Medical advisory boards play an important role in providing invaluable insights and guidance, facilitating informed decision-making, and fostering collaborative relationships with healthcare professionals. With over 27 years of experience developing both in-person and virtual advisory boards (with 50+ created in the past year alone!), we’re confident we can help guide you through the creation of an advisory board in five clear steps.
First, What is a Medical Advisory Board?
In the pharmaceutical industry, a medical advisory board is a group of external experts, typically including clinicians and key opinion leaders, who provide strategic advice and insights on various aspects of drug development, clinical practice, and market strategies. By leveraging the collective expertise of advisory board members, companies can make more informed decisions that enhance product development and market success.
1. Define Clear Objectives
The first step in creating a medical advisory board is to establish clear and specific objectives. Determine what you aim to achieve, whether it’s obtaining feedback on a new drug, discussing clinical trial designs, or exploring market access strategies. Clear objectives will guide the meeting agenda and ensure that all discussions are purposeful and aligned with the goals.
2. Recruit and Select Advisory Board Members
Finding the right members for your medical advisory board is crucial. Look for KOLs who have extensive expertise in your topic and a passion for improving healthcare outcomes. Consider diversity in terms of specialties, backgrounds, and perspectives to ensure a well-rounded advisory board. Once you find your nominees, reach out to them outlining the goals you’ve developed and ask if they’d like to be a part of the ad board. Most advisory boards have 8-15 members.
3. Prepare and Distribute Pre-Read Materials
Provide participants with pre-read materials well in advance of the meeting. These materials should include the agenda, background information, and any relevant data or reports. Pre-read materials help participants come prepared, allowing for more in-depth discussions during the meeting.
4. Create a Structured Agenda
Develop a structured agenda that allocates sufficient time for each topic. Start with a brief introduction and an overview of the meeting objectives. Schedule time for presentations, discussions, and Q&A sessions. A well-organized agenda helps keep the meeting on track and ensures that all important topics are covered.
5. Facilitate Engaging Discussions
Effective facilitation is key to engaging discussions. Encourage active participation by asking open-ended questions and prompting attendees to share their opinions. Create an inclusive environment where all participants feel comfortable voicing their thoughts. Utilize techniques such as round-robin discussions or small group breakouts to ensure everyone has an opportunity to contribute.
6. Evaluate and Improve
Continuously evaluate the effectiveness of your advisory board meetings. Gather feedback from participants on what worked well and areas for improvement. Use this feedback to refine your approach and make each subsequent meeting more productive.
By following these steps, you can create and run an effective medical advisory board that will provide valuable insights and guidance. Good luck!
Want to stay informed about medical communications, or gain access to medical advisory board case studies? Sign up for CTC’s newsletter. We’ll plant 10 trees on your behalf as part of our environmental protection efforts after you do. Or, if you need more support, request a quote and we can provide an estimate for helping to create a medical advisory board alongside you.
