Dr. Dhara Shah is a respected medical affairs leader with extensive experience in the pharmaceutical industry, currently serving as Head of Medical Affairs, Viatris India, where she drives the strategic scientific engagement and medical leadership that connect healthcare professionals, patients, and internal stakeholders to evidence-based healthcare solutions. In her role, she champions initiatives that heighten disease awareness, strengthen clinical communication, and support national health priorities—exemplified by her active involvement in Viatris’s contributions to public health campaigns such as the India Fights TB initiative, where she emphasized the importance of accurate information, early diagnosis, and treatment adherence to help combat tuberculosis and reduce stigma among patients and communities in India.

Dr. Shah’s professional journey reflects a broad and deep grounding in medical affairs across both multinational and regional contexts. Prior to her leadership at Viatris India (where she served as Head of Medical Affairs from 2022 through 2025), she held senior medical roles with global pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer, where she led medical strategy across South Asia and the Philippines, and Merck Group, where she advanced medical affairs efforts across India and Malaysia. Earlier in her career she contributed in scientific writing and medical services roles and also served in academia as Assistant Professor of Pharmacology, bringing a blend of clinical understanding, scientific depth, and strategic perspective to her work.

At Viatris, Dr. Shah is recognized for her commitment to elevating the role of medical affairs in shaping patient-centric healthcare outcomes, leveraging real-world evidence, engaging with key opinion leaders, and fostering collaboration across therapeutic areas to ensure that scientific insights inform access to quality care. She has been featured as a speaker and panelist at key industry forums, where she highlights the shift toward empowered patients and the evolving role of medical affairs in supporting informed decision-making and ethical healthcare engagement.

Dr. Shah’s leadership is defined by a synthesis of scientific expertise, strategic vision, and a deep belief in the power of credible medical communication to improve health outcomes—reinforcing Viatris’s mission to empower people to live healthier lives at every stage.