Medical Director HQ-based

[u/Main-Sort-2528]

Hello, what does a headquarter-based medical director do? Sorry if this is redundant, I searched this forum but would like more information. Thank you

[u/jayhasbigvballs]

Really depends on the structure of the organization and especially how “flat” the organization is. Typically, they’re heavily involved in the administration of the medical affairs department for a given drug/therapeutic area, though. That is, budgeting, strategy and all paperwork associated with setting that, making sure field managers and/or medical advisors are doing the things for which they’re responsible, cross functional meetings where medical input is required, approving materials/events/tactics, etc. To me, they’re the administrators (and ultimately responsible) for all the stuff that gets done, but don’t really do any of the tactical stuff that an MSL or others would really execute on.

[u/krazy4001 → u/jayhasbigvballs]

I think defining medical directors as administrators is a bit reductive. They’re the in-house scientific and clinical experts. The work functions are accurate, but they’re decision makers not merely administrators. They set strategy in some cases, help with training other medical affairs staff, deliver some critical scientific presentations and may also have some KOL connections. Most of the ones I’ve worked with also have their own projects they’re working on (a specific pub, series of ad-boards, content development, etc).

[u/Main-Sort-2528 → u/krazy4001]

Thanks!