In this heartfelt episode of The Patient From Hell, host Samira Daswani talks to Jill Massey, a pharmacist and pharma industry veteran whose path through cancer has been both personal and professional. Jill shares her experiences as a caregiver for her sister, mother, and husband—all cancer patients—before becoming a patient herself. They discuss the emotional and practical challenges of navigating caregiving, the complexities of the healthcare system, and how Jill's unique perspective as both a medical professional and a patient shaped her approach to advocacy, treatment decisions, and resilience.

Key Highlights:

1. A Personal and Professional Journey: Jill reflects on how her family's battles with cancer shaped her career in the pharmaceutical industry, blending personal empathy with professional expertise.

2. Balancing Roles and Emotions: From sibling to spouse to patient, Jill shares the unique emotional dynamics of each role and the coping mechanisms she developed.

3. Empowerment Through Knowledge: Jill emphasizes the importance of patient education, advocating for personalized care, and the evolving role of pharmaceutical companies in supporting patient-centric care.

About our guest:

Jill Massey, PharmD, MBA, BCMAS is Vice President, Global Medical Strategy and Operations (GMSO) for Gilead Medical Affairs.  In this role, Jill oversees the Patient-focused Implementation Science team, Medical Strategy and Planning, Insights, Data & Analytics and Digital Innovation, Medical Excellence, Medical Affairs Technology, and Scientific Communications including global publications, medical information, medical external affairs and education, and library and information services.  

Jill joined Gilead Sciences from Immunomedics where she led the Medical Affairs, Safety and Pharmacovigilance organizations.  Prior to that, she led Medical Affairs at Janssen, The Medicines Company and Melinta Therapeutics as well as the Melinta Global Antimicrobial Resistance Program. She began her career in the pharmaceutical industry at Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.  Previous to her industry roles, Jill was clinical faculty at the Saint Louis College of Pharmacy, Jewish Hospital and the Program on Aging at Washington University School of Medicine. 

Jill is a member of the Board of Directors for the Morris County Chamber of Commerce and serves on the Life Sciences Council Steering Committee.  She is a member of the National Advisory Committee for the Robert A. Winn Diversity in Clinical Trials Award Program, a member of the Accreditation Council of Medical Affairs Executive Leadership Board and a member of the Seton Hall University Transformative Leadership Advisory Board.  

Jill earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center and her MBA from Drexel University LeBow College of Business. She completed a residency at Mercer University School of Pharmacy and Emory University. She is Board Certified by ACMA.  

Jill loves running, baking and spending time with her two kids, Maddie and Alex, and her loved ones, sometimes including her two dogs and cat.

Disclaimer: All content and information provided in connection with Manta Cares is solely intended for informational and educational purposes only.  This content and information is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

This episode is sponsored by Gilead Oncology. Gilead had no involvement or input in the podcast content. Gilead Oncology is working to transform how cancer is treated. We are innovating with next-generation therapies, combinations, and technologies to deliver improved outcomes for people with cancer. From antibody drug conjugates and small molecules to cell therapy-based approaches, our portfolio and pipeline assets are creating new possibilities for people with cancer.