Categories

The Medical & Scientific Excellence Awards are designed to recognise and reward the outstanding achievements of medical & scientific professionals working within this crucial industry. To ensure that the hard work of these professionals does not go unnoticed, PharmaTimes plans to kickstart the competition in 2024.

We will be looking forward to welcoming new and returning contestants when it is safe to do so next year. For further information on the awards please contact Luci Sargood – Luci.Sargood@pharmatimes.com

New Medical Science Liaison of the Year

The category is available to individuals who have been working in a field based medical and scientific support role for less than 2 years.

Experienced Medical Science Liaison of the Year

The category is available to individuals who have been working in a field based medical and scientific support role for more than 2 years.

Medical Information Professional of the Year

  • Open to individuals providing technical and medical information to customers or internal departments, with any level of experience.
  • Individuals could also be involved in other related activities e.g. medical compliance review, medical content development, sales training.
  • Individuals could be working in a pharmaceutical company or for a Medical Information outsourcing partner.
  • Individuals could be doing a UK, European or global role, but need to be employed/based in the UK.
  • This category is not suitable for individuals in a field based role.
  • Incorporates roles such as: Medical/Senior Information Officer; Medical/Senior Information Specialist; Medical/Senior Information Executive; Medical Information Associate.

Medical Information Leader of the Year

  • Open to individuals who are responsible for leading a Medical Information service, typically involved in setting strategy, vision, developing innovative services, managing governance and risk, raising the service profile and liaising with stakeholders.
  • Individuals may or may not have line management responsibilities.
  • Individuals could be working in a pharmaceutical  company or for a Medical Information outsourcing partner.
  • Individuals could be doing a UK, European or global role, but need to be employed/based in the UK.
  • This category is not suitable for individuals in a field based role.
  • Incorporates roles such as: Head of Medical Information, Medical Information Manager, Medical Information Lead, Medical Information Team Leader, Director or Associate Director of Medical Information.

New Medical / Scientific Advisor of the Year

This is open to individuals who work as functional experts within a distinct Medical Affairs department. They will have played a significant role in the evaluation, critiquing and communication of important medical/scientific information related to a company’s products. They will have made a significant contribution to the capture of critical insight around the data needs and gaps of their organisation, and the ongoing development and delivery of data and evidence solutions to address those gaps.

  • Incorporates roles such as: Medical Advisor; Scientific Advisor. This category excludes MSLs and similar field based roles.
  • The New category is to recognise those individuals who may not yet be fully experienced in the full range of Medical Affairs activities, but have still demonstrated a contribution in line with modern, state of the art Medical Affairs working.

Experienced Medical / Scientific Advisor of the Year

This is open to individuals who work as functional experts within a distinct Medical Affairs department. They will have played a significant role in the evaluation, critiquing and communication of important medical/scientific information related to a company’s products. They will have made a significant contribution to the capture of critical insight around the data needs and gaps of their organisation, and the ongoing development and delivery of data and evidence solutions to address those gaps.

  • Incorporates roles such as: Medical Advisor; Scientific Advisor; Senior Scientific Advisor. This category excludes MSLs and similar field based roles.
  • The Experienced category is for those individuals who are well versed in Medical Affairs working and who have made a significant contribution that has impacted at a higher strategic level in their organisation, and which represents both excellence and innovation in driving forward the wider profile and recognition of Medical Affairs.

Entry Guidelines and Judging Criteria

OVERVIEW:
This category is designed to challenge the new marketer’s understanding of the core aspects of marketing strategy and implementation.  Your understanding of marketing planning from strategy development to tactical implementation will be tested on the day.

SUITABILITY:
Suitable for new marketers with less than 3 years marketing experience, this is designed for candidates in their first marketing role.

FORMAT:

  • Finalists will be invited to take part in category-specific case-study challenges developed by an independent expert panel.
  • Finalists will presented with the challenge on arrival at the finals day – and given a set period of time for preparation (usually 1 hour) – before delivering their response to a judging panel of senior marketing and industry leaders.

JUDGING CRITERIA:
Specific scoring criteria will be developed alongside each year’s unique case-study / challenge.  As well as understanding the case study and challenges, new marketer finalists will be expected to demonstrate the following core marketing skills:

  • Ability to assimilate market information
  • Developing a situational analysis
  • Ability to define the core strategic challenge
  • Knowledge and application of marketing planning approaches
  • Developing tactical solutions and implementation plans
  • Demonstrate ability to identify and deploy different marketing channels
  • Understanding and application of segmentation
  • Approaches to tracking and monitoring implementation

Aspiring Marketer of the Year

Entry Guidelines and Judging Criteria

Overview:
This category will test your understanding of the basic requirements of a marketing role.  An understanding of the tactical and operational marketing processes that are required to perform the role will form part of how you will be judged on the day.

Suitability:
Individuals hoping to progress towards a marketing role in the near future

Format:

  • Finalists will be invited to take part in a case-study challenge developed by an independent expert panel relevant to your category
  • Finalists will be presented with the case study on arrival at the finals day – and given a set period of time for preparation (usually 1 hour),  before delivering their response to a judging panel of senior marketing and industry leaders.

Judging Criteria:
Specific scoring criteria will be developed alongside each year’s unique case-study / challenge.  But all finalists should bear in mind the following points for this category:

  • Comprehending and understanding the challenge and your task:
    Finalists should demonstrate an understanding of the case study and what you have been asked to do
  • Understanding of the sales and marketing process
    Demonstrate a sales and marketing process whilst presenting your outputs to the panel
  • Patient flow
    Demonstrate your ability to identify and stratify patient flow, taking into account patient numbers and any other specifics of the case study
  • Customers
    Identify target customers and present a rationale for targeting this/these segment/s
  • Draw appropriate conclusions
    Effectively draw conclusions from a balance of fact and reasonable assumptions
  • Planning
    Demonstrate an understanding of what promotional activities may be required for the brand challenge outlined in the case study.