For many physicians, the transition from clinical practice to industry can feel like leaving the patient behind. But for Francesca de Iuliis, a qualified Medical Oncologist who began her career caring for patients in Rome, that shift has been anything but a departure. Instead, it became an expansion: patient impact now flows through her leadership, scientific strategy, and collaboration across global medical teams.

At the GMDP Academy, participants in the Certification in Medicines Development (CMD) program are invited to reflect on their professional journeys—how experiences shape identity, what drives purpose, and how aspirations evolve. Francesca’s essay is a compelling example of this reflection in action, tracing a path from clinical oncology to global medical affairs leadership, and highlighting the principles that have guided her along the way.

Here are five principles drawn from her journey, offering insight for anyone navigating the complex landscape of medicines development:

1. Keep patients at the center

Even when not at the bedside, Francesca emphasizes that patient outcomes remain the core motivation. In medical affairs, this principle ensures that every strategic decision, scientific initiative, and educational effort ultimately benefits those the work serves.

2. Honor experience as the foundation of identity

Each stage of Francesca’s career—from clinical practice to research to global medical leadership—has contributed perspective, resilience, and expertise. Reflecting on these experiences strengthens professional judgment and equips leaders to tackle complex, real-world challenges.

3. Commit to lifelong learning

Continuous learning is critical to thriving in a rapidly evolving field. Francesca underscores daily study, interdisciplinary exposure, and openness to new roles as essential for growth. Lifelong learning sustains relevance, adaptability, and scientific credibility.

4. Lead with integrity and transparency

Scientific rigor and ethical consistency are non-negotiable. Francesca highlights that integrity and transparency build trust with colleagues, stakeholders, and the broader medical community, forming the backbone of effective leadership.

5. Be in constant pursuit of ambition and sustainability

Exploring new roles, contributing to impactful projects, furthering education, and attending to work-life balance all support ongoing professional and personal development, aligning work with purpose and aspiration.

Francesca’s essay brings these principles to life, offering a thoughtful and forward-looking perspective on purpose, identity, and aspiration in medical affairs and oncology:

When reflecting on my professional identity, I see it as a puzzle composed of various pieces representing different experiences that collectively form the complete picture of my career. My knowledge is continually evolving, given the vast scope of science and the limited time available to learn everything. I have covered multiple roles, ranging from patient care and basic research to clinical research and the pharmaceutical industry, and I am currently serving as a Scientific Director for Oncology. The significance lies not in the role itself but in the individual fulfilling that role.


My aim is to provide the most effective learning experiences for medical affairs colleagues by simplifying complex concepts, drawing on my background and understanding of potential challenges. My professional identity has been shaped by years of work, interactions with diverse colleagues, leaders, internal and external stakeholders, and the solutions I have devised to overcome obstacles. Each day dedicated to studying and learning new things contributes to this identity. For me—and for all physicians—the sense of purpose is directly linked to patients, which is crucial. Although I do not work directly with patients, my contributions can positively impact my colleagues, network, and family, and ultimately benefit patients. Recognizing the purpose in my work helps me feel part of something greater than my team or company strategy, fostering job satisfaction, a positive attitude, and—why not—a better performance. I care deeply about maintaining integrity and transparency in my work, as this aligns with my professional identity and supports the broader goals of my organization.


Continuous professional development is essential, and lifelong learning keeps me informed and reinforces my professional identity. Belief in science and the value of learning motivate me to advance, even in challenging situations. My goal is to explore other aspects of medical affairs and serve patients from different perspectives. While I am still determining the exact direction, I aspire to inspire and be inspired—spreading a growth mindset and best practices from previous experiences to help shape my company’s future. Having worked at both country and global levels, I am now interested in exploring the regional level, acting as a liaison between global strategy and country implementation tailored to specific needs. Gaining diverse experiences is vital for comprehensively understanding medical affairs and enhancing my ability to navigate the company and manage complex challenges.


I believe that an interdisciplinary approach enriches professional identity and drives innovation in medicines development, so I look forward to seeing what the next step in my career will be. This is my future aspiration—aligned with my sense of purpose and my inner self. Exploring a new role, contributing to impactful projects, and furthering my education will help me grow both professionally and personally. A related goal is to achieve a better work-life balance, which currently is not as I would like. Stress management is a significant challenge, even for a motivated person like me, and I recognize the need to address this to ensure long-term career sustainability.


This certification has provided a valuable opportunity to expand my knowledge and reflect on aspects of my work that I had previously overlooked. I am confident that this experience will support my ongoing growth and future path in the pharmaceutical industry—for which I am deeply grateful.

About the Author

Francesca is a qualified Medical Oncologist, she earned her medical degree and a PhD in Experimental Medicine from the University ‘Sapienza’ and worked at St. Andrea and Umberto I Hospital in Rome. She started her pharmaceutical career as a Medical Advisor/Medical Liaison with BMS in 2015, then she joined Pfizer in September 2017 as a Regional Medical Monitor in Clinical Development. Since then, she held various roles in Clinical Research and Global Medical Affairs focusing on the Oncology and Immuno-oncology portfolio. She’s actually Regional Medical Lead responsible for clinical studies in ex-US countries.

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