OnPoint: The Medical Excellence Podcast

Acceleration Point
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Life Sciences
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Join Acceleration Point’s Co-CEO Scott Thompson for insightful conversations on the most pressing issues facing top Medical Affairs professionals. Listen to stay ahead of industry trends and be inspired by leaders shaping the future of Medical Affairs.

  1. Jul 20 ·  Video

    The Glue That Holds It Together: Craig Granowitz on the Real Role of Medical Affairs

    Craig Granowitz, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Medical Officer at Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, has done something almost no one else in the industry has — he has held senior leadership roles on both the commercial and medical sides of the pharmaceutical enterprise. He started as a sales rep, rose through marketing and general management to lead a $2.5 billion business, and then made a deliberate move into Medical Affairs — where he built global organizations at Schering-Plough, Merck, Amarin, and Lexicon. That dual vantage point is what makes this conversation different. In this episode, Scott Thompson sits down with Craig to explore what Medical Affairs looks like when you have sat in every seat. The result is one of the clearest frameworks we have heard for understanding where Medical Affairs sits in the organization — not the center, not the foundation, but the common glue that holds R&D, Commercial, and every major external stakeholder together. In this episode: Why Craig describes Medical Affairs as "the common glue" — and what that means for how MA leaders should position their function internally The three attributes he looks for in every Medical Affairs professional: curiosity, tenacity, and courage — and why genuine curiosity drives the other two How to assess the health of a Medical Affairs organization from the inside, starting with cross-functional meetings The leadership challenge of building trust while stressing the system with audacious goals — without losing the harmony you built Why in the era of AI, the most human leaders will be the most effective — and what AI simply cannot conceive of Connect with Craig Granowitz on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-granowitz-a43878101/ Connect with Scott Thompson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/medical-excellence/ OnPoint: The Medical Excellence Podcast delivers insightful conversations on the most pressing issues facing top Medical Affairs professionals. Listen to stay ahead of industry trends and be inspired by leaders shaping the future of Medical Affairs. 00:00 — Introduction: Craig Granowitz and the View From Every Seat 03:18 — Starting in Sales: What a Sales Rep Really Learns 09:00 — From Marketing to Medical: The Career Pivot That Changed Everything 28:00 — Medical Affairs as the Common Glue of the Organization 32:36 — How Do You Know If Medical Affairs Was a Good Investment? 35:20 — Curiosity, Tenacity, and Courage: The Three Attributes That Define Great MA Teams 39:03 — What a Healthy Medical Affairs Organization Looks Like From the Inside 43:00 — Building Trust While Stressing the System: The Leadership Balancing Act 53:56 — In the Era of AI, the More Human You Are, the Better

  2. Feb 6 ·  Video

    23. How Medical Affairs Professionals Can Build Their AI Skills

    In this episode of the OnPoint Podcast, Scott sits down with Nandini Sabharwal, Field Medical Director at Pfizer, to explore how Medical Affairs teams can move past the hype and start building real, practical AI skills. Drawing from her experience as a clinical pharmacist and MSL, Nandini shares how using AI first in everyday life creates confidence, fluency, and momentum that directly translate into work. The conversation focuses on how teams can start now, stay compliant, and use AI to expand, not replace, their impact.  Nandini is a seasoned Medical Science Liaison with over five years of Medical Affairs experience spanning various therapeutic areas. She spearheads the Internal Medicine Field Medical AI workstream, focusing on initiatives that bridge AI innovation with field medical operations, such as using AI to enhance medical engagement and insight generation. She is an enthusiastic pioneer of integrating AI in customer-facing teams, emphasizing the importance of upskilling, democratization of AI skills, and cross-functional collaboration with other field teams for AI advocacy. Connect with Nandini on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nandini-sabharwal/ [00:00]  Why AI Is Becoming a Core Skill in Medical Affairs  [01:30]  Why MSLs Are Already Equipped to Use AI Effectively  [04:10]  Using Personal AI Use Cases to Build Confidence and Fluency  [11:20]  Safe and Compliant AI Use in Pharma and Medical Affairs  [18:30]  How NotebookLM and LLMs Accelerate Scientific Learning  [24:10]  Practical AI Workflows for MSLs: Planning, Insights, and Efficiency  [34:50]  Expanding Medical Affairs Impact with AI Without Losing the Human Element

    23. How Medical Affairs Professionals Can Build Their AI Skills

  3. Jan 9 ·  Video

    22. AI Adoption in Medical Affairs: What High-Performing Teams Do Differently

    In this episode, Scott sits down with Nick Taylor, Head of Gilead’s IT Innovation Lab, to unpack how he has led enterprise-wide adoption of Copilot and built AI solutions now used by nearly 30,000 employees. Nick shares the mindset, methods, and practical realities of teaching teams to use AI well, from personal productivity to enterprise-scale agents. Together, they discuss: • How Nick moved from IT architecture to leading AI innovation across Gilead • What early pilots revealed about real-world AI adoption • The small wins that drive big productivity gains • How teams should think about governance, compliance, and risk • The shift from personal AI use to team- and enterprise-level AI • What Medical Affairs teams should expect in the next 3 years of AI maturity Connect with Nick on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ntaylornc OnPoint: The Medical Excellence Podcast delivers insightful conversations on the most pressing issues facing top Medical Affairs professionals. Listen to stay ahead of industry trends and be inspired by leaders shaping the future of Medical Affairs.  OnPoint is available on several podcast platforms, including the Acceleration Point YouTube channel. [00:00] – Welcome and Introduction [02:00] – Early Copilot Pilots and the Small Wins That Sparked Enterprise Adoption [06:40] – Building Genie: Gilead’s Enterprise AI Assistant [08:35] – Security, Compliance, and Fixing Broken Data Hygiene [14:45] – The Four Levels of AI Maturity in Medical Affairs [18:55] – Personal AI Mastery: Prompts, Roles, and Nick’s ‘Board of Advisor’ Agents [28:35] – Scaling AI Across Pharma and Why You Can’t Outsource Thinking

    22. AI Adoption in Medical Affairs: What High-Performing Teams Do Differently

  4. 12/18/2025 ·  Video

    21. 2025 Year in Review: Six Trends Reshaping Medical Affairs

    2025 wasn’t just another year of progress for Medical Affairs. It was a year of transformation. In this special OnPoint: Medical Excellence Podcast episode, Scott Thompson looks back across the conversations, leaders, and moments that defined the past year and distills them into six themes that are reshaping how Medical Affairs teams operate, lead, and create impact. This is not a rewind. It’s a synthesis of what changed, why it matters, and how the most forward-thinking teams are already applying these lessons. In this episode, you’ll hear how Medical Affairs leaders are: Turning AI from a buzzword into a practical skill used every day Moving from alignment on paper to true cross-functional integration Redefining impact by measuring belief change, not activity volume Driving transformation by starting small, proving value, and scaling intentionally Building omnichannel maturity through coordinated, focused steps Elevating the modern MSL role from sharing data to changing scientific beliefs Throughout the episode, Scott connects insights from leaders across the industry to show how everything connects: AI, excellence, impact, omnichannel, and mastery all working together to improve outcomes for patients. If you’re responsible for Medical Affairs strategy, field excellence, insights, or transformation, this episode brings the year into focus and offers a clear lens for what comes next. OnPoint: The Medical Excellence Podcast delivers insightful conversations on the most pressing issues facing top Medical Affairs professionals. Listen to stay ahead of industry trends and be inspired by leaders shaping the future of Medical Affairs. OnPoint is available on several podcast platforms, including the Acceleration Point YouTube channel.   [00:00] – The Year of Transformation [01:29] – Stop Waiting for Big AI. Start Now [03:34] – Integration Is Excellence [05:56] – Measure What Changed, Not What You Did [08:09] – Start Small. Prove Value. Scale. [11:04] – Maturity Is Built One Coordinated Step at a Time [13:37] – What Should the Modern MSL Be Mastering? [16:42] – Everything Connects

    21. 2025 Year in Review: Six Trends Reshaping Medical Affairs

  5. 11/11/2025 ·  Video

    20. Omnichannel at Scale: Redefining Medical Engagement

    In this episode of the OnPoint Podcast, Scott sits down with Joyce Lo, Director of Medical Omnichannel Strategy at Blueprint Medicines. Joyce shares her perspective on modernizing Medical Affairs engagement through digital and customer-centric channels. Together, they explore how omnichannel can expand reach, personalize education, and deliver measurable impact across the Medical Affairs landscape.  Together, they discuss: • Defining omnichannel for Medical Affairs and why it matters today. • How to set clear goals before selecting channels or tactics. • Navigating compliance and legal considerations in digital engagement. • The role of segmentation and the customer journey in building strategy. • Measuring outcomes beyond channel metrics to real-world impact. • Collaboration across Medical, Marketing, and Commercial to achieve true omnichannel. Connect with Joyce on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/joyce-lo-pharmd/   OnPoint: The Medical Excellence Podcast delivers insightful conversations on the most pressing issues facing top Medical Affairs professionals. Listen to stay ahead of industry trends and be inspired by leaders shaping the future of Medical Affairs.  OnPoint is available on several podcast platforms, including the Acceleration Point YouTube channel. #MedicalAffairs #MedicalExcellence  [00:00] – Welcome and Introduction [01:00] – What Omnichannel Really Means for Medical Affairs [04:00] – Setting Goals Before Choosing Channels [07:00] – Navigating Compliance and Regulatory Guardrails [10:00] – Measuring Impact Beyond Open Rates [14:00] – Customer Journeys and Segmentation [19:00] – Why Omnichannel Must Be Cross-Functional [22:00] – First Wins and Lessons Learned [28:00] – Scaling MSL Impact Through Omnichannel [34:00] – The Role of AI and Next Best Action [40:00] – Building the Skills and Mindset for Omnichannel Success

    20. Omnichannel at Scale: Redefining Medical Engagement

  6. 10/17/2025 ·  Video

    19. Transforming Medical Affairs at Amicus Therapeutics

    In this OnPoint Podcast episode, Joe Giuliano joins Acceleration Point CEO Scott Thompson to reflect on his nine-year journey leading Medical Affairs at Amicus Therapeutics—and the bold transformation he spearheaded before his recent retirement.  From rethinking Medical Affairs’ role to building belief-driven strategies and enabling digital capabilities, Joe shares hard-earned lessons and practical insights for leaders ready to drive real change.  Together, they discuss: • What a real Medical Affairs transformation looks like from the inside • Why starting small can lead to enterprise-wide change • Building belief-based engagement and aligning field and strategy • Using data and AI to drive influence, not just measure activity • Aligning Medical and Commercial with clear, complementary roles • The critical role of leadership vision in successful change management Connect with Joe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-giuliano-b364476/ You can learn more about his company, Rare Medical Affairs, by visiting his website at https://www.raremedicalaffairs.com/about-rma or by emailing him at JGiuliano@RareMedicalAffairs.com.  OnPoint: The Medical Excellence Podcast delivers insightful conversations on the most pressing issues facing top Medical Affairs professionals. Listen to stay ahead of industry trends and be inspired by leaders shaping the future of Medical Affairs.  OnPoint is available on several podcast platforms, including the Acceleration Point YouTube channel. #MedicalAffairs #MedicalExcellence  [00:00] Introduction and Welcome [00:39] Joe's Career Journey [02:44] The Concept of Transformation [05:12] Implementing Digital Tools [07:52] Overcoming Challenges [16:14] Achieving Success and Measuring Impact [30:56] Collaboration and Team Dynamics [41:29] Future Plans and Closing Remarks

    19. Transforming Medical Affairs at Amicus Therapeutics

  7. 09/26/2025 ·  Video

    18. Measuring Medical Affairs Impact with Paul Minne

    In this episode of OnPoint, Scott hosts seasoned Medical Affairs leader Paul Minne to explore one of the industry's most persistent challenges: defining and measuring impact. With over two decades of experience leading field medical teams across biotech and pharma, Paul brings bold ideas and practical solutions for how Medical Affairs teams can move from traditional activity metrics to truly influencing and measuring changes in clinical practice. Together, they discuss: Why defining “impact” in Medical Affairs remains elusive The problem with traditional metrics like call volume and KOL reach Moving from tactical execution to strategic influence Early indicators that signal meaningful changes in clinical practice Why activity and outcomes aren’t mutually exclusive—and how they can align The role of AI in scaling insight generation and field strategy Building purpose-driven MSL teams that create measurable value Connect with Paul on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulminne/ OnPoint: The Medical Excellence Podcast delivers insightful conversations on the most pressing issues facing top Medical Affairs professionals. Listen to stay ahead of industry trends and be inspired by leaders shaping the future of Medical Affairs. OnPoint is available on several podcast platforms, including the Acceleration Point YouTube channel. #MedicalAffairs #MedicalExcellence   00:00 – Introduction: Why Measuring Impact Still Matters 02:05 – Why Is Impact So Hard to Define in Medical Affairs? 08:00 – The Real Purpose of Medical Affairs 14:10 – Beyond Metrics: What Should We Really Measure? 18:30 – A Hybrid Model: Activity vs. Strategic Impact 26:20 – How MSL Teams Can Shift Clinical Beliefs 38:00 – AI, Alignment & the Path to the Third Pillar

    18. Measuring Medical Affairs Impact with Paul Minne

  8. 07/10/2025 ·  Video

    17. Successful Medical Excellence: Defining, Building, and Scaling High-Impact Teams

    Medical Excellence is rapidly becoming a cornerstone of high-performing Medical Affairs organizations—but what does it mean, and how can it be implemented in practice? In this episode, Scott Thompson is joined by two industry leaders, Michael Kahn and Chris McNabb, who bring hands-on experience in building and leading Medical Excellence functions at Spark Therapeutics and Bayer, respectively. Together, they discuss: • Defining Medical Excellence and how it differs from medical operations • The role of Medical Excellence in enabling field teams and improving strategic alignment • Key lessons learned from building and scaling Medical Excellence functions • Balancing innovation (like AI) with foundational operations • Organizational structure, stakeholder engagement, and team development • The future of Medical Affairs and where Medical Excellence fits in Connect with Michael on LinkedIn:   / kahnmichael   Connect with Chris on LinkedIn:   / chris-mcnabb-ph-d   OnPoint: The Medical Excellence Podcast delivers insightful conversations on the most pressing issues facing top Medical Affairs professionals. Listen to stay ahead of industry trends and be inspired by leaders shaping the future of Medical Affairs.  OnPoint is available on several podcast platforms, including the Acceleration Point YouTube channel. #MedicalAffairs #MedicalExcellence  [00:00] – Introduction & Meet the Guests [02:30] – Defining Medical Excellence: More Than Operations [06:00] – Building the Function: Standardization, Scope & Strategy [12:00] – Gaining Buy-In & Aligning Stakeholders [20:30] – Balancing Innovation with Operational Foundations [31:00] – Team Structure: Big vs. Small Organizations [46:30] – The Future of Medical Affairs & Closing Thoughts

    17. Successful Medical Excellence: Defining, Building, and Scaling High-Impact Teams
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Join Acceleration Point’s Co-CEO Scott Thompson for insightful conversations on the most pressing issues facing top Medical Affairs professionals. Listen to stay ahead of industry trends and be inspired by leaders shaping the future of Medical Affairs.

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