MAPS Focus Area Working Groups (FAWG)
Member Charter
Version May 2021
Focus Areas are the priority capabilities that are strategically important for the successful
implementation and maintenance of a high impact Medical Affairs organization. The Focus
Areas will be managed and supported by a dedicated Focus Area Working Group (FAWG) which
consists of individuals who are Subject Matter Experts and are responsible for strategy
development, gap identification, content creation and program implementation for their Focus
Area.
As with all other MAPS committees or volunteer groups, FAWG members are volunteers andare not compensated for their time.
Focus Area Working Group Member Requirements:
FAWGs will consist of a minimum of 8, and ideally up to 16, industry* members, including theLead/s.
*Industry is defined as those currently employed by a life sciences company (pharma,biotech, medical & diagnostic devices), MA professionals with prior employment at a life
sciences company but currently in between jobs, or independent MA consultants** withprevious employment a life sciences company. An individual may serve on only one
FAWG at a time and each industry company may only have two (2) members on eachFAWG.
** If an Independent Consultant, have significant leadership role and career inbiopharma prior to going independent; ex-pharm exec; minimum 5 years senior role or
VP in industry; and, must not be part of a consulting firm.
It may also include representatives of MAPS Executive Partner Circle Member (EPCM)[https://medicalaffairs.org/partner-circle/] companies, ideally at a ratio of 4:1 (industry
members to EPCM). These individuals are employees in MAPS EPCM companies who haveextensive knowledge/experience in the focus area. Each EPCM company may only have 1 FAWG
representative total and that individual may only participate in one FAWG.

FAWG Member Requirements
Industry applicants:•

Should have at least 8 years of direct Medical Affairs practice in life sciences companies,
and ideally will have served in more than one role within their organizations.

•Should most recently be serving or have served at the Associate Director level or higher intheir company.

•Must have demonstrated expertise and at least 3 years of experience in the focus area ofinterest.

•Must be a current MAPS member in good standing.

•If an Independent Consultant, must have significant leadership role and career in biopharma
prior to going independent; ex-pharm exec; minimum 5 years senior role or VP in industry;
and, must not be part of a consulting firm.

•Should agree to serve a one-year term from appointment, with the option of renewal, atthe discretion of the FAWG Lead/s.

Executive Partner Circle Member (EPCM) applicants:•

Should have at least 4 years of direct Medical Affairs practice in life sciences companies,
and ideally will have served in more than one role within their organizations.

•Must have demonstrated expertise and at least 3 years of experience in the focus area ofinterest.

•Must be a current employee of a MAPS Executive Partner Circle Member.

•Should agree to serve a one-year term from appointment, with the option of renewal, atthe discretion of the FAWG Lead/s and through the company’s continued participation inthe EPCM program.

FAWG Participation Expectations
All FAWG members should:•

Actively participate on the FAWG and be willing to propose and help develop specificcontent and deliverables aligned with the strategic plan. NOTE: It is expected that each
FAWG member will actively develop and present at least one initiative to support thestrategic plan annually.

•Play a leadership role in implementation of the FAWG strategic plan. This might include
working with other volunteers and solution providers to develop and present content.

•

Actively develop and present at least one initiative to support the strategic plan annually.

•Attend 80% of the FAWG team calls.

•

Actively participate on relevant MAPS Connect community portal sites.

•Proactively engage potential future MAPS members and volunteers to ensure a sustainable
FA volunteer base.

•Be active ambassadors for MAPS by posting/sharing regularly on social media (e.g. LinkedIn,Twitter), raising awareness about the society to their colleagues and encouraging
participation in MAPS and Focus Area initiatives.

Estimated time commitment:
For general FAWG members it is estimated that 3-4 hours per month, on average, would beneeded to actively participate in FAWG calls and content production. This will vary dependingon the month and the number of content deliverables for which the individual has volunteered
to participate.

Focus Area Working Group (FAWG) Accountabilities•

Focus Area needs assessment and gap identification, to be conducted annually.

•Development of a three-year strategic plan.

•Development of an annual content creation and implementation plan, that will besupportive of the strategic plan.

•

Identification of subject matter experts, presenting faculty, and providers to support
content creation and implementation.

•Alignment of annual plan initiatives to include:
oooooooo

annual conference workshops or plenary sessions
eCademy webinars
eLearning module sElevate articles
Podcasts
Standards & GuidanceWhite Papers
Posting of updates, questions and discussion topics MAPS Connect community
portal discussions with the membership