Where do I start if I want to further my career in medical affairs?

 With many functions and roles within the pharmaceutical industry and medical affairs, it can become overwhelming to ensure that you have all the skills required to succeed. The Accreditation Council for Medical Affairs (ACMA) has begun the Professional Roadmap for Medical Affairs to discuss the key competencies necessary for any medical affairs professional. If you have the drive and mindset to be a continuous learner, then you have the capacity to become a strategic leader. Dr. Aiudi describes her journey from community pharmacy to becoming an Associate Director in Global Medical Affairs with Takeda.

Kiana Dixson, PharmD, BCMAS recently interviewed Chelsea Aiudi, PharmD, BCMAS about her professional journey in medical affairs and what the future holds for this expanding role.

Kiana Dixson, PharmD, BCMAS is a Life Sciences Associate at the Accreditation Council for Medical Affairs (ACMA).

Chelsea Aiudi, PharmD, BCMAS is the Associate Director of Disease and Product Training at Takeda Oncology.

This interview has been shortened for brevity and clarity.

Kiana Dixson: Tell us about your professional journey in medical affairs. How has training changed over the years? Which capabilities are considered most important related to medical affairs?

Chelsea Aiudi: As a pharmacist by training, I started my industry career in medical information after working in community pharmacy. I recently transitioned to a role in Medical Affairs training after 5 years working in Medical Information. In the last two years, the largest disrupter in Medical Affairs, and specifically the functional area of medical training, has been the shift from doing business in-person to virtually, due to the global pandemic. In today’s day and age, leaders in Medical Affairs are finding new and innovative ways to train on and deliver scientific information since COVID has forever changed the way that we function as an industry. We all have a shorter attention span on Zoom and are much more easily distracted working remotely, so training leaders must leverage digital innovation in order to continue to engage learners in the virtual setting.

KD: Did you have any mentors along the way? What was the most important lesson that they taught you?

CA: I have worked at various pharmaceutical companies in the greater Boston area and I have been fortunate enough to work under some very skilled Medical Affairs leaders. A common theme, in the way of advice, has been to never stop working on myself. I have been continuously reminded how important it is to set aside dedicated time to develop myself as a professional and a leader. This advice pushed me to pursue Medical Affairs board certification. It has also led to my participation in internal leadership workshops and external mentoring opportunities.

KD: What are the 3 most important medical affairs capabilities you believe all medical affairs/MSL professionals should have?

CA: I believe the 3 most important capabilities that all effective medical affairs leaders possess are strategic thinking, learning agility, and collaborative leadership. A successful medical affairs professional needs to be able to adapt to change and think outside the box, while still aligning with the business objectives. It is impossible to achieve our goals without breaking out of our siloes, and that is where collaborative leadership comes in, to streamline our initiatives and decrease duplicative efforts.

KD: What role does digital technology and tools play in helping to establish a top-notch medical affairs/MSL team?

CA: Specifically in Medical Affairs training, digital technology has revolutionized the way that we train. At Takeda, we utilize gamification, interactive modules, and innovative virtual workshop format to enhance the adult learning experience and deliver effective training sessions. Training is no longer synonymous with a Powerpoint presentation.

KD: What would you like to pass down to new medical affairs and MSL professional entrants into the field?

CA: I would like to pass down a passion for why we do what we do – and that is to support prescribers and ultimately improve outcomes in patients on a global level. I work in oncology, and the knowledge that the work we are doing may improve the life of someone battling cancer is inspiring. Especially coming from a background in community pharmacy where I used to interact with patients daily, I never forget that the patient is at the center of what I am doing every day in my role in Medical Affairs training.

Tune in to our next LinkedIn webinar on March 8, 2022, featuring Chelsea Aiudi, PharmD, BCMAS, and Luca Dezzani, MD.

Regardless of background or experience, the skills that are required will differentiate successful professionals in medical affairs. Dr. Aiudi furthered her personal and career development by enrolling in leadership workshops, mentorship programs, and the BCMAS program. Continuously setting aside time for personal, career, and leadership development is the first step in becoming a strategic leader within medical affairs teams.