Our "Meet the Expert" series introduces you to our team of experts around the world. This "behind the curtain" view will help you get to know who we are on a professional and personal level, and highlight how our colleagues work together on our higher purpose to improve patient health and safety throughout the complete product lifecycle.
Meet Long Tan [Tom], Senior Multilingual Medical Information Specialist
What do you do at ProPharma? How does your role support improving the health and safety of patients?
As a medical information specialist at ProPharma, my role involves providing accurate and up-to-date information about medications and medical devices to healthcare professionals and patients
supporting informed decision-making. This information can include details about indications, dosages, contraindications, and potential side effects. By providing this information, I help healthcare professionals make informed decisions about the use of medications and devices, which can ultimately lead to improved health outcomes for patients.
Additionally, I play a crucial role in monitoring adverse events and promptly reporting them to the appropriate regulatory agencies
ensuring the timely identification and resolution of safety concerns for the overall health and safety of patients.
. Overall, my role at ProPharma supports the company's mission to improve patient outcomes by providing accurate and timely information to those who need it most.
Describe the biggest challenge facing our clients/industry today. How are we addressing this?
One of the biggest challenges facing our clients and the pharmaceutical industry today is the rapidly changing regulatory landscape. The industry is subject to a multitude of regulations and guidelines that are constantly evolving, making it difficult for companies to keep up and remain compliant. Additionally, the increasing complexity of drug development and the growing demand for personalized medicine further add to the challenges facing the industry. Another one is the impact of the rapid development of artificial intelligence on the medical information industry. While artificial intelligence, such as Chat GPT4, has the potential to bring many benefits to the medical information industry, it also presents some potential negative impacts. One concern is the possibility of AI-generated misinformation, which could be harmful to patients and damage the reputation of the industry.
Additionally, there is a risk that AI could replace human medical information specialists, potentially leading to job losses and decreased human interaction in healthcare. There are also ethical considerations surrounding the use of AI in healthcare, such as privacy concerns and the potential for bias in the data used to train AI models. As with any new technology, it is important to consider the potential negative impacts and take steps to mitigate them.
Tell us about a day in the life of a medical information specialist.
On daily basis I receive medical information enquires from healthcare professionals or patient or member of public regarding client’s product or medical devices through phone calls, emails, and other channels. I would then begin researching and compiling information to respond to these inquiries, ensuring that the information is accurate, up-to-date, and compliant with applicable regulations.
Additionally, I am responsible for monitoring adverse events and reporting them to regulatory agencies, as well as ensuring that any safety updates or labeling changes are communicated to healthcare professionals and patients in a timely manner. For any potential product complaint I receive, I also collect event details and report to Quality team for further investigation.
Overall, the role of a medical information specialist requires strong attention to detail, excellent communication skills, and a deep understanding of the medical products and regulations within their area of expertise.
Tell us a little bit about yourself outside of work.
I am currently living in Melbourne with my girlfriend, and we have a cat and an eight-week-old Japanese Spitz. My parents live in China, so I travel back to reunite with them during Chinese New Year. When I'm not working, I enjoy playing basketball, playing Texas poker with my friends, or go bouldering, although I'm still an amateur.
What is unique about our culture at ProPharma?
One unique aspect of ProPharma's culture is its emphasis on collaboration and teamwork. The company encourages employees to work together and share their expertise to achieve the best possible outcomes for clients and patients. This collaborative approach is reflected in the company's cross-functional teams, which bring together individuals from different departments and areas of expertise to solve complex problems and drive innovation.
ProPharma also places a strong emphasis on employee development and career advancement. The company offers a wide range off training and development programs, along with opportunities for employees to embrace on new challenges and responsibilities. This focus on employee development helps to foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
