Tufts CSDD Partners with IFAPP Academy to Develop an Innovative Online Course: “Leadership in Medical Affairs”

Tuesday, August 13th, 2019 — Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development (Tufts CSDD) will partner with IFAPP Academy to create a new course, “Leadership in Medical Affairs”, that will be offered in 2020 as a complement to the IFAPP Academy-King’s College London-Tufts CSDD Professional Certification Program “Medical Affairs in Medicines Development.” The planning activities for this innovative approach to education and training, in this critical area for the medical role within the biopharmaceutical industry, have already started.  Dr. Kenneth Kaitin, Professor of Medicine and Director of Tufts CSDD and Dr. Ana Salgado, IFAPP Academy Director of Strategic Operations will coordinate the initiative.  Dr. Kaitin has also been appointed a member of the IFAPP Academy’s Advisory Council. 

The partnership with Tufts CSDD will provide IFAPP Academy students and alumni the option to attend the six-week Course “Leadership in Medical Affairs.” This specialized leadership course will combine theoretical leadership principles, with relevance in Medical Affairs, and practical applications. Students will have the opportunity to learn from industry leaders while participating in business case discussions, lectures, webinars, forums, and panel discussions, entirely online.

“This new Course will help in leveraging leaderships skills to provide strategic medical direction to the organization” said Honorio Silva, MD, IFAPP Academy Chief Executive Officer, “and enhance the stakeholders perception of the medical function as a key contributor to improving patient outcomes.“

Benefits for Medical Affairs Professionals

There are also numerous benefits of this collaboration for Medical Affairs professionals. Individuals will be taught the steps needed to evolve from leading themselves to achieving results through others. They will gain the understanding needed to transition from a medical/science contributor to a company leader. The course will provide professionals with the principles needed for creating and leading highly effective teams; including specialized teams (matrixed, cross-functional, cross-geographies). Students will understand how to provide value to an organization by translating real-world data, clinical outcomes, and other data insights into innovative solutions for patient needs and pharmaceutical challenges to allow for improved business development.

“Tufts CSDD is excited to partner with IFAPP Academy in offering this new online course on Leadership in Medical Affairs,” said Dr. Kenneth Kaitin, Professor and Director of Tufts CSDD. “The program will be a fitting compliment to Tufts CSDD’s annual two day in-person course on Leadership for Drug Development Teams, now in its 18th year. Additionally, I look forward to serving on the IFAPP Academy’s Advisory Council and working with the organization’s staff as we develop this exciting new online program.”

About Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development (Tufts CSDD) at Tufts University

The Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development (http://csdd.tufts.edu) at Tufts University provides data-driven analysis and strategic insight to help drug developers, regulators, and policy makers improve the efficiency and productivity of pharmaceutical R&D. Tufts CSDD also offers professional development courses, hosts workshops and public forums, and publishes the Tufts CSDD Impact Report, a bi-monthly newsletter focusing on critical drug development issues.

About IFAPP Academy

The International Federation of Associations of Pharmaceutical Physicians and Pharmaceutical Medicine (IFAPP) Academy (https://ifappacademy.org/) is a non-profit organization based in the USA, affiliated with IFAPP, and is comprised of a unique partnership between academia, industry, and professional associations to foster competencies and improving performance in medical affairs and medicines development. The IFAPP Academy-Kings College London, Medical Affairs in Medicines Development, Certification Program was created to achieve this goal. The online Program aims to provide the core cognitive competencies for an effective performance in medicines development and medical affairs. The certification program is of particular value for those individuals already working in (or interested in joining) pharmaceuticals, academia, and regulatory agencies. Students successfully completing the course receive a Certificate granted by King’s College London and IFAPP Academy, a Professional Certification granted by IFAPP and the IFAPP Academy, and the use of post-nominal letters (CMD) to attest certification.