OIS Podcast Ep #367: A Fast, Fun Future, with Warren Foust and Magda Michna, PhD, Staar Surgical
For today's episode, the newest addition to the OIS Podcast team, Carey Powers, sits down with the newest additions to the Staarย ...
Chief Development Officer and Chief Clinical, Regulatory & Medical Affairs Officer, Staar Surgical
Search every verified Magda Michna interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote โ each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. In a September 2023 podcast, Magda Michna discussed her role as Chief Clinical, Regulatory and Medical Affairs Officer at Staar Surgical, a position she assumed alongside Warren Foustโs appointment as COO. She stated that one of her goals was to unite previously separate clinical, regulatory, and medical affairs organizations to ensure that product registration and post-market medical information needs are aligned. Michna said she is passionate about developing the next group of leaders in these areas and emphasized that her team is responsible for the full product lifecycle, from regulatory strategy to the doctor-patient benefit-risk conversation. Michna also highlighted the companyโs direct-to-consumer advertising efforts, including a campaign involving the Jonas Brothers, and noted that Staar Surgicalโs EVO ICL product has achieved 99.4 percent patient satisfaction. She described the companyโs growth trajectory as โexplosive,โ with double-digit growth in every market, and said the leadership team has aligned on core values including empowerment, fast execution, and fun. Michna added that the company customizes solutions for different customer types, from independent physicians to large private equity groups, and offers training programs to help surgeons deliver optimal outcomes.
“What we've seen is when we turn a market on we have incredible adoption; patients are coming into Physicians practices and saying I want an EVO ICL in my eye and then after they get it when the surgeon makes that decision we see 99.4 percent patient satisfaction which we're really proud of.”
“We're handling all this direct-to-consumer advertising in-house and we're proud of the fact that we have the talent in-house to do it. The Nick Jonas campaign was really important and now all three Jonas Brothers are engaged with us supporting their tour, which will kick off in August.”
“One of the goals of uniting the three previously separate organizations is to ensure we have the right information going into registration and understand medical information needs once the product is in the market. Ultimately, the doctor has to explain benefit-risk to the patient and the salesperson to the doctor.”
“We customize solutions for different types of customers, from independent physicians to big private equity groups. We also have programs to fast start surgeons from a training perspective to ensure they deliver the best outcomes for their patients.”
“It's so nice to be in a situation where it's 100% cash pay, which opens the door to partnering in a way that's right. We have national campaigns like the Jonas Brothers and social media marketers driving traffic, and at the local level, we partner with customers who love it.”
“One of the things I love about joining STAAR Surgical was the ability to start a new organization and build synergies across multiple groups. I am passionate about developing teams and leaders, and I want to grow the next group of leaders in regulatory, clinical, and medical affairs.”
“Clinical, regulatory, and medical affairs bring a lot of value and are often seen as a service group supporting commercial activities, but they are responsible for everything we do. We want to build a culture where everyone understands we are one big team and without each other it doesn't work.”
“STAAR Surgical has endured many challenges since 1982 to get to where we are now. The company is on a trajectory for explosive growth, with documented 20+ percent growth outside the U.S. and double-digit growth in every market, sometimes double that.”
“We aligned on core values including empowerment of our people, driving a fast sense of execution, and fun. Fun is important because where you work and who you work with matters.”
For today's episode, the newest addition to the OIS Podcast team, Carey Powers, sits down with the newest additions to the Staarย ...
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