, team dynamics, and overall effectiven...

In this episode of MSLead Chronicles, Chad and Mary visit with Joe Medicis, a seasoned expert in medical affairs and current Global Executive Medical Director with Madrigal Pharmaceuticals, to discuss the intricacies of working in startups and with first-in-class products in those environments. The conversation covers essential strategies for navigating the challenges of medical affairs, the impor...

In this episode, Chad leans into Mary's nearly 3 decades of executive recruiting experience to share how we can all be more intentional in our commitment to ourselves and to position ourselves to make the best career choices to achieve our professional growth.

In this episode of MSLead Chronicles, Chad and Mary discuss individual development plans (IDPs) with their guest, Kunal Ramani. Kunal shares his experience with IDPs and emphasizes the importance of self-introspection and aligning personal goals with the company's strategic goals. He highlights that IDPs are not just for vertical movement but can also facilitate lateral growth. The conversati...

In this conversation, Chad Fellers and Chi Momah discuss the importance of cross-functional collaboration in the medical affairs industry. They emphasize the need for defined and aligned goals between medical and commercial teams, as well as the importance of seeking to understand each other's perspectives. Chi shares his career journey, highlighting the value of networking and the transferab...