Strategist, connector, physician-scientist—Sophie Tsai, MD, MBA, MHS, is all three. In her new position as OPEN Health’s first Commercial
Director, US, for HEOR & Market Access, Sophie will utilize her background in health sciences, experiences in client partnership and new business
development, and entrepreneurial and strategic mindset to grow client relationships in support of the company’s
commercial strategy.
“In my role, active listening is key,” Sophie says. “Listening allows me to understand our clients’ challenges, become a strategic thought partner, and bring forth the best team that can help achieve their goals with the available resources.” Her experiences in preference research (i.e., a scientific discipline grounded in psychology, economics, and market research) and qualitative research have prepared her well for connecting with clients and colleagues to understand their needs and pressing pain points.
Coming from a clinical background, Sophie is passionate about patient-centered research where she can engage the patients and patient communities to inform better clinical, business, and regulatory decision-making. “Working with patients directly keeps me grounded. It is very humbling when patients share their experiences and journey with me,” she says. “I feel truly fortunate that I get to meet with the people that we are trying to help.”
As
she steps into her new role, Sophie continues to serve as Lead Scientist in the development of a de novo patient-reported outcome instrument, powered by a nearly $2 million Food and Drug Administration collaborative grant. Once developed, the instrument could be used in clinical trials throughout the world to contribute to the review and approval processes for new therapies.
Her
business acumen and her dedication to the patient, as exemplified in her clinical
training and patient-centered research, make Sophie a Scientific Trailblazer at OPEN Health.
