Driving Excellence in Life Sciences Training
Meet this year’s recipients of the prestigious LTEN Chuck Pearson Learning Scholarship, Ama Agumeh and Steve Lopez. Both L&D professionals have been recognized for their outstanding contributions and dedication to training professionals in the life sciences sector.
Their achievements not only exemplify the core values of LTEN but also demonstrate the transformative power of effective leadership in driving excellence in training.
We invite you to join us in celebrating Agumeh and Lopez’s remarkable accomplishments. Visit our website to learn more about the Chuck Pearson Learning Scholarship program and stay updated on the latest industry trends and advancements in training.
Pictured above: Ama Agumeh (left) and Steve Lopez (right)
Ama Agumeh
A Rising Star in Learning and Development
Ama Agumeh is currently an L&D Program Manager at Takeda Pharmaceuticals. In her time at Takeda, Agumeh has made a significant impact on a large-scale training project within a short period.
Transitioning from a background in higher education from Wellesley College through the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, to the pharmaceutical industry, she quickly immersed herself in the role and successfully deployed a new mentoring program for the 300 individuals in US Medical Affairs.
Her exceptional analytical skills, collaboration abilities, and project management expertise enabled her to audit and refine the pilot program, create comprehensive training materials, and operationalize the project to expand it beyond the initial 21-person pilot.
Within just four months, Agumeh launched the full mentoring program, which now boasts 74 participants and includes a catalog of integrated learning items on a newly launched learning experience platform.
Additionally, she played a pivotal role in revising the LinkedIn Learning program and co-developing an eLearning module on US Medical Budget and Finance Training as part of an internal transformation initiative.
Her dedication and efficiency in delivering these solutions within a tight timeframe demonstrate her ability to lead a team, build capabilities, and drive change in the L&D space.
Key Contributions
- Launched US Medical Mentoring Program to
expand from 21 participants to 74 in a four-month
time period - Leveraged higher education expertise to contribute
to the development of eLearning tools that support
operational and organizational initiatives - Created new learning format for LinkedIn Learning
Challenges that foster a thematic, group learning
approach for the US Medical Organization
Steve Lopez
A Visionary Training Professional
Steve Lopez is currently the Disease Area Training Manager for Janssen Oncology. He has been instrumental in leading a large-scale training project with remarkable business impact.
In the fourth quarter of 2022, Lopez successfully executed three preceptorship programs, which Janssen refers to as clinical immersions. These programs addressed a critical need for broader education in the general Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) space for Janssen’s Lung sales force.
His vision and determination led him to partner with Duke University, a renowned institution with a well-established Lung clinical immersion program called the Duke Practicum.
By leveraging this collaboration, he coordinated three immersions to accommodate Janssen’s national sales force. Despite the tight timeline, he skillfully orchestrated a comprehensive agenda, bringing together a diverse range of healthcare professionals, including medical oncologists, surgical oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, clinical trials experts, registered nurses, nurse practitioners, and patients.
The impact of the clinical immersion program was significant, as evidenced by survey results, which indicated the patient panel as the most impactful aspect of the experience.
By emphasizing the patient journey and incorporating patient perspectives, Lopez created a deeply moving and informative training environment that left a lasting impression on all participants. Additionally, he took on the responsibilities typically handled by a third-party planning company, such as coordinating meals, transportation, and accommodations, resulting in substantial cost savings for the Brand Marketing team.
His success in leading this large-scale training project showcases his ability to drive change, build capabilities, and add value to his organization. His commitment to delivering immersive experiences and incorporating emerging technologies like virtual reality (VR) to enhance training effectiveness is truly visionary.
Lopez recognizes the potential of VR and AI in providing a comparable level of clinical confidence and compelling, memorable language while ensuring flexibility and accessibility for all participants. He aspires to make this a reality for all therapeutic areas within Janssen.
Key Contributions
- Successfully executed three preceptorship programs (clinical immersions) addressing a clinical need for education for Janssen’s Lung sales force in the NSCLC space.
- Partnered with Duke University’s established Lung clinical immersion program, the Duke Practicum.
- Coordinated three separate immersions to accommodate Janssen’s national sales force, bringing together various healthcare professionals.
- Advocates for immersive experiences, AI (artificial intelligence) and the integration of virtual reality (VR) technology to enhance training effectiveness.
About the Scholarship
The memorial scholarship provides educational opportunities to hard-working and highly motivated life sciences learning and development professionals in hopes they will continue the legacy of educational service to others and commitment to life sciences training.
Contact Us
For additional questions, please contact Awards@L-TEN.org.
Interested in sponsoring this year’s awards program? Contact Gregg Haunroth at ghaunroth@L-TEN.org
