A Conversation with Medical Affairs Leader Paul Ward

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.

Paul Ward (Head of Field Medical Oncology, Hematology, Medical Value and Access at BeOne Medicines) has spent thirty years in Medical Affairs -- from selling antibiotics at Beecham Laboratories to leading field medical teams in oncology and hematology at Lilly Oncology, AstraZeneca, and Astellas before his current role. He has attended the American Society of Hematology for twenty-three consecutive years. His perspective isn't theoretical. It's built in the arena, shaped by the moments that tested him and the mentors who stayed close. In this conversation with Linda, Paul opens up about the mindset shift that transformed his early MSL career, what he learned leading a team through a drug withdrawal, and why he believes the worst advice you can give a field medical professional is to rush to the next title. If you're building a career in Medical Affairs, this one is worth coming back to.

Key Takeaways:

• Become a better student, not a better expert -- The pivot that changed Paul's early MSL career wasn't learning more data. It was learning to ask better questions and listen more deeply to the people in the room.
• Leading through crisis builds character -- When the Iressa withdrawal came, Paul got a 6:30 AM call and had to make difficult decisions alongside KOLs. That experience shaped how he thinks about leadership under pressure and what it means to stay.
• Don't rush the gears -- Paul's most consistent message to early-career field medical professionals: slow down. The title will come. What you build in each role -- relationships, credibility, clinical depth -- is what actually carries you forward.
• People outlast molecules -- A conversation with Dr. Steven Paul thirty years ago left a mark. The reminder that the people you engage matter more than the science you're selling has stayed with Paul throughout his career.
• AI belongs in Medical Affairs, but so does the human -- Paul sees AI as a tool to enhance what field medical professionals do, not replace it. The irreplaceable value of this role is human connection, and that shouldn't be automated away.
• Mentorship is a responsibility, not an honor -- Paul approaches mentoring others the way the best mentors approached him: with honesty, directness, and genuine investment in the other person's growth.

Books and Resources Mentioned:

A Message to Garcia by Elbert Hubbard -- recommended by Linda Traylor. A short classic on dependability and getting things done without being told how. Linda gifts it often and calls it one of the best books she has ever received.

Paul Ward's recommendations are both podcasts rather than traditional books -- both squarely focused on the field medical community:

• MSL Talk (podcast) -- hosted by Tom Caravela, Managing Partner of The Carolan Group. Nearly 200 episodes, 30-40 minutes each, featuring Medical Affairs leaders. Paul recommends it to everyone in field medical. Listen on YouTube
• PharmaVerse (podcast) -- hosted by Michael Pietrack. Broader in scope, with guests including CEOs, R&D leaders, and industry figures across pharma. Paul listens regularly. Listen on YouTube

About Paul Ward

Paul Ward is Head of Field Medical Oncology, Hematology, Medical Value and Access at BeOne Medicines. His thirty-year career spans field medical, regional, and national director roles at Lilly Oncology, AstraZeneca, and Astellas, among others. He is a longtime member of the MSL Society Advisory Board. Connect with Paul on LinkedIn.

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