The Evolution of In-Field Medical Affairs: Introducing the Strategic Scientific Advisor

The evolving landscape of healthcare demands a transformation in Medical Affairs (MA) to address new challenges and opportunities. This article presents the Strategic Scientific Advisor (SSA) role as a critical innovation within our MA department, aimed at enhancing early engagement with stakeholders and strategically positioning assets within the healthcare ecosystem. The SSA role was developed following a comprehensive external assessment and an internal review of the MA department's structure to integrate the CARABELA methodology, which serves as the foundation for SSA activities. CARABELA is a joint initiative between AstraZeneca and key scientific societies to optimize clinical practices in specific chronic diseases using a holistic strategy, whose implementation is monitored in each hospital by applying specifically designed indicators. The SSA role design, guided by the Strategic Scientific Area Plan Framework, emphasizes early proactive engagement, evidence generation, and a multidisciplinary approach to optimizing clinical practices. By fostering collaboration across internal teams and external partners, the SSA supports activities throughout the entire lifecycle of the product, facilitating early access strategies, and building tailored plans to address unmet medical needs. In contrast to traditional Medical Science Liaisons (MSLs), SSAs play pivotal roles in driving long-term healthcare outcomes, aligning with the Medical Affairs 2030 vision. The SSA is trained and evaluated to catalyze a strategic shift, enabling MA to address the complexities of healthcare ecosystems, improve clinical practices, and contribute to patient-centered innovations. This transformation underscores the critical need for MA professionals to expand beyond traditional responsibilities and lead initiatives that shape the future of healthcare.