By: Kirtida Pandya1, Jacqueline Waldrop2, Maria E. Vassilakis3, Marc Sirockman4, Deirdre Jordan5, Ogün Sazova6, Patricia Jassak7, Tim Mikhelashvili8, Sarah Funderburk9, Ivan Desviat10
- Executive Director and Head, Medical Services and Operations, Sandoz, A Novartis Division
- Director, Oncology Grant Officer, Global Medical Grants, Worldwide Medical & Safety, Pfizer Inc.
- Senior Director, Medical Affairs, Standards and Excellence, Astellas
- President, MedEvoke
- Global Medical Affairs Excellence Lead, Sandoz, A Novartis Division
- Medical Director, Napp Pharmaceuticals, UK
- Director, IME and External Medical Affairs, Astellas
- CEO and Co-Founder, Amedea Pharma
- Medical Insights Director, Caudex, a McCann Health Company
- Director Medical Education & Outcomes Excellence, Abbvie
ABSTRACT
In the Medical Affairs Professional Society (MAPS) community, external medical education can be categorized based on the extent of influence and industry involvement; however, it should always have the ultimate goal of optimizing patient care and improving health outcomes. Medical Affairs (MA) professionals take the lead to reach this goal by establishing external education programs to address knowledge, competency, or performance gaps. Educational strategies are implemented while fully complying with all applicable laws and codes and considering variables such as regional differences. External medical education demands are continuously evolving, and MA needs to continue to evolve with these changes to establish effective education strategies. Furthermore, the swift change to virtual education platforms due to the current COVID-19 pandemic requires speed and agility across stakeholders. The adaptation of medical education tactics will ensure effective healthcare professional (HCP) education, which will ultimately lead to improvement of patients’ healthcare.
INTRODUCTION
The central mission of external medical education is to provide unbiased education to enhance healthcare professionals’ (HCP) knowledge, skills and competencies to improve patient outcomes. But what role do Medical Affairs (MA) professionals have in its creation and dissemination? The following article provides a brief overview of external medical education and gives insight into the integral role of MA professionals.
