PHILADELPHIA - On March 26th and 27th, 2024, over 1,200 North American visionary pharmaceutical changemakers and leading solution providers converged at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia for the annual Reuters Pharma conference. They led discussions on medical affairs, patient engagement, market access, cell and gene therapy, and real-world evidence (RWE). The primary focus was about driving commercial excellence, achieving deeper integration of patient-first strategies into the pharma industry, and paving the way for a more transformative future for the United States healthcare system.

Kana Hutton, senior project director and head of Reuters Events, North America, delivered the opening remarks, underlining the crucial part of each person in solving problems and forging meaningful connections within the pharma sector. For those wondering what the giant cheetah in the background photos signified, Hutton said, "Healthcare is moving at a fast pace with artificial intelligence (AI), and the friendly-looking cheetah signifies speed." In addition to outpacing this disruption, the focus is on unifying everyone towards a common goal, ensuring no patient is left behind.

Cross-functional collaboration to unlock patient innovation

Hutton kicked off the main event by moderating a session with Maya Martinez-Davis, President of US Commercial at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), focusing on the desired behaviors of highly collaborative teams - specifically, those that challenge the status quo to reach all patients.

During this session, Hutton asked Martinez-Davis how pharma leaders cultivate trust within their organizations. Martinez-Davis stressed the importance of open communication and areas for improvement to instill confidence and transpare