Title: Medical Science Liaison
Company: Genentech
Location: Gaithersburg, MD United States

For the past 12 years, Maria Filipa de Carvalho has been a medical science liaison at Genentech, a position that she believes has brought her past experiences together. She previously served as an oncology nurse for many years, in addition to holding leadership positions within the National Cancer Institute and the FDA. Ms. Carvalho has also worked with a vast number of physicians and other health care professionals, as well as working with reviewers at the NCI, and observing how clinical trials affect both practitioners and patients.

Cancer and oncology are subjects that are very close to Ms. Carvalho’s heart. Her mother and siblings all died of cancer, so when she works with cancer patients, she ensures that they are receiving the best care possible so that they can live the longest life possible. She considers the appreciation she has for her patients to be one of her greatest strengths. Additionally, she is also very collaborative with her colleagues, and would love to see the oncology research field adopt this way of working together, instead of separately.

Ms. Carvalho’s vast experience with oncology has afforded her many learning experiences and observations, and although she is very happy in her current position, she hopes that she will be able to do more work in developing countries.  In fact, the greatest accomplishment of her career so far has been bringing oncology science and education to a hospital in Amman, Jordan, where she was able to develop a nursing education program for the staff over the course of six months.

Ms. Carvalho has dedicated her life to helping others, and wants to be remembered as someone who was constantly trying to improve the lives of others and do good things. Her dedication to her career has not been overlooked, as she is a member of the Sigma Theta Tau nursing honor society. When she is not working, she can be found volunteering at her local church, traveling and cooking.

Contact Maria Filipa de Carvalho: