Tina Maio-Twofoot, PhD
Medical Advisor
Tina completed her PhD in Pharmacology and Toxicology from Queen’s University and is currently a Medical Advisor for Ophthalmology at Novartis Canada.
Passionate about science and medicine, she enjoys working with Medical Experts to bring innovative medicines to market and improve patient outcomes.
"I am passionate about what I do - I love working in Medical Affairs and the dynamic environment of the Pharmaceutical Industry. It is very rewarding to know that what we do has a positive impact on the lives of patients.”
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*The views and opinions expressed in this profile are those of the professional and do not necessarily reflect the official policies of their employer.
Tell us about your career path
It took me about a year to get my first job after completing MSc and it was really an exercise of persistence and taking advantage of your opportunities. My first job was as a pharmacokinetic (PK) associate and the head of the PK department also happened to be in charge of medical writing.
Here, I started learning about pharmacokinetic analyses in clinical trials and I also began writing protocols and reports for clinical studies. People were starting to understand the quality of the work I was doing and a headhunter reached out to me about a medical communications opportunity, which I was excited to try because it was different from what I had been doing. Now, I’m enjoying my role as a principal medical writer as it has a more extensive focus on clinical research.
Tell us about your role
A Medical Advisor is typically a head office-based associate who has therapeutic and product expertise and is responsible for the evaluation, critiquing, and communication of medical/scientific information. In addition, the Medical Advisor is responsible for the Medical brand strategy. Medical Advisors identify knowledge gaps in the data through discussions with investigators and Medical Experts to develop a post-launch data generation plan (e.g., Phase IV studies, Real World Evidence).
They also work with Clinical Development on Phase II and III Clinical Trials, and with Global Medical Affairs to evaluate whether to sponsor an Investigator-Initiated Trial. The Medical Advisor also often plans and leads Advisory Boards, works on Medical Expert development plans with the MSLs, and leads publication planning.
This role interacts externally (e.g., Medical Experts, industry stakeholders), and internally with cross-functional stakeholders at a country level (e.g., Commercial, Clinical, Market Access, Health Policy, and Patient Access) as well as at a Global level (e.g., Global Medical Affairs, Global Drug Development). Individuals should be skilled in science, communication, strategic thinking, as well as have a certain level of business acumen to excel in this role.
What made you choose this career?
I really enjoyed attending scientific conferences during graduate school, learning about the new developments in the field, and engaging with the scientific community. I looked forward to presenting my own research as well as discussing it with experts and gaining valuable insights and feedback.
In my last year of graduate school, I began to consider my options and explore whether I would like to continue in Academia with a Postdoctoral Fellowship or look for other options in the private sector. I had always had an interest in Pharmacology and the Pharmaceutical Industry and so I began to reach out and meet with people in various roles to narrow down my interests and learn about the different possibilities through informational interviews.
In the end, I realized that my passion for learning, as well as the communication of science, would be well suited for the MSL role. I am an outgoing person who enjoys meeting new people and building relationships. It was a great fit as in the MSL role I was meeting with Medical Experts as the liaison for the company to forge relationships and add value by discussing the science, working on various projects, as well as gain insights to shape the medical strategy and development of future trials.
I enjoy working on the cutting edge of science, the dynamic nature of the industry, and the need to continue learning and growing. I love working in a field where I can have an impact on the development and use of innovative medicines and ultimately on the life of patients.
What is the biggest challenge and reward working in this position?
As a Medical Advisor, you need to ensure you are managing your time wisely, as you may be pulled in multiple directions. The greatest challenge is ensuring you are prioritizing the right tasks and responsibilities to ensure you are meeting the numerous deadlines and targets.
The greatest reward is when you have been working on a drug for many years and you finally see it reach patients. Hearing how the new therapeutic has positively impacted a patient's life is what keeps me motivated! On the science side, I often work on new innovative products, which I find incredibly interesting.
I enjoy working directly with my clinical counterparts on the upcoming drugs in development for Phase II and III studies as well as designing Phase IIIb and Phase IV studies post-launch.
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