Building Medical Excellence Across Teams with Lori Long of Sanofi

Field Medical Excellence is one of the most operationally complex functions in Medical Affairs -- and one of the least standardized across organizations. When a team spans therapeutic areas, geographies, and reporting structures, the question isn't just what good looks like. It's how you build it consistently at scale.

In this episode of OnPoint: The Medical Excellence Podcast, Scott Thompson sits down with Lori Long (US Field Medical Excellence Lead, Specialty Care, at Sanofi) to explore what it takes to create harmony and coordination across field teams. Lori shares how she approached her role from day one -- identifying gaps, building shared frameworks, and scaling processes without sacrificing the flexibility that field teams depend on. If you're responsible for Medical Excellence infrastructure, this conversation gives you a clear-eyed look at what the work actually requires.

Key Takeaways:

• Stepping into a new Medical Excellence role -- Lori describes how she oriented herself quickly by listening first, mapping what existed, and identifying where inconsistency was creating friction across the field.
• Balancing consistency with local flexibility -- Standardizing processes doesn't mean removing autonomy. Lori discusses how she designed frameworks that give MSLs and field teams a shared foundation while leaving room for therapeutic area nuance.
• Practical coordination across large field teams -- Keeping distributed teams aligned requires more than good intentions. Lori outlines the communication rhythms and structural touchpoints that make coordination real.
• Global collaboration and what it surfaces -- Working across geographies reveals both best practices worth adopting and assumptions worth questioning. Lori reflects on what she's learned from aligning with global counterparts.
• Defining Medical Excellence as an operating standard -- Lori frames excellence not as an aspiration but as a set of repeatable behaviors, tools, and shared accountability structures that teams can actually build toward.

About Our Guest

Lori Long, PharmD is US Field Medical Excellence Lead, Specialty Care, at Sanofi. She brings deep experience in Field Medical operations and Medical Excellence infrastructure, working to build consistency, coordination, and capability across large, complex field organizations.

Connect with Lori on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lori-long-pharmd-95349218

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.