Scaling Medical Excellence: Insights from Merck with Wendy Fraser

Medical Affairs organizations operating at global scale face a persistent tension: how do you build consistent infrastructure without stripping local teams of the flexibility they need to operate effectively? That's the challenge Wendy Fraser has spent years navigating at Merck.

In this episode of OnPoint: The Medical Excellence Podcast, Scott Thompson sits down with Wendy Fraser, who leads the Medical Excellence function at Merck. Wendy walks through the scope of that function -- from scientific exchange excellence to cross-functional relationship building -- and shares the practices and principles that have shaped how Merck approaches global Medical Affairs. She speaks directly to the 2024 landscape: what worked, what was hard, and where Medical Affairs is headed next. If you manage a global Medical team or are building the infrastructure to support one, this conversation belongs in your queue.

Key Takeaways:

• Scientific exchange excellence requires structure -- Wendy frames scientific exchange not as a soft capability but as a discipline that demands deliberate infrastructure and consistent standards across geographies.
• Cross-functional relationships are load-bearing -- Building strong ties across functions isn't a nice-to-have; it's the mechanism that allows Medical Affairs to operate with influence and credibility inside complex organizations.
• Consultative approaches drive better outcomes -- Rather than pushing information outward, Wendy describes using a consultative model to understand what global teams actually need before designing solutions.
• Global consistency and local autonomy aren't opposites -- One of Merck's key insights is learning to define what must be consistent across markets and what should be left to local discretion -- a distinction that takes time and feedback to calibrate.
• A "safe to fail" culture enables experimentation -- Wendy discusses how creating space for teams to test new approaches without fear of failure is essential to moving Medical Affairs forward.
• Continuous engagement from global teams is non-negotiable -- Feedback loops with field teams aren't a periodic exercise; they're an ongoing practice that keeps central strategy grounded in operational reality.

About Our Guest

Wendy Fraser leads the Medical Excellence function at Merck, where she oversees scientific exchange excellence, global medical affairs operations, and the systems that enable Medical teams to perform at scale. Her work spans cross-functional collaboration, technology-enabled efficiency, and building the organizational infrastructure that supports high-quality field medical engagement.

Connect with Wendy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-fraser-86316710/

About OnPoint: The Medical Excellence Podcast

OnPoint: The Medical Excellence Podcast delivers insightful conversations on the most pressing issues facing top Medical Affairs professionals. Listen to stay ahead of industry trends and be inspired by leaders shaping the future of Medical Affairs.

Find more episodes on our OnPoint YouTube channel.