Enhancing healthcare equity: diversity in healthcare research

As Chief Medical Officer, Drug Development, Samit Hirawat, oversees early-stage and late-stage product development across all therapeutic areas. In this role, Hirawat and his organisation focus on enabling the rapid progression and delivery of assets, from proof-of-concept to commercialisation, through world-class clinical trial design and operations. He joined BMS in 2019 with extensive drug development experience, most recently serving as Executive Vice-President and Head of Oncology Development for Novartis. Previously, he led clinical development programmes in multiple indications at PTC Therapeutics and Pfizer/Pharmacia Corporation.

Tamsin Rose is a facilitator who was until recently a senior fellow for health at Friends of Europe. Having studied international relations, she has 25 years of experience working across the European continent from Ireland to Mongolia. A natural communicator, Tamsin has been a radio reporter, worked on press for the EU Delegation in Moscow and is currently a member of the external speaker team for the European Commission Directorate-General for Communication, describing how the EU works and key policies to visitor groups from around the world. Since 2002, she has specialised in public health and public participation issues, serving as the Secretary General of the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA), and providing strategic advice for health groups on how to engage successfully with the EU.