Paul Ward has spent thirty years in Medical Affairs — from selling antibiotics at Beecham Laboratories to leading field medical oncology, hematology, medical value, and access at BeOne Medicines. He has attended the American Society of Hematology for twenty-three consecutive years. His point of view is earned in the arena, and in this episode, he shares it.
In this conversation with Linda Traylor, Paul covers the mindset shift that transformed his MSL career, what he learned leading a team through a drug withdrawal, why the worst career advice in field medical is to rush to the next title, and what he would put on a billboard for every Medical Affairs professional in the world.
Books and Resources Mentioned:
Recommended by Linda Traylor:
Recommended by Paul Ward:
Paul Ward is Head of Field Medical Oncology, Hematology, Medical Value and Access at BeOne Medicines. With thirty years in Medical Affairs, his career spans field medical, regional and national director roles at companies including Lilly Oncology, AstraZeneca, and Astellas. He is a longtime member of the MSL Society Advisory Board and has attended twenty-three consecutive years of the American Society of Hematology.
Connect with Paul Ward on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-ward-95302b15/
About OnPoint: The Mentor Sessions:
OnPoint: The Mentor Sessions is a podcast series hosted by Linda Traylor, VP of Medical Excellence at Acceleration Point. Each episode is a candid conversation with an unsung hero in Medical Affairs or Field Medical — surfacing the mindset shifts, defining moments, and hard-won lessons that shape the leaders moving this field forward.
OnPoint is available on several podcast platforms, including the Acceleration Point YouTube channel.
Watch Now: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTXapuvAJzWZdDrMJFj-3FDz42Z3uJYAu
00:00 — Thirty Years in the Arena: How Paul Ward Found Medical Affairs
05:15 — The Mindset Shift Every MSL Needs: From Expert to Student
07:51 — When the Drug Fails: Leading Through the Iressa Withdrawal
14:12 — What Makes an Exceptional Leader: Molecules vs. People
20:49 — Don't Rush the Gears: Career Advice for Rising Field Medical Professionals
29:26 — The Future of Medical Affairs: AI, Human Connection, and What's Coming Next
37:30 — The Man in the Arena: Mentors, Mindfulness, and the Billboard
