GEORGE VERNIKOS
Medical Director
Athens
Summary
Experienced Medical Director, working for 10+ years in local, regional and global medical affairs roles both in big pharma and small biotech corporate settings. Launched 5+ priority products. Strong people management experience leading teams of medical directors (medical doctors), medical managers and MSLs. Proven track record of external engagement & impactful KOL management at the highest level - NITAGs, MoH, reimbursement and recommending bodies - in EU, US & APAC.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
8
8
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
3
3
Languages
Work History
Visiting Lecturer
Medical School of Athens
10.2008 - Current
- Lecture two M.Sc level courses on pharmaceutical development technologies for Medical Doctors.
- Joint Patent with full Professor: "A reputation system for post-publication review of scientific articles", United States Patent, Application 61487318; filed May 18, 2011.
- Collaborated with faculty and staff to create meaningful learning experiences.
- Assessed students' progress and provided feedback to enhance learning.
- Evaluated and supervised student activities and performance levels to provide reports on academic progress.
- Led seminars and workshops to facilitate student learning and engagement and increase memory retention.
- Developed semester outlines and instructional plans for each class session to comply with stated course objectives.
- Mentored new faculty members within the department, sharing best practices and offering support during their transition into the institution.
- Mentored and advised students to explore career pathways based and amplify knowledge, skills and strengths.
- Contributed to planning appropriate and engaging lessons for both classroom and distance learning applications.
- Proved successful working within tight deadlines and a fast-paced environment.
- Demonstrated creativity and resourcefulness through the development of innovative solutions.
Regional Medical Director
Novavax
12.2022 - Current
- Head of Medical Affairs in South Europe for Italy, Spain, Greece, Cyprus, Malta and Portugal, leading and managing a team of Country Medical Directors (Medical Doctors).
- Developed and maintained collaborative relationships with key stakeholders for streamlined operations and improved patient outcomes.
- Developed alliances with internal departments resulting in improved communication and performance throughout region.
- Monitored regional performance metrics to identify trends, anticipate challenges, and drive improvements in patient care delivery.
- Supervised clinical staff, providing continuous professional development opportunities and training to maintain and strengthen competencies.
- Verified effective, consistent communication between department heads, medical staff and governing boards through board meeting attendance and synchronization of interdepartmental functions.
- Designed and introduced leadership development, coaching and team management model, resulting in promotion of employees into increased levels of responsibility.
- Optimized resource allocation by reviewing regional budgets and making data-driven financial decisions.
- Reviewed material used by medical team as part of Medical Review Board standards.
- Developed quarterly and yearly objectives, goals and budgets in addition to devising suggestions to decrease spending.
- Enhanced regional medical performance by providing strategic leadership to multiple healthcare facilities.
- Fostered a culture of continuous learning and professional development among staff through targeted training initiatives.
- Reduced employee turnover rates through effective recruitment, retention, and professional development strategies.
- Recruited, hired and trained all staff, providing direct supervision, ongoing staff development and continuing education to employees.
- Ensured regulatory compliance at all regional facilities by staying current on industry updates and enforcing adherence to established policies.
- Spearheaded and implemented new projects to expand scope of engagement.
- Championed the adoption of new technologies within the region to enhance diagnostic capabilities, streamline workflows, and improve overall patient experience.
- Enabled better decision-making by regularly presenting actionable insights derived from regional performance data to senior leadership.
- Attended healthcare conferences to stay abreast of evolution of technology and implemented improvements in practice.
- Strengthened communication skills through regular interactions with others.
- Developed strong communication and organizational skills through working on group projects.
- Proven ability to develop and implement creative solutions to complex problems.
- Managed time efficiently in order to complete all tasks within deadlines.
- Used strong analytical and problem-solving skills to develop effective solutions for challenging situations.
- Demonstrated leadership skills in managing projects from concept to completion.
- Proven ability to learn quickly and adapt to new situations.
- Assisted with day-to-day operations, working efficiently and productively with all team members.
- Organized and detail-oriented with a strong work ethic.
- Paid attention to detail while completing assignments.
- Cultivated interpersonal skills by building positive relationships with others.
- Used critical thinking to break down problems, evaluate solutions and make decisions.
- Provided professional services and support in a dynamic work environment.
Country Medical Director
Novavax
07.2022 - 12.2022
- Country Medical Director for Greece, Cyprus and Malta.
- Led the medical strategy, managed the budget and executed the external engagement plan with KOLs and recommending bodies.
- Supported global Clinical Trials & lead RWE studies currently at the level of publication.
- Established partnerships with external organizations, promoting collaboration on shared health initiatives.
- Interacted well with customers to build connections and nurture relationships.
- Leveraged data analytics insights for informed decision-making in critical areas such as sales forecasting, budgeting, or personnel management.
- Boosted client satisfaction rates through exceptional relationship management and prompt resolution of issues.
- Optimized operational processes using analytics tools to address client-specific metrics.
- Spearheaded successful product launches that resulted in increased brand visibility and customer acquisition.
- Managed daily operations while overseeing multiple locations to foster increased productivity.
- Recruited, hired, and trained initial personnel, working to establish key internal functions and outline scope of positions for new organization.
- Optimized staff performance by designing comprehensive training programs tailored to individual needs.
- Monitored and coordinated workflows to optimize resources.
- Improved project efficiency with strategic planning, resource allocation, and time management practices.
- Facilitated cross-functional collaboration for improved decision-making processes within the organization.
- Cultivated a positive work environment that fostered employee engagement, increased retention rates, and boosted overall team morale.
- Observed each employee's individual strengths and initiated mentoring program to improve areas of weakness.
- Evaluated company documentation to verify alignment with regulatory requirements.
- Championed corporate social responsibility initiatives that enhanced the company''s reputation in the community and industry at large.
- Implemented innovative solutions to solve complex problems, resulting in increased productivity and streamlined operations.
- Spearheaded innovative approaches to resource allocation and strategic planning.
- Strengthened internal controls by reviewing existing policies and procedures, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.
- Trained and guided team members to maintain high productivity and performance metrics.
- Assisted in recruiting, hiring and training of team members.
- Managed budgets effectively to ensure optimal use of resources while maintaining financial stability.
- Established a culture of continuous improvement by fostering open communication channels and empowering employees to voice their ideas.
- Leveraged professional networks and industry knowledge to strengthen client relationships.
- Established departmental performance goals and provided feedback for underperforming areas.
- Developed high-performing teams by providing mentorship, guidance, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Organized and detail-oriented with a strong work ethic.
- Applied effective time management techniques to meet tight deadlines.
- Worked effectively in fast-paced environments.
- Demonstrated leadership skills in managing projects from concept to completion.
- Cultivated interpersonal skills by building positive relationships with others.
- Learned and adapted quickly to new technology and software applications.
- Gained strong leadership skills by managing projects from start to finish.
- Acted as a team leader in group projects, delegating tasks and providing feedback.
- Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility.
Therapeutic Area Head
Johnson & Johnson
02.2021 - 07.2022
- Medical Head Greece: Infectious Diseases & Vaccines.
- Medical Head Cyprus & Malta: Cardiovascular & Metabolic Diseases, Immunology, Infectious Diseases & Vaccines, Neuroscience, Oncology, Pulmonary Hypertension.
- Led a team of Medical Managers.
- Effectively allocated tasks during high-traffic times to keep operations running smoothly and employees focused.
- Trained team members in successful strategies to meet operational and sales targets.
- Boosted employee morale by recognizing outstanding contributions from team members during monthly meetings.
- Maintained focus during busy times and delegated tasks to employees to keep business running smoothly.
- Reduced expenses by renegotiating vendor contracts to eliminate waste and boost cost savings
- Developed and maintained strong relationships with key clients, resulting in increased customer satisfaction and loyalty.
- Researched issues to obtain appropriate answers to customer inquiries.
- Planned and implemented growth strategies.
- Engaged associates in daily operations through open communication and upbeat team meetings.
- Collaborated with other departments to ensure smooth operations and communication across the organization.
- Increased overall productivity by streamlining processes and implementing new strategies for team management.
- Revamped outdated operational procedures which positively impacted overall workflow efficiency within the area.
- Trained and oriented associates to maximize team performance.
- Analyzed key performance indicators to identify trends and areas for improvement within the department.
- Streamlined internal communication channels, facilitating improved information sharing among employees.
- Managed budgets for various projects, ensuring timely completion within allocated resources.
- Spearheaded cross-functional initiatives aimed at optimizing resource utilization across multiple departments.
- Presented reports on area achievements to senior management, highlighting successes and areas for improvement.
- Led a team of professionals to achieve area targets, fostering a collaborative work environment.
- Proven ability to learn quickly and adapt to new situations.
- Managed time efficiently in order to complete all tasks within deadlines.
- Proven ability to develop and implement creative solutions to complex problems.
- Cultivated interpersonal skills by building positive relationships with others.
- Paid attention to detail while completing assignments.
- Acted as a team leader in group projects, delegating tasks and providing feedback.
Global Medical Affairs
GlaxoSmithKline
04.2019 - 02.2021
- Creator and project owner of a Global Medical Affairs RWE project that translates 6 years of RWE scientific data into a 4-minute story narrative.
- The project was adopted by the GMA team and launched as a global deliverable to all markets.
- Served as a key liaison between internal stakeholders and external partners, fostering productive collaborations that advanced company goals.
- Enhanced medical education initiatives by creating engaging training materials for healthcare professionals on new products and therapies.
- Successfully negotiated client contract renewals to create increased revenue.
- Managed the review and approval process for medical communications materials, ensuring accuracy and alignment with company objectives.
- Implemented best practices in documentation management systems that improved efficiency, accessibility, and security of project-related information.
- Maintained open communication by presenting regular updates on project status to customers.
- Reduced project completion timeframes through strategic resource allocation and efficient task delegation.
- Led multidisciplinary teams to complete complex projects efficiently through effective coordination and delegation of tasks among team members.
- Tracked project and team member performance closely to quickly intervene in mistakes or delays.
- Maintained tactical control of project budgets and timelines to keep teams on task and achieve schedule targets.
- Facilitated workshops to collect project requirements and user feedback.
- Adjusted project plans to account for dynamic targets, staffing changes, and operational specifications.
- Partnered with project team members to identify and quickly address problems.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless integration of various project components.
- Saved costs on multiple projects by identifying opportunities for process improvement and implementing cost-effective solutions.
- Developed and implemented project plans and budgets to ensure successful execution.
- Set up and managed team meetings.
- Scheduled and facilitated meetings between project stakeholders to discuss deliverables, schedules and conflicts.
- Optimized resource utilization by accurately forecasting project needs and allocating resources accordingly throughout the project lifecycle.
- Demonstrated leadership skills in managing projects from concept to completion.
- Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility.
- Managed time efficiently in order to complete all tasks within deadlines.
- Adaptable and proficient in learning new concepts quickly and efficiently.
- Proven ability to learn quickly and adapt to new situations.
- Paid attention to detail while completing assignments.
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
- Assisted with day-to-day operations, working efficiently and productively with all team members.
European Medical Affairs
GlaxoSmithKline
03.2016 - 02.2021
- Country Medical Head & core member of the European Medical Leadership Team.
- Appointed to support the optimization of medical planning across Europe.
- Act as single point of reference for European markets.
- Collaborated with key stakeholders to align departmental goals with the company''s overall objectives, ensuring consistent progress towards targets.
- Collaborated with company leaders to support consistency and best practices.
- Established team priorities, maintained schedules and monitored performance.
- Established performance goals for employees and provided feedback on methods for reaching those milestones.
- Monitored activities for adherence to vital milestones and deliverables.
- Led cross-functional team to develop and implement a successful product launch strategy, resulting in increased market share.
- Monitored processes and procedures, making sure company met compliance regulations.
- Created detailed project roadmaps with clearly defined milestones, deliverables, and timelines to ensure timely completion of initiatives.
- Created new methodologies to improve planning process and results.
- Successfully managed budgets and allocated resources to maximize productivity and profitability.
- Demonstrated respect, friendliness and willingness to help wherever needed.
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
- Provided professional services and support in a dynamic work environment.
Medical Advisor
GlaxoSmithKline
04.2015 - 03.2016
- Planned & implemented the local medical strategy.
- Keynote speaker at national and international congresses as company spokesperson.
- KOL external engagement management.
- Offered medical and strategic input to advisory boards to foster engagement with clinical advisors.
- Established relationships with external customers to gain insights into decision-making and brand strategy development.
- Facilitated scientific exchange among key opinion leaders through participation in advisory boards and symposia.
- Reviewed literature and facilitated discussion to develop and maintain product knowledge and expertise.
- Promoted scientific and clinical trends awareness and maintained understanding of scientific evidence to construct accurate knowledge.
- Attended training courses and applied action plans, coaching and knowledge to enhance daily tasks.
- Enhanced patient outcomes by providing expert medical advice and guidance to healthcare professionals.
- Maintained strong relationships with healthcare providers by addressing their clinical concerns and providing timely, evidence-based responses.
- Drafted and analyzed complex medical data.
- Served as a liaison between clinical research teams and healthcare providers, fostering effective communication and collaboration.
- Maximized product adoption by developing compelling value propositions that resonated with target customer segments.
- Conducted research and stayed current with medical advancements, contributing to growth of medical knowledge.
- Led successful publication planning efforts by collaborating with external authors and managing submission timelines.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to support product marketing access strategy.
- Conducted comprehensive literature reviews and presented findings at national conferences, raising awareness of key medical issues.
- Evaluated competitor landscape through strategic analysis techniques, identifying opportunities for differentiation.
- Reviewed promotional materials for compliance with regulatory guidelines, ensuring accuracy and reliability of information provided to patients.
- Supported clinical trial design through thorough understanding of unmet medical needs, leading to more targeted therapeutic interventions.
- Educated sales representatives on product benefits and safety profiles, enhancing their ability to effectively communicate with physicians.
- Participated in continuing education and professional development to enhance expertise and skills.
- Created customized training materials for diverse audiences, tailoring content to meet specific requirements of various stakeholders.
- Developed strong communication and organizational skills through working on group projects.
- Demonstrated a high level of initiative and creativity while tackling difficult tasks.
- Cultivated interpersonal skills by building positive relationships with others.
- Strengthened communication skills through regular interactions with others.
- Fastest product uptake in EU in the 1st year of launch.
Medical Advisor
Novartis
01.2013 - 04.2015
- Supported five priority product launches in Greece, Cyprus & Malta.
- Developed and executed strategic and tactical plans.
- Managed KOL engagements.
- Led RWE and cost-effectiveness studies supporting the market access and reimbursement of the products launched.
- Offered medical and strategic input to advisory boards to foster engagement with clinical advisors.
- Established relationships with external customers to gain insights into decision-making and brand strategy development.
- Facilitated scientific exchange among key opinion leaders through participation in advisory boards and symposia.
- Drafted and analyzed complex medical data.
- Served as a liaison between clinical research teams and healthcare providers, fostering effective communication and collaboration.
- Maximized product adoption by developing compelling value propositions that resonated with target customer segments.
- Influenced formulary decision-making by presenting real-world evidence supporting product efficacy.
- Led successful publication planning efforts by collaborating with external authors and managing submission timelines.
Education
Ph.D. - Genomics & Infectious Diseases
University of Cambridge
Cambridge, UK 10.2004 - 10.2008
B.Sc. - Molecular Biology
University of Athens
Athens, Greece 10.1999 - 10.2003
Skills
External Engagement
Business planning
KOL management
Project management
KPIs
Medical Affairs
Clinical Trials
RWE
Product Launch
GCP
Medical Governance
Emotional Intelligence
Leadership
Conflict Management
HEOR
Develop High-Performance Teams
Statistics
Keynote Speaker
Medical Strategy
Decision-Making
Effective Communication
Academic Publication
Course Development
Faculty communication
Student assessment
Learning tools and materials
Team building
Websites
Certification
Full list
H Index
15
Professional Recommendations
Full list
Therapeutic Areas
- Infectious Diseases
- Vaccines
- Immunology
- Cardiovascular
- Metabolic Diseases
- Public Health
- Genomics
- Respiratory Diseases
- Neuroscience
- Oncology
- Pulmonary Hypertension
Peer Reviewed Publications
19
Personal Information
Date of Birth: 04/23/80
Timeline
Regional Medical Director
Novavax
12.2022 - Current
Country Medical Director
Novavax
07.2022 - 12.2022
Therapeutic Area Head
Johnson & Johnson
02.2021 - 07.2022
Global Medical Affairs
GlaxoSmithKline
04.2019 - 02.2021
European Medical Affairs
GlaxoSmithKline
03.2016 - 02.2021
Medical Advisor
GlaxoSmithKline
04.2015 - 03.2016
Medical Advisor
Novartis
01.2013 - 04.2015
Visiting Lecturer
Medical School of Athens
10.2008 - Current
Ph.D. - Genomics & Infectious Diseases
University of Cambridge
10.2004 - 10.2008
B.Sc. - Molecular Biology
University of Athens
10.1999 - 10.2003