How did you become an executive in the health care industry? Did you always have an interest in health care? 

I started in the pharmaceutical industry as a lobbyist and leading reimbursement strategies for new innovative medicines just as the entire area of health care economics was blossoming.  I was lucky enough to work on some fantastic life-saving products early on in my career and found my passion and my purpose – combining an interest in science with my love for helping people by working with governments on policy initiatives that would both encourage innovation and leverage savings created by these important innovations. 
 
What is one major challenge you see facing the biotech industry today? How should that challenge be addressed? 

Government and health policies are not keeping pace with scientific innovation, which is one of the most challenging areas for the industry.  The US healthcare system is not sustainable in its current form and today’s healthcare infrastructure was built for another time that has long since passed us by.  We need flexibility and agility to move quickly towards new technologies and solutions.  Most importantly, we need to revamp the incentives, particularly the financial incentives, across the entire system of care to ensure they align with today’s care expectations and society’s values. 
 
Your current role at Sandoz focuses on the development of biosimilar medicines. What about biosimilars excites you and keeps you motivated? 

Biosimilars in the US have been very slow to take off, and as a healthcare leader and healthcare consumer, this frustrates me.  The US is at least 10 years behind the rest of the world in terms of taking advantage of the potential that biosimilars represent, both in terms of hard dollar savings and in terms of increasing access to these critically important medicines for more people to benefit from.  Biosimilars create space for the “cures” that we are now realizing with new innovation. I am excited to see the US market open up to these savings.  A recent Rand organization study reported that the US could save upwards of $54 billion by 2027 if we adopted biosimilar-friendly policies. I focus on developing and commercializing these important products to ensure that the US has an opportunity to benefit from all they have to offer.

I am also fortunate enough to sit on the Board of Directors of Theratechnologies Inc. (THTX), a global biotech company focused on two specialty therapy areas with an interesting development pipeline, commercialized products in the US, and a current launch in Europe.  Working with the team at Thera is very exciting and inspiring and definitely keeps me motivated to keep working towards better health for us all. 
 
WBL members represent a diverse range of companies within the health care industry. How would you recommend best leveraging your membership to fellow WBL members from the Life Sciences sector? 

Health care is indeed a very broad industry, and it is complex – the more we know about the many different aspects across the system, the more of an impact we can have together.  I really enjoy being exposed to all the different perspectives and experiences from across the membership to push my own thinking and address how we can bring all these different aspects together to improve health and well-being overall.  When I meet with the members of WBL either through the smaller events or the annual Summit, I come away so incredibly inspired that together, we can improve health and impact people’s lives in very positive ways.  It’s just so uplifting!  
 
You attended the WBL Summit for the first time in awhile this past year. What was the experience like? Why are you looking forward to the 2020 Summit?

I first attended the Summit in 2011 in DC. I was so inspired then.  I didn’t come back until 2019 for a variety of reasons – living abroad, timing conflicts, and life just gets busy.  After attending in 2019, I considered the experience one I wouldn’t allow myself to ever miss again.  And I have recruited a few colleagues from across the industry to join me next spring in Florida.  We expect health care to be key in the 2020 election and WBL brings together a very broad group of health care leaders who can impact positive change for Americans – 2020 will be a great WBL Summit. 

Personally or professionally, what might the WBL network be surprised to know about you?

I started my career working in government and then became a professional lobbyist, first for the freight railways and then for the pharmaceutical industry.  One of my current lobbying “projects” is supporting women’s access to the boardroom.  As such, WBL completely aligns with my personal mission.  I am excited to champion this topic for future generations and I sincerely hope that we will accelerate and quickly improve all of our positions in this regard!