The Medical Affairs Professional Society (MAPS) is honored to announce the role of Dr. Gustavo L. F. Kesselring as Senior Advisor for Professional Development. Kesselring will work with the MAPS Professional Development Committee to assist with the creation of courses supporting 7 Medical Affairs competency certification tracks identified in the MAPS 5-year strategic plan.   

“Individuals join Medical Affairs from so many different backgrounds – PharmD, PhD, MD and more. I’m excited to work with the MAPS team and volunteers to ensure courses guide knowledge and application of best practices across Medical Affairs subfunctions,” Kesselring says. 

“Gustavo brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in pharmaceutical industry education, specifically related to Medical Affairs,” says Melody Hays, MAPS Director of Learning & Development. “We look forward to working together to provide best-in-class training courses to help Medical Affairs professionals earn the skills they need to bring value to their companies, while growing toward leadership careers.” 

Kesselring will also focus on mapping and developing business opportunities related to innovation in education and professional development for Medical Affairs professionals with similar or partner organizations and universities. Current MAPS course offerings are available free to MAPS members at the MAPS Content HUB.  

Kesselring earned his medical degree at University of Sao Paulo Medical School and completed residency in Gynecology & Obstetrics at Hospital das Clínicas, São Paulo. After working in private clinical practice, Kesselring started his first pharmaceutical industry position in 1988 with subsequent C level roles leading clinical research and Medical Affairs teams in Rhone Poulenc and Hoechst Marion Roussel (currently both part of Sanofi).  

Kesselring was Director of the National Clinical Research Training Program for the Ministry of Health (MoH) Brazil 2009 -2010 and had honorary roles in nonprofit organizations including Past President and member of Board of Directors of Brazilian Society of Pharmaceutical Medicine, Past President of International Federation of Associations of Pharmaceutical Physicians and Pharmaceutical Medicine (IFAPP) and Executive Member of Council of International Organizations of Medical Sciences (CIOMS). He currently holds an academic position at King´s College London serving as Senior Lecturer at Faculty of Life Science and Medicine and recently devised and developed through IFAPP Academy, the IFAPP Academy-King´s College London Professional Certification Program Medical Affairs in Medicines Development. In recognition from his contributions to global clinical research and pharmaceutical medicine he received professional awards by the American Academy of Clinical Research Professionals in 2011, by the Drug Information Association in 2013 and by the Brazilian Academy of Pharmacy in 2016. 

“Many Medical Affairs professionals seek to power their careers with perspectives beyond a single subfunction,” Kesselring says. “Our course offerings will equip Medical Affairs professionals with the understanding and competencies they require to move beyond the role of individual contributor into leadership positions in Medical Affairs or at the level of the enterprise.”