The medical affairs function in pharma has evolved over the past few decades. Initially created to separate promotional and non-promotional activities, the introduction of medical science liaisons (MSLs) provided a way for pharma to build relationships with healthcare providers with relative freedom to operate and heterogeneity in their approach. 

In recent years, medical affairs has slowly been brought into the digital era with the introduction of tracking tools and new virtual channels for communication with health care practitioners  HCPs. 

Patients' needs and expectations are also changing rapidly. Tech is an integral part of all aspects of our lives and is now part of their treatment and interaction with healthcare systems and people demand new levels of convenience as a result. Health tech and digital solutions now serve as an essential utility decision support tool for HCPs. 

Consequently, pharma companies, and medical affairs teams within them, are having to continuously revise their understanding of the patient journey and recalibrate how technology can positively affect experiences and outcomes of care. 

Are medical affairs teams ready to move from a support role and take more of a lead to innovate patient journeys and evidence generation strategies? What core digital health competencies should medical affairs professionals develop?

This September, our spotlight series on medical affairs aims to answer these questions and more.

Join one of our events in the series to listen and talk with industry experts and peers on the new role of medical affairs in a data-driven digital world… and keep an eye out for our upcoming industry report:

Virtual Roundtable on Upskilling Medical Affairs for Digital Health

Patient journeys are changing. Layers of tech now monitor and help treat patients. The data gathered and insights generated are reshaping how pharma operates. 

Why and how must medical affairs teams upskill to understand and unlock the value of digital health and this invaluable new source of information?

Join us for this virtual roundtable with Reinhard Berkels, Head of Medical Affairs Strategy at

IQVIA, and senior pharma leaders to find out and discuss more.

Virtual Master class on Medical Affairs: Designing an effective data strategy for RWE

Apply to secure your seat at this masterclass, Kelly Brassil, will talk through designing your evidence strategy leveraging digital health solution data. 

Digital health device data as a source of RWE will form the cornerstone of future data strategies spearheaded by the medical affairs function in biopharma.

This session is not to be missed by any medical affairs professionals wanting to upskill in digital areas. 

Live Webinar on Rethinking Medical Affairs Strategy in the Age of Digitalisation

Medical affairs teams in pharma have yet to fully tap the potential of tech powered patient journeys.

Register for this free live webinar where we’ll be joined by:

• Alex Condoleon, Chief Medical Affairs Officer of Global Omnichannel and Digital Customer Solutions, Pfizer.

• Felix Lee, US Digital Healthcare Medical Head, Sanofi

• Jennifer Joe, Global Medical Strategy & Population Health Director, AstraZeneca 

• Tanya Fournier, Senior Medical Director, US Medical Affairs, Alexion 

Our expert panel will discuss the changing role of medical affairs and how to unlock the potential of digital health. Questions answers will include:

• What should pharma organisations expect from the medical affairs function of the future?

• How can medical affairs leverage technology generated data to design better experiences for HCPs and patients? 

• What are the strategic upskilling requirements for the medical affairs function of the future?

Be sure to bring your questions on the day for the live Q&A. 

Upcoming Report on The New Role of Medical Affairs in Digital Health

Keep an eye out for our report on, coming later in September, where we’ll look at:

• How the role of medical Affairs is changing and what this means for digital health adoption.

• Why upskilling in digital health is crucial to the future success of medical Affairs.

• How and why medical affairs can make a difference to patients and their treatment experiences through digital health.