WHT Spotlight:
Hahn-Ey Lee, MD, PhD, MBA
From Urology Researcher to Global Pharma Leader
Dr. Hahn-Ey Lee’s path began in Seoul, where she earned her MD and PhD in Urology, specializing in female and pediatric voiding dysfunction. After years as a clinical fellow and research professor, she pivoted to industry joining Pfizer more than a decade ago.
In November 2022, she became Country Medical Director (Vice President) for Pfizer Japan, leading 200+ professionals across oncology, internal medicine, vaccines, and patient engagement platforms. In 2024, she advanced to Chief Medical Affairs Officer for Transformation & Operations Excellence, overseeing global alignment of medical workflows and systems. By late 2024, she was entrusted with her current international leadership role, where she now shapes vaccine and antiviral strategies across diverse Asian markets.
Scaling Innovation Through Cultural Sensitivity
What sets Dr. Lee apart is her ability to merge scientific rigor with cultural intelligence. In Japan, she drove pioneering initiatives in real-world evidence, patient engagement, and launch excellence—building scalable models that anticipate local payer needs and regulatory contexts. As Transformation & Operations leader, she harmonized global systems for 400+ colleagues, enabling agile workflows and faster decision-making. Today, she focuses on ensuring that vaccines and anti-infectives are deployed with strategies tailored to regional realities, helping governments and patients alike access innovation faster.
A Leadership Philosophy Grounded in Agility
Dr. Lee embodies servant leadership, emphasizing adaptability and empowerment. She believes effective global medical affairs requires not only business insight but also cultural empathy. Her mentorship approach fosters trust across cross-functional teams, ensuring diverse perspectives directly influence global strategy. “Global success is only possible when we design with local realities in mind,” she often emphasizes in her talks.
Championing the Future of Medical Affairs
Beyond her Pfizer role, Dr. Lee actively shares her expertise with the broader healthcare community. In March 2025, she appeared as a featured speaker at HITLAB’s Women’s Health Tech Wednesday Webinar, highlighting the importance of culturally adaptive medical leadership in digital health. She also joined the Insights Management 360 Podcast in mid-2025, where she discussed bridging field insights with strategic impact.
Looking forward, she envisions stronger partnerships with startups, academic centers, and digital health innovators to co-create culturally relevant solutions—especially in women’s health. Her message is clear: inclusive, globally adaptive medical leadership isn’t optional—it’s essential for achieving equitable health outcomes.
Connect & Learn More
- Connect with Hahn-Ey on LinkedIn
- Watch Hahn-Ey on WHTW (March 20, 2025)
- Listen to Hahn-Ey on the E7 Insights Management 360 Podcast (June 9, 2025)
- Read Hahn-Ey’s research on ResearchGate
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