Carmen is a senior vice president of Global Medical Affairs and Patient Advocacy at Chiesi Group. Her career began in clinical practice, specializing in endocrinology – after eight years, driven by her growth mindset, she moved into the industry to look at patient impact beyond clinical practice. In her current role, Carmen and her team drive medical affairs strategy and execution across 30 countries and focus on interaction with external stakeholders, especially health care providers.

What made you interested in taking Executive Education programs at HMS? 

Naturally, Harvard Medical School’s reputation as a leading global institution was a significant draw for me. The program topics were also highly relevant to my role and career. However, what truly caught my attention was the unique approach of the courses; they were nothing like other executive education programs. I noticed that the course outlines and materials were not just focused on short-term learning objectives but offered a forward-looking perspective. I felt that the programs would equip me for long-term, innovative challenges and enhance my impact on advancing patient care, a key goal in my professional career.  

What were your goals when you enrolled in the Leading Digital Transformation program? 

I took the Leading Digital Transformation program for two main reasons. First, with so much discussion around digital transformation, it can be overwhelming to know where to focus and how to prioritize. My goal was to find a reference to help me understand how to approach and prioritize these challenges, and the course exceeded my expectations. Second, my knowledge was primarily focused on the life sciences industry, but health care is a much larger ecosystem. To make a real impact on patients, it’s crucial to understand the perspectives of all stakeholders. I wanted to broaden my understanding of digital changes and transformational steps.

Have you applied any learnings from the Leading Digital Transformation program to your work?

The capstone project in the Leading Digital Transformation program was very impactful. It brought together everything we learned and provided structured frameworks that shifted my mindset toward achieving transformational goals without getting sidetracked. I could tell that the faculty designed the capstone to immediately apply to our day-to-day work. I was able to implement what I learned in a task group I was leading at the time.

What aspect of the learning experience was most impactful for you?

The live sessions in the Leading Digital Transformation program were great, especially the faculty insights. The peer-to-peer discussions were also fantastic. They really enhanced my understanding and were a significant and differentiating aspect of the course. Even if you don’t have time to fully engage, having access to the program materials for a year is incredibly helpful. I was able to go back at my own pace and truly dive into the material.  

In the second program I took, Clinical Development Strategies, I appreciated how it offered a comprehensive 360-degree perspective and how it was broader in scope. One of the topics that resonated with me was the discussion on the big opportunities and challenges in designing and executing clinical trials, particularly patient recruitment, and efficiency. There was a significant emphasis on going beyond traditional approaches, like randomized control trials and exploring innovative methods. Dr. Stanley Shaw and the entire faculty were incredible, providing valuable insights throughout the program.  

Have any learnings from the Clinical Development Strategies helped you in your role?

The Clinical Development Strategies program was specifically relevant to my role. I immediately recognized how well the content fit with my responsibilities. The two key areas that stood out were the focus on diversity and equity in clinical trials and the incorporation of patient and caregiver perspectives. These elements were particularly relevant to my work, and I shared some of the course literature with my organization, which sparked meaningful discussions. The leadership lens Dr. Shaw introduced was unexpectedly enlightening. Despite being a seasoned leader, I found it inspiring and immediately applied the lessons to my team.

Would you recommend these Executive Education programs to other health care professionals? If so, why?

I highly recommend both the Leading Digital Transformation program and the Clinical Development Strategies program to a broad range of professionals, particularly health care providers and industry leaders. The programs blend a well-organized structure with a remarkable platform that is easy to navigate. Despite my initial concerns about balancing the courses with my day-to-day, the rich learning environment constructed by the staff, the online peer discussions, and real-world examples erased those fears and helped me successfully complete the course. 

The Leading Digital Transformation program is especially valuable, as it includes numerous examples from the health care system. It addresses barriers and pain points in the system but also offers strategies to overcome them. The diverse participants also made it relevant to a wide audience within health care and beyond. I would say the Clinical Development Strategies program is geared towards research and development, clinical trial execution, medical affairs teams, and clinical sites collaborating with the industry. The comprehensive approach of the program benefits many in these fields.