Pharma Sessions

In this episode of Pharma Sessions, host Jonathan Kaskey interviews Dr. Adam Laitman about his unconventional path to becoming a medical director in the pharmaceutical industry. 

Dr. Laitman shares insights from his career transition from medical school to industry, highlighting the impact of his background in marketing and editorial work. The discussion covers the various career opportunities within medical affairs, the importance of diverse educational backgrounds, and the potential benefits of industry roles over traditional clinical pathways. Dr. Laitman also reflects on the support and advice he received that influenced his decision to join the industry and h...

In this episode of Pharma Sessions, host Jonathan Kaskey discusses career transitions into the pharmaceutical industry, specifically focusing on roles like Medical Science Liaisons (MSLs). The guest, Emet Anceaume is the Director of Field Medical Affairs at Immunovant. 

Emet is a pharmacist by training. She shares her insights on the importance of transferable skills, the challenges and strategies for breaking into pharma, and the distinction between working for big pharma and small biotech companies. Emett shares personal experiences and highlights the significance of persistence, adaptability, and long-term planning for a successful career in the pharmaceutical sector.

In this episode of Pharma Sessions, hosted by Jonathan Kaskey, Vince Turner shares his insights on integrating creativity into operational environments. The discussion covers Vince's career journey from financial services to pharma, and his operational strategies at Kite. Emphasis is placed on the importance of creativity in solving challenges, the value of building strong relationships, and empowering team members. 

And stay to the end for the buttermilk pancakes recipe (courtesy of Melissa Clark from NYT)!

00:00 Introduction and Opening Thoughts
00:25 Meet Vince: A Personal Introduction
02:45 Every Day is a New Puzzle: Podcast Theme
03:03 V...

In this episode of Pharma Sessions, host Jonathan Kaskey talks with Paul Howe, COO at Protega Pharmaceuticals, about the current and evolving landscape of prescription opioids, abuse deterrent technologies, and the role of technology in public health. 

They discuss new strategies to improve outcomes for chronic pain patients while reducing addiction risks.

Bursting the Medical Affairs Bubble: A Conversation on Cross-Functional Collaboration

In this episode of Pharma Sessions, host Jonathan Kaskey talks with Dr. Samin Saeed, a pharmaceutical medical affairs leader with 17 years of industry experience currently at GSK. They discuss the need for medical affairs to move beyond speaking only to themselves and to engage more openly with other functions within pharmaceutical organizations. Dr. Saeed advocates for a collaborative approach and shares her insights on fostering better communication and understanding between medical affairs and commercial teams. The conversation also touches on the role of technology and...

In this episode of Pharma Sessions, host Jonathan Kaskey sits down with Steve Cirillo-Thompson, a seasoned Chief of Staff in the pharmaceutical industry, to delve deep into the unique and often misunderstood role of a Chief of Staff. Steve shares his unconventional journey into the medical affairs space, transitioning from political science to consulting, and eventually stepping into various Chief of Staff roles at some of the leading pharmaceutical companies like Shire, Takeda, Abbvie and Kite Pharma.

Timestamped Key Points:

- 00:02: Introduction to the episode and guest, Steve Cirillo-Thompson.
- 00:37: Steve discusses his unconventional...

In this episode of Pharma Sessions, host Jonathan Kaskey speaks with Jen Mohawk, Senior Director of Medical Affairs at Apogee Therapeutics. 

They discuss the pressing issue of burnout, its financial implications, and how companies benefit from retaining employees rather than constantly seeking new hires. 

Jen shares her journey from academia to the biopharma industry, driven by her pursuit of a sustainable work-life balance. 

They delve into practical strategies for integrating work and personal life, the importance of setting boundaries, and the benefits of work-life integration. 

Jen also explains her mid-Monday movement init...

Future Proofing Medical Affairs: A Conversation with Stephanie Hunter Banks

In this episode of Pharma Sessions, host Jonathan Kaskey speaks with Stephanie Hunter-Banks about the future of the medical science liaison (MSL) role and the evolving healthcare ecosystem. 

Stephanie shares insights on creating a culture of innovation, leveraging big data and AI, and fostering collaboration within pharma companies. 

She reflects on her own career journey from pharmacy to leading learning and development teams, emphasizing the importance of failure, curiosity, and experimentation in driving medical advancements. 

They also discuss the integration of div...

Kaskey's Hierarchy of Needs in Medical Affairs: Steering towards Successful Product Launches

This episode of Pharma Sessions delves into the evolving role of Medical Affairs in pharmaceutical launches, emphasizing its transition from a supportive to a strategic partnership position. 

Stephen Dodge, SVP of Medical Affairs at Madrigal Pharmaceuticals has launched 25 products, and shares insights into the crucial involvement of Medical Affairs in launch strategies. 

The discussion translates the framework of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs to Medical Affairs, particularly during product launches. 

Key areas discussed include understanding the foundational needs of Medical Aff...

In this episode of Pharma Sessions, host Jonathan Kaskey speaks with Lars Dreesmann, the President and Site Head for Boehringer Ingelheim Fremont about how regulatory affairs can impact patient care.

They explore the challenges and opportunities in the regulatory space, including the impact of technology and AI on regulatory affairs and the potential for collaboration between pharmaceutical companies. 

Lars shares his transition from academia to the pharmaceutical industry, the thrill of turning science into tangible products benefiting patients, and the strategic importance of regulatory processes. The conversation delves into how artificial intelligence could revolutionize data m...

This episode is sponsored by Acceleration Point.

 Pharma Sessions is hosted by Jonathan Kaskey

In this episode Jonathan and Scott Thompson, the Co-CEO of Acceleration Point, discuss the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on Medical Affairs. 

Examples of AI use in Medical Affairs include analytics, content creation, and productivity enhancements. 

Scott encourages experimentation with secure, customized AI tools to improve output. 
He outlines a case study where AI improved data quality and speed of information processing.

Scott and Jonathan ultimately envision a world where AI technologies will help Medi...

Life is different at a biotech. But is that a good thing?

Like so much in life, the answer is, "it depends."

On this episode I speak with Orlando Granado-Balaez about his journey from being a nurse to transitioning into medical affairs and ultimately thriving in smaller pharmaceutical companies. 

He shares his experiences in different roles within medical affairs, including being the first MSL in a company and the challenges and rewards that come with building out a team. 

Orlando also provides advice for individuals considering a transition from larger companies to...

The Science of Sleep: Exploring its Role in Performance and Well-being for Medical Affairs

In this episode of Pharma Sessions, Jonathan Kaskey is joined by Dr. Alison Kole, a sleep expert, to discuss the importance of sleep and its impact on personal and professional health. 

They discuss the dangers of insufficient and poor-quality sleep, including poor cognitive and creative function. 

On the other hand, they stress the benefits of prioritizing good quality sleep for enhanced productivity, improved mood and better physical health. 

The episode also covers practical advice on ach...

In this compelling episode of Pharma Sessions, host Jonathan Kaskey engages in an insightful discussion with esteemed guest Jose Borbolla-Escoboza. Delving into the intricacies of global launch excellence, Jose, a seasoned oncologist, shares his wealth of experience in pharmaceuticals, particularly in Mexico, the UK, and the US. 

Together, they explore the multifaceted process of global launch preparation and the crucial role of global in facilitating tools for local country launches. 

Jose's expertise shines through as he emphasizes proactive communication and the pivotal role of Medical Affairs in navigating regulatory timelines and managing access programs. 

In this episode of "Pharma Sessions," host Jonathan Kaskey delves into the crucial topic of why negotiation skills are essential in the field of medical affairs. 

Joining him, Megan Vignos, Head of Scientific and Value Communications for US Medical at Biogen.

Together, they explore the importance of negotiation in medical affairs, and how a scientific mindset can aid in building effectiveness. 

Megan emphasizes the significance of maintaining a positive relationship with compliance officers, avoiding an adversarial approach, and employing the experimental method to foster curiosity and better comprehend compliance decisions.

Drawing fr...

In this episode of Pharma Sessions, host Jonathan Kaskey interviews Dr. Huma Qamar, Head of Clinical Development and Medical Affairs at Ocugen, Inc.

With her extensive background in clinical research and medicine, Dr. Qamar has been a pioneer in merging these two fields. Throughout this episode, she shares her invaluable insights on gene therapy, specifically focusing on inherited retinal diseases. Here are the top five things you'll learn:

1. The importance of patient-centered outcomes research and the different phases of clinical trials.

2. The challenges and advancements in developing gene therapies...

Join host Jonathan Kaskey in this thought-provoking episode of Pharma Sessions as he invites special guest Denise Bronner, Director of Clinical Trial Diversity and Inclusion at Janssen, to delve into critical issues facing the pharmaceutical industry.

Together, they explore the challenges of data sharing, the underrepresentation of non-white individuals in clinical trials, and the need for more inclusive physician training.

Top 5 learnings from the episode:

In this episode, host Jonathan Kaskey invites Patrina Pellet to discuss effective time management strategies for medical professionals. 

From calendar audits to time blocking, Pellet shares valuable insights on how to optimize your daily schedule, prioritize your tasks and avoid feeling burnt out. 

Discover the power of color-coding and task tracking to manage your workload efficiently and achieve your goals. 

Tune in now to master the art of time management and increase your productivity with Pharma Sessions.

Episode guide:
- Importance of controlling time and being strategic, especially in medical aff...

We are excited to bring you the latest episode of our podcast series where we tackled the vital role of medical information in the healthcare industry.

Tim Fish is the Sr. Director of Medical Information, Knowledge Management, Med/Promo Review, Scientific Training & Development at Alkermes.

Tim has been in the medical information role for 15 years and shared valuable insights on the importance of receiving and responding to inquiries, reviewing content, and researching answers in medical information.

During the episode, we delved deeper into each of the four R's of medical information and how...

This episode is the second in Pharma Sessions' series of conversations about clinical trial diversity. The first episode was with a former pharma executive turned clinical trial consultant. In this episode we share a different, more community oriented perspective.

Renarda Jones is a clinical trial professional with over 20 years’ experience in clinical research., mainly in Cancer and Alzheimer’s disease research.

Starting as a research assistant, working her way up to study coordinator and clinical research associate, Renarda had the opportunity to work with underrepresented and underserved communities, specifically the black community. 

Personally witne...

In Today’s episode Tom Caravela and I explore the question–what does a perfect MSL organization to support a product launch look like?

I’ve knonw Tom for years, and asked him to share his unique perspective on field medical organizations.

In addition to being a certified speaker, trainer and coach as well as a podcaster, Tom is the founder of an Executive Search Firm called The Carolan Group. They’re known for their niche expertise for specializing in the recruitment and placement of highly scientific professionals called Medical Science Liaisons. Tom is also the host...

Steve Royle is an innovative pharmaceutical professional with experience in both the commercial and medical affairs sides of the industry.  After starting in sales and marketing, Steve moved to the agency side of global medical communications and medical education. He went on to found Swipe Health and Rumi. Recently, Steve has used his expertise to create mymedicalafairs.com, a Netflix-style database of medical affairs events and topics. 

Through mymedicalaffairs.com, we crowdsourced the topics for today's conversation. The discussion included:

- Medical Affairs: Shift in Responsibilities

- Exchange of Ideas and Information Sharing

Camille Pope is the Chief Medical Lead at Acclinate, helping pharmaceutical companies and healthcare organizations access and engage communities of color so research is more inclusive.

She'd previously worked for several large pharmaceutical companies in both field medical and medical affairs leadership roles.

We discuss the importance of diversity in clinical trials, the new FDA guidance, the impacts that a lack of trial diversity can have when presenting information to patients and providers, and why medical affairs has the skillset to make change.

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