“I’m a big believer in that repetition is the key to making lasting change. So, I usually meet with my team every Monday. We have a national call, and we talk about our objectives, what are we doing, what’s the plan. And I just keep anchoring to that. Here’s where we need to get to, here’s where we are. How are we going to do that and just continuously remind them. I used to joke with my group of first line managers, like we could wake our team up in the middle of the night, any one of our MSLs, and they would be able to tell us what their priority is, what they are working on right now. And I think that is very important for a leader to keep those things top of mind.”
Cathy Andorfer, PhD
In this episode of Medical Affairs Unscripted, Peg Crowley-Nowick, PhD, MBA, President of Medical Affairs Consulting at Lumanity, speaks with Cathy Andorfer, PhD, National Director of Field Medical at Tourmaline Bio and author of The Art of Excellence: Build a Rockstar Career as a Medical Science Liaison and Beyond.
Their discussion delves into the vital role of medical affairs, offering insights on leadership, strategy, and the development of high-performing MSL teams. Cathy shares practical advice from her own experience, emphasizing the importance of:
- Strategic Vision: Setting clear objectives and aligning teams around a shared mission, with reminders and clear priorities as keys to team success
- Training for Insight Mastery: Teaching MSLs to interpret and contextualize observations, transforming them into actionable strategic intelligence
- Empowering Teams: Fostering an environment where team members feel confident asking questions and engaging in deep scientific discussions
- Resilience Through Growth: Embracing the value of learning from mistakes and continuously evolving to drive better outcomes
Peg and Cathy also reflect on the broader impact of medical affairs, particularly in improving patient health by optimizing access to medical innovations. This episode offers valuable perspectives for anyone looking to strengthen their MSL teams or advance their career in medical affairs.
Podcast Series: Medical Affairs Unscripted
Hosted by Dr Peggy Crowley-Nowick, in Medical Affairs Unscripted we explore a range of topics related to the strategic role of medical affairs from the perspective of industry experts. Through these conversations with our guests we will share first hand experience to provide the listener with insights and knowledge about the evolving role of medical affairs.
Episode guest
Cathy Andorfer, PhD
National Director of Field Medical for Tourmaline Bio
