Excellence In Pharma | Dr. Avideh Nazeri

Dr. Avideh Nazeri,

Experienced Pharmaceutical Physician

(Ex Country Medical Director, Novo Nordisk)

Dr Avideh Nazeri is a medical doctor whose career reflects a powerful blend of patient-centred care and global healthcare innovation. She began her journey working in hospitals, where she developed a deep understanding of the human side of medicine-trust, vulnerability, and compassion.

She later transitioned into the pharmaceutical industry, spending 20 years at Novo Nordisk, where she played a key role in advancing the management of chronic diseases. Her work has spanned clinical research, medical leadership, and the introduction of innovative healthcare solutions across different countries.

Most recently, she served as the UK Country Medical Director, leading diverse teams and contributing to the development and approval of treatments for both common and rare conditions. With a background that also includes work at King’s College London and a focus on metabolic conditions, therapeutics and cardio-renal outcomes, Dr Nazeri brings a unique perspective that bridges clinical care and large-scale impact.

How did you first enter the pharmaceutical or life sciences industry, and what initially drew you to this field?

Interestingly, this transition wasn't part of some carefully mapped-out plan. It came from a simple, personal ambition; I wanted to work internationally. As a clinician, that path felt complicated, with the need to requalify in different countries. So when the opportunity came to join a company focused on diabetes, closely aligned with my background in metabolic medicine, I took the leap. I never really looked back.

That one decision opened doors I couldn't have predicted. I ended up working across five countries and four continents, experiencing different healthcare systems, cultures, and ways of thinking. Along the way, I found that while systems differ, many of the core challenges in healthcare are surprisingly similar everywhere.  

Of course, not every decision was perfect. Whilst openness and mobility shaped my professional path, I also learned at times the hard way that career decisions do not always align seamlessly with personal life. Those moments weren't easy, but they taught me some of the most important lessons about balance, priorities, and what really matters.

Describe a decision or responsibility that strengthened your professional judgement. What was at stake, and how did you navigate it?

I spent the last ten years in the UK, working closely with the National Health Service. It was a privilege to get to work with a system that carries such scale, complexity, and purpose. What stayed with me most is this: the tougher the challenges, the more meaningful the work feels, even when progress isn’t always obvious from the outside.

Staying in one role for a longer stretch also changed my perspective on leadership. I got to see what happens when you invest in people over time, hiring them, supporting their growth, celebrating their successes, and standing by them through difficult moments. That continuity builds something deeper than just performance; it builds trust.

What are the principles or standards that guide your work?

In many ways, the principles that guided my industry career closely mirrored those from my clinical practice. I have always held my personal values as central to my professional life, striving to bring my full self to work. This, in turn, helped foster environments where others felt empowered to do the same.

Where do you consciously raise standards, even when it would be easier not to?

I believe in continuously raising the bar for myself and for those around me, actively seeking diverse perspectives, even when they challenge my own views. This mindset was especially tested during periods like COVID and the post-Brexit era, where many of the challenges we faced required first-of-their-kind approaches. It also shaped how I think about setting ambition: do we anchor it in past performance and work backwards, or do we dare to ask what feels almost impossible and then find a way to make it happen?

The pharmaceutical industry also gave me a broader lens on healthcare. I was exposed to areas I would never have encountered in clinical practice. Areas such as manufacturing, supply chains, reference pricing, global shortages or discontinuations, and the influence of social media on healthcare demand. Most importantly, I experienced firsthand how diverse teams can leverage their differences to achieve stronger outcomes.

There have been many moments that stand out. Working on medicines from inception, through clinical trials, to get to something that makes a difference in real people’s lives is incredibly powerful. However, not all defining moments are rooted in success. Clinical research is often accompanied by uncertainty, and not every trial delivers the hoped for outcomes. The disappointment of unmet expectations, particularly when it affects vulnerable patient populations, is profound. And then there are moments that test everyone, like a global pandemic. Experiences like that reshape how you think, how you lead, and how you make decisions. These moments, as much as the successes, shape one’s professional compass.

What complexity or pressure in your role is often underestimated, and how has it shaped the way you operate?

In leadership roles, particularly as a country Medical Director, you become very aware that responsibility ultimately sits with you. Many of the important decisions, often complex and imperfect, end up on your desk. Over time, I’ve learned to lean on science, data, and the expertise of those around me, as well as the wisdom of peers across the industry. Just as importantly, I’ve learned to accept that every decision carries consequences, and to stand by them.

What beliefs about success in pharma have evolved for you over time?

While success in Pharma is often measured by blockbuster medicines or competitiveness, I’ve seen the industry at its best when it comes together, building on each other's work to take on the hardest challenges and reimagine standards of care. 

If there’s one thing my journey has taught me, it’s that careers aren’t built on perfect plans. They’re shaped by choices, experiences, people, and values, and by being open to where those might take you.