Northwestern Master of Science in Law (MSL) alum, Maggie Chan, recently published a featured editorial in Pharmaceutical Online, a newsletter for professionals in the small molecule drug products space. Pharmaceutical Online delivers in-depth content from subject matter experts – now including Maggie! – on a variety of specialized topics in this FDA-regulated area.
Maggie’s co-authored piece, entitled The Regulatory Affairs Function is Evolving. Are you Evolving With It? explores the changing landscape of the regulatory affairs (RA) function, focusing specifically the role of AI and the need for modern RA professionals to interact effectively and embrace AI tools.
We caught up with Maggie to ask her about the article, her experience in the MSL program, and her thoughts on the value of the MSL degree for RA professionals.
MSL: Can you describe your background and why you decided to study in the MSL degree program?
Maggie: I was working at a Pharmacy Benefit Management company at the time. My role enabled me to navigate the complexities of health insurance, particularly how regulations, policies, and business processes interact to shape patient access to medications. I often questioned the frameworks behind these systems: What drives these policies? How could they be optimized to better serve patients while ensuring compliance? These questions inspired me to explore the broader regulatory, legal, and business structures influencing healthcare and pharmaceuticals. The MSL program stood out as a cutting-edge opportunity to deepen my understanding of these frameworks and to provide myself with the knowledge to drive innovation and improve patient outcomes.
MSL: Did your study in the MSL program play a role in spurring you to write the Pharmaceutical Online article?
Maggie: Through the MSL, I gained a deeper understanding of how legal and regulatory changes impact the pharmaceutical and medical device industries. I took courses in compliance, risk management, and regulatory strategy that strengthened my ability to navigate complex regulatory environments, optimize compliance strategies, and adapt to industry changes, benefiting both my consulting work and the Pharmaceutical Online article. The MSL program enhanced my ability to convey complex regulatory concepts, pursue thought leadership opportunities like the article, and apply a forward-thinking approach to addressing real-world challenges in consulting projects.
MSL: What are your plans for the future?
Maggie: Moving forward, I aim to bridge the gap between regulatory affairs and innovation by leveraging the skills gained from the MSL to help organizations adopt AI-driven advancements and transform their regulatory functions into strategic drivers of success.
MSL: Do you think the MSL is a good investment for regulatory affairs professionals?
Maggie: The MSL degree is incredibly valuable for professionals in regulatory affairs. It bridges the gap between legal principles and practical applications, providing a comprehensive understanding of how laws and regulations impact the healthcare, pharmaceutical and medical device industries. For me, the program strengthened my expertise in compliance, risk management, and regulatory strategy – all of which are critical for navigating complex regulatory environments. This combination of legal and strategic knowledge has been essential in my consulting work, where I help clients address real-world regulatory challenges and understand emerging trends like AI and machine learning.
