Zayd Daruwala
Brooklyn,NY
Summary
Accomplished medical strategist with 10+ years of experience in pharmaceutical advertising and healthcare communications. Proven expertise in rare disease, oncology, neuromuscular, dermatology, and infectious disease. Adept at translating complex scientific data into actionable strategies for brand planning and development, market analysis and launch success. Holds a Ph.D. in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
VP, Medical Director
Havas Life Rare
10.2022 - Current
- Lead the medical strategy team and ensure the team is providing the needed support across all work streams.
- Lead content development for rare disease brands across the product lifecycle, including pre-launch, launch, and post-launch phases.
- Therapeutic area experience includes neuromuscular, oncology, dermatology, and infectious disease.
- Provide strategic guidance on scientific storytelling, messaging platforms, and medical education tactics tailored to the rare disease space.
- Spearheaded the medical strategy for multiple successful new business pitches, contributing to agency growth and client acquisition.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with creative, strategy, and account teams to craft compelling, data-driven communications.
- Act as a key scientific liaison between clients and internal teams.
- Lead development of core materials including disease state decks, scientific narratives, MOA content, and lexicon documents.
- Drive planning and execution of scientific advisory boards.
- Support launch planning workshops and pre-launch readiness initiatives.
- Collaborated with senior management to develop strategic initiatives and long term goals.
Medical Director
Havas Life Rare
07.2021 - 10.2022
- - Lead medical strategy and content development for rare disease brands across product lifecycle, including pre-launch, launch, and post-launch phases.
- - Therapeutic area experience includes neuromuscular, oncology, dermatology, and infectious disease.
- - Provide strategic guidance on scientific storytelling, messaging platforms, and medical education tactics tailored to the rare disease space.
- - Spearheaded medical strategy for multiple successful new business pitches, contributing to agency growth and client acquisition.
- - Collaborate cross-functionally with creative, strategy, and account teams to craft compelling, data-driven communications.
- - Act as the key scientific liaison between clients and internal teams.
- - Lead development of core materials including disease state decks, scientific narratives, MOA content, and lexicon documents.
- - Drive planning and execution of scientific advisory boards.
- - Support launch planning workshops and pre-launch readiness initiatives.
Assistant Medical Director
Havas Health & You / H4B Boston
09.2020 - 07.2021
- Supported medical and strategic deliverables across multiple brands.
- Contributed to scientific storytelling and engagement tactics for HCP and patient audiences.
Assistant Medical Director
Havas Tonic
10.2019 - 09.2020
- Supported medical content and strategy for OTC and prescription brands.
- Contributed to direct-to-consumer (DTC) campaigns.
- Helped translate clinical data into engaging, patient-facing content.
- Collaborated with creative and regulatory teams to ensure compliance.
Adjunct Lecturer
Hunter College
09.2011 - 05.2019
- - Taught Principles of Biology, Genetics, Cell Biology, and more.
- - Developed lab components and taught critical thinking in experiments.
Education
Ph.D. - Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology
City University of New York, Graduate Center
New York, NY11-2019
Master of Arts - Biology
Hunter College
New York, NY06-2012
Bachelor of Arts - Biology
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY12-2008
Skills
- Pharmaceutical Marketing & Medical Strategy
- Strategic planning
- Team leadership
- Critical thinking
- Rare Diseases
- Oncology
- Neuromuscular Disorders
- Infectious Disease
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
Hindi
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
VP, Medical Director
Havas Life Rare
10.2022 - Current
Medical Director
Havas Life Rare
07.2021 - 10.2022
Assistant Medical Director
Havas Health & You / H4B Boston
09.2020 - 07.2021
Assistant Medical Director
Havas Tonic
10.2019 - 09.2020
Adjunct Lecturer
Hunter College
09.2011 - 05.2019
Ph.D. - Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology
City University of New York, Graduate Center
Master of Arts - Biology
Hunter College
Bachelor of Arts - Biology
Stony Brook University
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