In the Perspectives series, MAPS Americas Region President, John Pracyk, MD, PhD, MBA speaks with leaders from Johnson & Johnson, where John is Integrated Leader, Medical Affairs, Preclinical and Clinical Research at DePuy Synthes Spine (a J&J company). Rather than publishing each interview separately, John has chosen to organize these interviews by topic, distilling the opinions of J&J thought leaders to demonstrate consensus or offer distinct viewpoints on issues of importance for the practice of Medical Affairs.

This article explores preparing our next generation of Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) to accept their evolving place alongside senior leaders in R&D and Commercial. Specifically, there tends to be two coexisting models of advancement within Medical Affairs, namely through promotion or through recruitment. In the model of promotion, a career development program builds knowledge across many Therapeutic Areas (TAs) through formal rotations or by adding supplemental TAs once an initial area has been mastered. Eventually, a CMO may be promoted to the role after curating a repertoire of varied management experiences. Alternately, organizations may recruit HCPs, researchers or other healthcare and bioscience leaders that are well known to the business unit into their senior leadership roles. Following, Medical Affairs leaders from Johnson & Johnson offer their opinions of best practices to prepare our next generation of Chief Medical Officers.