Dr. Shontelle Dodson is Executive Vice President and Head of Medical Affairs globally at Astellas Pharma, Inc., responsible for leading Astellas’ Medical Affairs activities for late-stage development and marketed products across all therapeutic and focus areas.
Previously, Dodson served as Senior Vice President of the Medical Specialties Business Unit. In this role, she led US commercial activities for marketed products in the urology, anti-infectives and hospital business units. Prior roles also include Senior Vice President of Market Access overseeing payer and channel account management, contracts and pricing, reimbursement and market access strategy, marketing, key account management and operations; and Senior Vice President, Medical Affairs Americas.
Shontelle joined Astellas in 2012 in Medical Affairs, and during her tenure has expanded the Health Economics & Outcomes Research function and pioneered multiple, innovative real world data projects, including the creation of two national registries and innovative research partnerships with leading managed care and academic organizations. She also led the Medical Specialties Commercial organization through an extensive restructuring while preparing for the launch of a novel new treatment option for women.
She started her career in direct patient care at the Department of Veterans Affairs, and also worked at Pfizer, Inc. and GTx, Inc. in various medical affairs leadership roles.
Dodson joined the board of directors of the National Pharmaceutical Council (NPC), a health policy research organization dedicated to advancing good evidence and science and fostering an environment that supports medical innovation in the United States in 2017. She is also a board member and former Chairwoman for the Society for Women’s Health Research (SWHR). She has received multiple awards for leadership and innovation during her career, including the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association Rising Star and Astellas Vision Award.
Shontelle holds a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Mercer University College of Pharmacy and completed a postdoctoral residency at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn.