A Conversation with Medical Affairs Leader Lee Gervitz
Lee Gervitz, SVP of Medical Affairs at Xenon Pharmaceuticals, joins Linda Traylor to explore metacognition, the COM-B model, and why "stay in your lane" may be the worst advice given to rising Medical Affairs professionals. A rare, reflective conversation about what exceptional leadership actually looks like.
In this episode of OnPoint: The Mentor Sessions, host Linda Traylor sits down with Lee Gervitz, Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs at Xenon Pharmaceuticals, a neuroscience-focused biopharmaceutical company. Lee shares the mindset shift that reshaped his leadership — what he calls metacognition, or "thinking about your thinking" — and unpacks how it changed the way he leads teams, frames decisions, and develops talent.
Across the conversation, Lee draws on more than two decades in pharma to explore what separates a good Medical Affairs leader from an exceptional one, why "stay in your lane" is the worst advice rising MSLs receive, and how the COM-B behavior model is reshaping how Medical Affairs thinks about clinical impact. He closes with a personal philosophy that runs through every chapter of his career: family first, individuals first, and the discipline of making time for what matters.
In this episode
- The mindset shift from being right to being useful — and why metacognition is leadership leverage
- What separates good Medical Affairs leaders from exceptional ones
- Why "stay in your lane" is the worst advice given to rising MA professionals
- How the COM-B model reframes evidence, behavior, and clinical adoption
- Two very different futures for the Medical Affairs profession — and the choice ahead
Books and Resources Mentioned
Recommended by Lee Gervitz:
- First, Break All the Rules by Marcus Buckingham — the foundation for Gallup's StrengthsFinder and most modern engagement surveys
- Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman — essential for early- to mid-career professionals building decision-making fluency
- Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely — an entry point into behavioral economics and human behavior
- The Molecule of More by Daniel Z. Lieberman and Michael E. Long — how dopamine shapes near-term gratification and long-term satisfaction
- How Emotions Are Made by Lisa Feldman Barrett — a deeper scientific understanding of how human emotions are actively constructed
Lee also references the COM-B model (Capability, Opportunity, Motivation → Behavior) as a core framework for understanding behavior change in clinical care, and credits a Suno AI Pro subscription as the under-$100 purchase that became a meaningful creative outlet over the past year.
Connect with Lee Gervitz on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lee-gervitz-phd-mba-b853844/
About OnPoint: The Mentor Sessions Podcast
OnPoint: The Mentor Sessions Podcast delivers engaging conversations with Medical Affairs and Field Medical leaders on the power of mentorship and coaching. Hosted by Linda Traylor, each podcast uncovers practical strategies, personal stories, and lessons to inspire and prepare the next generation of medical leaders.
OnPoint is available on several podcast platforms, including the Acceleration Point YouTube channel. Listen on:
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