Barbara’s experience includes providing strategic solutions to Medical Affairs teams in both pharmaceutical and academic settings, and leading global initiatives. She held the position of Associate Director, Medical Affairs at Astellas Pharma where she was responsible for strategy and execution of medical affairs deliverables in the specialty area, including research and data communication, development of key experts, and participation on global and local leadership teams. Previously she was a National Manager at Janssen and Ortho Biotech (Johnson & Johnson) where she led the MSLs and medical education teams in several therapeutic areas, and throughout different life cycles.  Barbara is passionate about patient centricity in medical affairs, building effective teams, cross functional strategic collaboration and delivering medical excellence to improve patient care, through teamwork, continuous improvement and by maintaining a growth mindset.  Barbara holds a PhD from University of Sao Paulo, Brazil in collaboration McMaster University, Canada and a post doc fellowship at McMaster University. She has also completed Executive courses and Mini-MBA at McGill University. She loves travelling, learning about new cultures, the environment and volunteering in the community.