Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Timeline
Generic
Tram Knecht

Tram Knecht

San Francisco

Summary

Dynamic and results-driven Medical Affairs leader with over 14 years of expertise in cardiology, nephrology, diabetes,
vaccines, oncology, and community pharmacy. Proven track record of driving scientific excellence and optimizing patient
care through impactful customer engagement and strategic planning. Skilled in developing and executing innovative
strategies that align medical objectives with business goals, enhancing healthcare provider relationships, and ensuring the
safe and effective use of pharmaceutical products.


Adept at leveraging data-driven insights to refine field medical activities and resources. Exceptional communicator and
cross-functional collaborator, effectively engaging with healthcare professionals, Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs), and internal stakeholders. Actively involved in leading national and international scientific meetings, implementing strategic medical plans, and executing successful blockbuster launches using cutting-edge medical science and digital technology.
Committed to fostering scientific exchange, leading investigator-initiated trials, and driving operational efficiency within dynamic environments.

Overview

15
15
years of professional experience

Work History

Senior Medical Science Liaison, Immunology

Incyte
05.2025 - Current
  • Serve as the field-based scientific expert in Incyte’s Inflammation & Autoimmunity (IAI) portfolio, including JAK inhibitors and emerging therapies in dermatology (e.g., vitiligo, atopic dermatitis, hidradenitis suppurativa) and other immune-mediated diseases.
  • Build and maintain collaborative relationships with key opinion leaders (KOLs), academic investigators, and healthcare professionals to support scientific exchange, clinical trial engagement, and insight generation.
  • Communicate complex clinical and scientific data in a clear, compliant, and tailored manner across multiple stakeholder types (e.g., dermatologists and allergists).
  • Support launch readiness, disease state education, and medical strategy for Opzelura® (ruxolitinib cream) and pipeline assets by aligning field insights with HQ cross-functional teams.
  • Lead advisory boards, speaker training, and scientific congress coverage; synthesize competitive intelligence and provide timely field feedback to inform strategy.
  • Collaborate with Medical Directors and Clinical Operations to identify potential clinical trial sites and support investigator-initiated research proposals (IIS/IIT).
  • Maintain expertise through continuous learning in immunology, dermatology, and therapeutic advances in JAK/STAT signaling.

Director of Field Medical Engagement, Cardiovascular & Renal

Bayer
06.2024 - 05.2025
  • Developed and implemented strategic plans to address educational gaps within the Therapeutic Area landscape, enhancing targeted Thought Leader engagement and resource utilization.
  • Collaborated with Medical Directors and field medical teams to prioritize key topics, both proactive and reactive, for Thought Leader engagements, facilitating the creation of effective communication tools.
  • Acted as a scientific expert, coordinating with internal stakeholders to streamline medical and business projects, including resource creation such as slide decks for Medical Science Liaisons, medical conference presentations, FDA advisory materials, and training programs.
  • Facilitated collaboration between internal teams (Medical, Marketing, Patient Advocacy, Clinical Development, etc.) to support field medical initiatives aligned with Bayer’s mission, including budget management for field-based operations.
  • Proactively identified and prioritized Medical Science Liaison initiatives aligned with strategic Medical Affairs objectives.
  • Supported strategic planning, technical expertise, and resource development to enhance conference effectiveness for Medical Science Liaisons and the broader medical team.

Lead Medical Science Liaison, Cardiovascular & Renal

Bayer
10.2021 - 06.2024
  • Develop and execute the medical strategy for Kerendia, leveraging expertise in medical affairs and cross-functional collaboration to drive innovation and influence evidence generation.
  • Collaborate with the Global Medical Affairs team to initiate discussions with KOLs and investigators for alignment with research strategies, study concepts, and scientific merit.
  • Develop, lead, and facilitate medical strategic planning in partnership with the Executive Director, Medical Affairs Excellence and Strategic Operations.
  • Responsible for drafting annual budget as part of the Medical Affairs strategic medical planning cycle in partnership with Global Medical Affairs Leadership Team.
  • Collaborate with trial/study investigation sites; ensuring effective coordination and facilitation of studies to ensure timely review, initiation, and completion, as well as publication of study results.
  • Provide clinical support in cooperation with other Bayer groups to ensure investigators demonstrate appropriate knowledge of studies, support patient recruitment and retention activities, answer responsive requests from investigators and provide feedback to sites and other groups.
  • Spearhead the collaboration and outreach with Kaiser HQ and Bayer in a strategic manner for appropriate actionable tasks, and serve as an internal voice for MSL educational and resource needs.
  • Lead the development of Medical Affairs activities including conferences, advisory boards, educational programs, responding to unsolicited requests for medical information, and publication planning.
  • Align the digital strategy for the scientific communication and publication team to facilitate the bridge between health care providers and Bayer.

Medical Science Liaison, Renal

Ardelyx
04.2021 - 08.2021
  • Engaged in both scientific exchange and research support with external scientific leaders and investigators in the medical and scientific community.
  • Served as a therapeutic area and healthcare landscape strategic planner through participating in cross-functional strategic meetings and regularly interfacing with key internal stakeholders.
  • Shaped internal business strategy through insights from health care providers.
  • Supported an Investigator Initiated Trial program by acting as the primary liaison to investigators interested in developing and performing investigator-initiated research.
  • Led local, regional, national, and international scientific meetings, including staffing medical affairs booths, facilitating scientific communications, gathering competitive intelligence, and developing pre- and post-conference scientific materials.

Medical Science Liaison, Cardiovascular & Renal

AstraZeneca
06.2019 - 04.2021
  • Engaged in scientific exchange with targeted Key Opinion Leaders in the areas of nephrology and cardiology to educate and gain an understanding of the clinical approach and research interests.
  • Assisted medical affairs to support prelaunch and launch activities for first-in-class compound to treat anemia of chronic kidney disease, first-in-class therapy treatment for hyperkalemia, and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor compound for chronic kidney disease patients. Prelaunch and launch activities include disease state education to physicians, nurse practitioners, dietitians, and registered nurses, scientifically support commercial team, and respond to medical information requests.
  • Led and coordinated team coverage of major scientific congresses to obtain and report on current therapeutic trends and business intelligence.
  • Served as a compliance ambassador representing the Renal MSL team to address compliance issues and ensure regulatory compliance training modules are updated and created appropriately.
  • Trained and developed contracted speakers in the territory and the commercial team.

Medical Science Liaison, Vaccines

GlaxoSmithKline
03.2018 - 06.2019
  • Delivered medical-led and promotional programs to external groups to Health Care Providers and formulary decision-makers.
  • Facilitated local and regional medical affairs advisory boards to evaluate the impact of scientific data on marketplace development and lifecycle management for the vaccines portfolio.
  • Gathered field insights to construct and implement effective Medical Affairs strategy and planning through participation in or escalation to internal North America Medical Affairs teams.
  • Coordinated educational programs and journal clubs with Infectious Disease fellowship coordinators and with local and regional physician groups.
  • Served as Medical Affairs representative for Vaccines Speakers Bureau in developing prelaunch materials for the shingles vaccine and coordinated with marketing to identify KOLs to serve as trainers for the speakers.
  • Organized and led roundtable discussions to better understand the role of NPs and PAs as primary providers in the management of vaccines at an integrated delivery network system.

Managed Care Medical Communications

Genentech
05.2016 - 02.2018
  • Communicated pertinent clinical and economic information to external customers involved in evidence-based healthcare decisions.
  • Responded to unsolicited requests from payers and providers who need information to overcome reimbursement barriers.
  • Developed scientific and clinical presentations and apply managed care concepts and knowledge to customize services for managed care customers.
  • Performed analysis and data extraction on high visibility projects for the organization such as payer policy communication and pathways and guidelines repository.
  • Represented the team on the Program Review Committee by actively reviewing and approving all United States-based advertising, promotional, and clinical materials and labeling pertaining managed care.

Clinical Pharmacist, Formulary Medicare Part D

OptumRx
06.2013 - 05.2016
  • Ensured compliance with regulatory requirements for Part D formularies and provided direct client consultation on Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services statutory regulations and regulatory guidance.
  • Reduced costs for the department by $800,000 in the first year of implementation of Formulary Automated Comparison Tool, a process increasing patient access by reducing claim denials, prior authorization barriers, and quantity limitations.
  • Managed the development and maintenance of formularies by making formulary decisions and ensured that Utilization Managements are aligned with P&T recommendations.
  • Drove the implementation of Custom Drug Lists to increase patient access to medications not generally covered by plans.
  • Provided justifications for tier outliers, specialty tiers, prior authorization outliers, and quantity limit amounts in accordance with CMS rules and requests for the annual submission.

Pharmacy Manager

Rite Aid
11.2011 - 06.2013
  • Consulted with physicians and patients regarding medication dosage, drug interactions, medical equipment, disease management, and potential side effects of prescription and OTC medications.
  • Dispensed and compounded prescriptions and maintained accurate patient records, dosing information, and directions for use.
  • Interacted with HMOs and other insurance providers concerning billing/reimbursement issues.
  • Cultivated a strong network of physicians, resulting in an average of 100 new patient enrollments monthly.
  • Improved drug-inventory management system to reduce waste and eliminate backorders.
  • Implemented an outreach program and planned pharmacists for community service presentations.
  • Conducted vaccination clinics for the community and organizations during peak flu seasons.
  • Completed prior authorizations directly with insurances, adjusters, or physician offices on a daily basis.
  • Collaborated with physicians to change medications based on formulary lists and modifying medication regimens accordingly.

Medical Science Liaison, Vascular Division

Medtronic
01.2011 - 06.2013
  • Provided essential scientific information about an atherectomy device to healthcare professionals.
  • Developed and delivered medical presentations for healthcare providers to maximize acceptance and ensure proper utilization of products.
  • Worked with field medical colleagues to develop accurate medical training programs for internal teams. Facilitated educational and disease management educational programs.
  • Assessed competitive intelligence and incorporated insights into medical plans by developing strategies to address competitive needs.
  • Identified, established, and maintained relationships with KOLs regionally to increase scientific and clinical knowledge of products and clinical pipeline.
  • Developed strong relationships with KOLs by presenting compelling clinical and health outcomes data.

Education

Doctor of Pharmacy -

Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
Erie, PA

Bachelor of Science - Biology

University of California, Riverside

Timeline

Senior Medical Science Liaison, Immunology

Incyte
05.2025 - Current

Director of Field Medical Engagement, Cardiovascular & Renal

Bayer
06.2024 - 05.2025

Lead Medical Science Liaison, Cardiovascular & Renal

Bayer
10.2021 - 06.2024

Medical Science Liaison, Renal

Ardelyx
04.2021 - 08.2021

Medical Science Liaison, Cardiovascular & Renal

AstraZeneca
06.2019 - 04.2021

Medical Science Liaison, Vaccines

GlaxoSmithKline
03.2018 - 06.2019

Managed Care Medical Communications

Genentech
05.2016 - 02.2018

Clinical Pharmacist, Formulary Medicare Part D

OptumRx
06.2013 - 05.2016

Pharmacy Manager

Rite Aid
11.2011 - 06.2013

Medical Science Liaison, Vascular Division

Medtronic
01.2011 - 06.2013

Doctor of Pharmacy -

Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

Bachelor of Science - Biology

University of California, Riverside

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Tram Knecht