A Conversation with Medical Affairs Leader Lee Gervitz
Lee Gervitz, SVP of Medical Affairs at Xenon Pharmaceuticals, shares how metacognition and the COM-B model reshaped his approach to leadership, decision-making, and mentoring rising MSLs.
OnPoint: The Mentor Sessions, hosted by Linda Traylor, VP of Medical Excellence at Acceleration Point, is inspired by The Tribe of Mentors by Tim Ferriss. Each episode follows a consistent set of reflective questions designed to uncover the mindsets, habits, and leadership lessons of exceptional Medical Affairs leaders.
In this episode, Linda sits down with Lee Gervitz (SVP of Medical Affairs at Xenon Pharmaceuticals, a neuroscience-focused biopharmaceutical company) for a conversation about the mindset shift that reshaped his leadership. Lee introduces metacognition, thinking about his own thinking, as the practice that changed how he leads teams, frames decisions, and develops talent. He also returns throughout the conversation to the COM-B model, a framework built on three drivers of behavior: Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation. Drawing on more than two decades in pharma, Lee traces what separates a good Medical Affairs leader from an exceptional one and challenges the common advice to "stay in your lane." If you're building a career in Medical Affairs, this is a conversation worth returning to.
Key Takeaways:
- Metacognition is leadership leverage. Lee frames "thinking about your thinking" as the mindset shift that reshaped how he leads teams, makes decisions, and develops talent.
- Good versus exceptional comes down to habits, not titles. Lee draws on more than two decades in pharma to explain what actually separates the two.
- "Stay in your lane" is bad advice. Lee challenges this common guidance given to rising Medical Affairs professionals and explains why it holds people back.
- The COM-B model reframes clinical impact. Michie, van Stralen, and West introduced the COM-B model in a 2011 Implementation Science paper as the hub of the Behaviour Change Wheel, and Lee uses it to reframe how Medical Affairs thinks about evidence, behavior, and clinical adoption.
- Family and individuals come first. Lee closes with the personal philosophy that runs through his career: family first, individuals first, and the discipline to make time for what matters.
Books and Resources Mentioned
First, Break All the Rules by Marcus Buckingham, recommended by Lee Gervitz: the foundation for Gallup's StrengthsFinder and most modern engagement surveys.
Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman, recommended by Lee Gervitz: essential reading for early- to mid-career professionals building decision-making fluency.
Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely, recommended by Lee Gervitz: an entry point into behavioral economics and human behavior.
The Molecule of More by Daniel Z. Lieberman and Michael E. Long, recommended by Lee Gervitz: an explanation of how dopamine shapes near-term gratification and long-term satisfaction.
How Emotions Are Made by Lisa Feldman Barrett, recommended by Lee Gervitz: a deeper scientific grounding in how human emotions are actively constructed.
The COM-B Model (Capability, Opportunity, Motivation), referenced by Lee Gervitz: his core framework for understanding behavior change in clinical care.
About Our Guest
Lee Gervitz is SVP of Medical Affairs at Xenon Pharmaceuticals, a neuroscience-focused biopharmaceutical company. With more than two decades in pharma, he has built a reputation for pairing scientific rigor with a people-first approach to leadership, mentoring MSLs and rising Medical Affairs professionals throughout his career.
Connect with Lee on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lee-gervitz-phd-mba-b853844/
FAQ
What is metacognition, and why does Lee Gervitz see it as a leadership skill?
Metacognition is thinking about your own thinking. Lee Gervitz describes it as the mindset shift that changed how he leads teams, frames decisions, and develops talent throughout his Medical Affairs career.
What is the COM-B model, and how does it apply to Medical Affairs?
The COM-B model holds that behavior depends on three factors: Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation. Lee Gervitz uses it to reframe how Medical Affairs evaluates evidence, clinical behavior, and adoption.
Why does Lee Gervitz say "stay in your lane" is bad advice for rising Medical Affairs professionals?
He argues it limits growth and curiosity at exactly the career stage when MSLs and Medical Affairs professionals should be building the broadest possible perspective.
What personal philosophy guides Lee Gervitz's leadership approach?
Family first, individuals first, and the discipline to make time for what matters, a philosophy he says has run through every chapter of his career.
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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