Meet the Member: Cathey Saha MMPP2025 Katrina Campion Scholarship RecipientTherapy Area Specialist, AbbVie | Founder, Futures in Pharma

Cathey Saha is the 2025 recipient of the Katrina Campion Scholarship—an award recognising early-career professionals making a meaningful impact in the medtech and pharmaceutical sector. Currently working as a Therapy Area Specialist at AbbVie, Cathey brings experience across both pharmaceutical and medical device industries and is passionate about helping others navigate the often-difficult leap from university into industry roles. Through her scholarship project, she is building Futures in Pharma, an initiative that provides career insights and industry advice through podcasts, structured resources, and community engagement.

We caught up with Cathey to learn more about her journey, her approach to professional growth, and her reflections on the evolving life sciences landscape.

What is one lesson you've learned throughout your career that has significantly impacted your approach to your work in the medtech and pharma sector?One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that scientific breakthroughs are only as powerful as how they’re communicated. It’s not just about knowing the data—it’s about translating it into meaningful insights for different audiences. Whether I’m presenting clinical trial results to healthcare professionals or aligning internal stakeholders around a strategy, it’s the narrative that drives change. That lesson has shaped how I approach everything from stakeholder engagement to patient outcomes.

How has technological advancement, particularly in data and AI, influenced your work and decisions in the medtech or pharma sector?AI has become a valuable tool in my current role, particularly when reviewing promotional materials. Where I once had to manually read and interpret lengthy clinical studies to validate claims, I now use AI to summarise key endpoints and verify alignment with promotional statements. It’s a huge time saver and offers a second lens to validate my interpretation—enhancing both efficiency and rigour in decision-making.

What is your preferred way to stay active and maintain work-life balance?I’m currently training for my second marathon, having completed my first last year. Running helps me reset mentally and physically—it reminds me of the privilege of good health. Returning to work after my first marathon gave me a renewed sense of purpose, especially working in a sector focused on improving patient lives. Running isn’t just a hobby for me; it’s a perspective builder.

What has been the most rewarding project you've worked on in the medtech or pharma sector, and what made it special?Contributing to the development of a medical affairs competency framework has been incredibly rewarding. This initiative, delivered in partnership with a professional association, aims to define the skills and expectations of medical affairs professionals across Australia. It's meaningful because it supports career development and demonstrates the strategic value of medical affairs within the broader healthcare ecosystem. It’s exciting to think that this work could help shape the profession for years to come.

What advice would you give to those aspiring to enter or advance in the medtech or pharma industry?I always talk about the three Cs: Curiosity, Communication, and Continuous Learning. Stay curious—this industry is evolving rapidly with new therapies and technologies. Build strong communication skills to translate complex science for diverse audiences. And commit to continuous learning, whether through formal training, mentorship, or informal networking. Often, it’s those side conversations at events or messages on LinkedIn that lead to career-defining moments.