Onboarding in Medical Affairs with Stacey Gorski of AstraZeneca

Getting onboarding right in Medical Affairs is harder than it looks -- and getting it wrong has real consequences for team performance, scientific credibility, and retention. This episode takes a close look at what it actually takes to bring new Medical Affairs team members up to speed effectively.

Scott Thompson, CEO of Acceleration Point, sits down with Stacey Gorski (Head of Medical Excellence, U.S. Oncology, at AstraZeneca) to explore the structure, strategy, and leadership behaviors behind high-quality onboarding in Medical Affairs. Stacey draws on deep experience in Medical Excellence to walk through best practices, the case for protected time for new hires, how to secure manager buy-in, and what metrics actually tell you whether onboarding is working. If you're responsible for building or scaling a Medical Affairs team, this conversation is essential listening.

Key Takeaways:

• Onboarding is a strategic investment, not an administrative task -- Stacey frames onboarding as foundational to team effectiveness, not a box to check before someone gets to "real work."
• Protected time for new hires matters -- Carving out dedicated time for new team members to learn, shadow, and acclimate -- free from immediate workload pressure -- directly affects how quickly they become effective contributors.
• Manager buy-in is the linchpin -- Without active support from managers, even well-designed onboarding programs lose momentum. Stacey addresses how to make the case and keep leadership engaged.
• Storytelling is a powerful tool for gaining support -- Framing onboarding value in narrative terms, not just operational metrics, helps leaders understand and champion the investment.
• Metrics should reflect readiness, not just completion -- Effective onboarding measurement goes beyond checklist completion to assess whether new hires are genuinely prepared to engage scientifically and operate compliantly.
• Emotional support is part of the onboarding design -- Stacey highlights the often-overlooked human side of joining a new organization -- and why acknowledging it makes for stronger, more committed teams.

About Our Guest

Stacey Gorski is Head of Medical Excellence, U.S. Oncology, at AstraZeneca. She brings deep expertise in Medical Excellence and Field Medical operations, with a career focused on building high-performing Medical Affairs teams and the infrastructure that supports them.

Connect with Stacey on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacey-gorski

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.

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