With well over 10 new people added just last year, MedEngine keeps growing with a steady pace! This spring we’ve had new talent fortifying the Market Access Team as Sami Gabbouj started as a Scientific Project Manager. Let’s get to know him, shall we?
Sami is a positive person. “Well, I usually try to lighten the mood with bad jokes, and I always enjoy a good laugh. As a fiery Tunisian soul, I get excited quickly about matters passionate to me, but I also enjoy long discussions and learning by exchanging views”, he explains.
”I fancy the challenge that the pharmaceutical field offers in addressing unmet therapeutic needs.”
“My family is from Tunisia, but I was born and grew up in Tampere, where I lived until I moved to Kuopio for university studies. I have always been fascinated about medicine and how the human body works, thus I ended up studying biomedicine.” Initially Sami intended to work in R&D and began to pursue a PhD in neurosciences, studying the underlying molecular mechanisms between Alzheimer’s disease and type 2 diabetes. Only later did he realize that his passion lay in helping people access medical innovations. He was further inspired by business studies in innovation management, and after gaining some NGO experience he transitioned from academia to consulting. “Prior to joining MedEngine I worked with HTA [Health Technology Assessment] and marketing authorizations at the Finnish Medicines Agency [Fimea].”, he recalls. “I wanted to combine biomedical knowledge with my business-mindedness to help turn research into tangible products and services to improve peoples’ health. I also fancy the challenge that the pharmaceutical field offers in addressing unmet therapeutic needs, e.g., by finding new uses for existing drugs and establishing biologics as affordable treatments for currently incurable diseases.”
“MedEngine’s people and science-first approach immediately caught my attention.”
In his studies, Sami got to be involved in interesting experiments. “My favorite and coolest study experience was an intensive one-week drug development course on Seili island where we got to develop a hypothetical drug — and then created a clinical trial plan and a business plan to commercialize it. This sparked my enthusiasm for commercializing medical innovations, and it feels awesome to be working with exactly that in our Market Access team!”
“Overall, MedEngine’s people and science-first approach immediately caught my attention when I weighed my future career options. I feel like I can develop as a consultant without losing my scientist identity. I love the open, supporting, and fun people here and how our culture and structures create and support customized individual development but also teamwork. I’m inspired by the societally significant work we do with committed colleagues and partners.”
In his free time Sami plays badminton, climbs walls, and participates in NGOs. “I love cooking, particularly Italian cuisine, as well as tasting wine and craft beer. I like picking up trivial information from Wikipedia and talking about science and politics”, he laughs. “When speaking with my family I might use four languages mixed up in the same sentence. Not to forget the thick Tampere dialect, of course! I also enjoy swimming in the sea and long evenings at our summer house in Tunisia.”
Amazing! Now we’re just waiting for the invitation to the summer house… 😀 Great to have you onboard Sami, a warm welcome!
