From Event to Strategy: Making Congresses More Impactful
March 10, 2026
Conferences are often treated like isolated deadlines: build the booth, deliver the poster, survive the week, move on. But what if congresses were designed as strategic engines for prelaunch readiness, scientific alignment, and long-term HCP engagement? In this episode of Transforming Medical Communications, Wesley Portegies is joined by Mathura Shanmugasundaram, the Director of Global Medical Communications and Medical Affairs for Neuroscience at Takeda, to discuss what a high-impact congress strategy actually looks like.
Conferences are often treated like isolated deadlines: build the booth, deliver the poster, survive the week, move on. But what if congresses were designed as strategic engines for prelaunch readiness, scientific alignment, and long-term HCP engagement? In this episode of Transforming Medical Communications, Wesley Portegies is joined by Mathura Shanmugasundaram, the Director of Global Medical Communications and Medical Affairs for Neuroscience at Takeda, to discuss what a high-impact congress strategy actually looks like.
We’ll talk about:
- How to define the true purpose of a congress before designing booths, symposia, or materials
- Why congresses should be treated as part of a scientific communications continuum
- How to integrate digital and on-site engagement into one seamless congress experience
- How to use social listening and hybrid formats to extend impact beyond the show floor
Cut Through the Noise. Elevate Your Strategy.
Guiding Medical Affairs strategy across Medical Communications, Field Medical, or Medical Affairs Training? Wesley Portegies, host of Transforming Medical Communications, is opening up a few exclusive 30-minute consultancy sessions.
Guiding Medical Affairs strategy across Medical Communications, Field Medical, or Medical Affairs Training? Wesley Portegies, host of Transforming Medical Communications, is opening up a few exclusive 30-minute consultancy sessions.
This is a candid, insight-rich opportunity to step back from the day-to-day, pressure-test your approach, and explore fresh solutions to complex MedComms challenges—from scientific engagement to operational alignment.
If you’re shaping the future of Medical Affairs at your organization, this conversation is for you.
Reserve your session → Schedule now https://mce.global/consultancy
Previous guests include: Sissy Easo-Joseph at GSK, Barbara Bish at Janssen, Drew Provan at Queen Mary University, Rebecca McCracken at Agios Pharmaceuticals
Check out our three most downloaded episodes:
- The Human Side of Medical Communications: Building Trust
- From Research to Reach: How Sermo, Kudos, and Figshare Expand Your Audience
- Modernizing Your MedComms Approach
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Disclaimer: The opinions and views expressed by the guest are their own and do not represent any past or current employers.