Insight Drop: Strategic Thinking Over Execution: Redefining Agency Value in MedComms

In this solo episode of Transforming Medical Communications, host Wesley Portegies draws from the 2025 State of MedComms survey to explore what pharma teams truly want from their agency partners. And the answer isn’t more slide decks. It’s strategy. Wesley breaks down the five capabilities that Medical Affairs leaders expect from modern agencies, ranging from scientific depth to digital fluency, and explains why empathy, insight, and operational awareness are just as important as technical skill. He also shares a practical example that reveals the difference between a transactional vendor and a true thought partner, and offers clear steps to activate more strategic collaboration.

MedComms is overdue for a reboot. Static PDFs. Oversized decks. Siloed teams. No feedback loops. These outdated practices are slowing teams down and wasting valuable resources. In this episode of Transforming Medical Communications, Wesley Portegies shares bold insights from the State of Medical Communications 2025 survey and breaks down three urgent trends that pharma leaders can’t afford to ignore. From dismantling silos to killing the static PDF once and for all, this episode offers a practical roadmap to modernize how Medical Affairs teams create, deliver, and measure content.

Medical Affairs is evolving, but are we evolving with it? In this episode of Transforming Medical Communications, host Wesley Portegies sits down with Kimberly Eskridge-Rose, a pioneering voice in digital transformation for Medical Affairs. Together, they discuss what it takes to move from cautious experimentation to a scalable and cross-functional social media strategy.

There’s a silent gap in Medical Communications—and it’s not about effort, it’s about alignment. In this episode of Transforming Medical Communications, host Wesley Portegies is joined by Simon Priou, an experienced global content leader, to unpack the persistent challenges between Global, Regional, and Local teams.

In Medical Communications, survival isn’t about using AI; it’s about mastering it. In this episode of Transforming Medical Communications, Wesley Portegies is joined by AI strategist Subir Roy to discuss why mastering AI is no longer optional for leaders in Medical Affairs; it’s a competitive necessity. Learn how to eliminate inefficient processes, spot AI "hallucinations," and leverage human expertise to make smarter, faster decisions. AI can save you hours every day, but only if you know how to use it. The future belongs to those who harness AI as a strategic asset; those who don’t risk being left behind. This is your wake-up call: Master AI or risk becoming irrelevant.

Digital engagement in Medical Affairs is broken, and you know it. You’ve got channels that don’t connect, metrics that don’t matter, and “innovations” that die in MLR review. It’s not your fault. But it is fixable. In this episode of Transforming Medical Communications, Wesley Portegies is joined by digital strategist Alessandra Richardson to unpack the broken realities of digital engagement and how to build tools that actually work. This isn’t about adding more platforms. It’s about connecting the right ones, co-creating with the people you serve, and aligning teams from field to MLR to create measurable, meaningful impact. If you’re tired of spinning in digital circles, this is your reset.

Most Medical Affairs leaders know the truth: Counting MSL<>HCP interactions is easy, but it’s meaningless. Vanity metrics are holding Field Medical back. In this episode of Transforming Medical Communications, Wesley Portegies is joined by Denise Clark, Regional Medical Director of the Rare Disease team at Amgen, to show you what to measure instead and how to finally prove your team's real impact. Denise brings a bold, disruptive perspective: activity is not impact. This conversation gives you the modern Field Medical playbook. It's not about doing more. It's about doing what moves the needle.

Welcome to the Transforming Medical Communications podcast brought to you by MedComms Experts. I am your host, Wesley Portegies. This podcast explores the dynamic landscape of Medical Communication strategies, innovations, and challenges. We aim to facilitate insightful conversations that contribute to advancing effective Medical Communication practices.

In this episode of the Transforming Medical Communications podcast, host Wesley Portegies is joined by Charlie Rapple, Dave Shoup, and Dan Valen. Together, they discuss how Kudos, Sermo, and Figshare contribute to the digital communications ecosystem of Medical Affairs and how you can integrate these platforms into your Medical Communications strategy.

In this episode of the Transforming Medical Communications podcast, host Wesley Portegies is joined by Nazan Artun to dive into the role of creativity and adaptability in Medical Communications. Nazan shares insights on how diverse experiences can spark innovation and enhance team dynamics, practical strategies for fostering creativity and building trust in client relationships, and effective approaches to how Medical Communications can evolve to meet future challenges.