Merve Cilingiroglu, MD, is a physician and medical affairs professional with approximately 18 years of experience across clinical practice and the pharmaceutical industry, including 15 years in the pharmaceutical sector. She currently serves as a Therapeutic Area Medical Head at Novartis, with responsibility for oncology, hematology, neuroscience, and gene therapy. Throughout her career at Novartis and AstraZeneca, she has built broad experience across medical strategy and therapeutic area leadership. Her perspective spans the evolving healthcare ecosystem, the translation of scientific advances into clinical practice, evidence-informed decision-making, patient needs and access, and the role of innovation in shaping more effective and sustainable healthcare.
Her previous experience also includes cardio-renal-metabolic diseases and other specialty areas, complementing her current responsibilities across oncology, hematology, neuroscience, and gene therapy. Working across diverse areas of medicine has shaped a broad perspective on how science, healthcare systems, emerging technologies, and changing patient needs intersect.
Her professional interests include medical strategy, healthcare innovation, the future of healthcare, digital transformation, data-driven approaches to medicine, and the responsible use of artificial intelligence. She is particularly interested in how emerging technologies can support medical decision-making and create meaningful value for patients, healthcare professionals, and healthcare systems.
