The Journey of Building Medical Operations with Michael Kahn of Spark Therapeutics

Building a Medical Operations function from the ground up is one of the most complex organizational challenges in Medical Affairs -- and it rarely comes with a playbook. In Episode 4 of OnPoint: The Medical Excellence Podcast, host Scott Thompson sits down with a leader who has lived that challenge firsthand.

Michael Kahn (Senior Director, Medical Affairs Operations Leader, Spark Therapeutics) brings a career shaped by process improvement, cross-functional complexity, and a deep commitment to operational excellence. In this conversation, Michael traces his journey from early-career process work to building and leading a Medical Operations function, unpacking how he defines the discipline, what success actually looks like, and how mentoring became a cornerstone of his leadership style. If you're tasked with building or evolving Medical Operations at your organization, this episode offers both a framework and a reality check.

Key Takeaways:

• Medical Operations is a distinct discipline -- Michael draws a clear line between Medical Operations and Medical Excellence, framing each as requiring intentional design rather than organic growth.
• Early career foundations matter -- Process improvement experience early in Michael's career directly shaped how he approaches operational problem-solving in Medical Affairs today.
• Success metrics require deliberate definition -- Measuring the effectiveness of a Medical Operations function demands clear criteria set upfront, not retrofitted after the work begins.
• Change management is inseparable from operations -- Building or transforming a Medical Affairs function means managing people through uncertainty, not just redesigning processes.
• Mentoring is a leadership responsibility, not a bonus -- Michael treats mentoring as a structural part of how strong Medical Affairs organizations develop their next generation of leaders.

Resources Mentioned

The First 90 Days by Michael Watkins -- Recommended by Michael Kahn as a foundational resource for leaders navigating new roles, organizational transitions, or the challenge of building a function from scratch.

About Our Guest

Michael Kahn is Senior Director, Medical Affairs Operations Leader at Spark Therapeutics. His career has been shaped by a focus on process improvement and operational infrastructure, and he has applied that lens to building Medical Affairs functions that are both strategically aligned and operationally sound.

Connect with Michael on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kahnmichael/

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.