The Science of Saving Millions | Mikael Dolsten, Fmr. CSO of Pfizer

About this episode

Mikael Dolsten discusses his journey from physician to corporate leader and his role in developing COVID-19 therapies at Pfizer.

In this episode, we meet with Mikael Dolston, former Chief Scientific Officer of Pfizer and board member of Novo Nordisk. Born in Sweden and trained as both a physician and scientist at Lund University, Mikael’s childhood curiosity blossomed into a lifelong quest to “decode the language of life.” From early days mentoring medical students to answering the call of industry giants like AstraZeneca and Wyeth, his journey is proof that scientific passion can open unexpected doors on the global stage. Dr. Dolsten opens up about his transition from the hospital ward to the corporate boardroom, the emotional fuel driving his work with cancer patients, and the exhilarating pressure of shepherding not just treatments but entire teams through the world’s biggest health crisis. In this interview, he shares what it was like guiding the development of life-saving COVID-19 therapies at Pfizer, and why authentic leadership, knowledge sharing, and a dash of joy—yes, even in the form of Swedish “happy socks”—are essential to transforming medicine. Dr. Dolsten doesn’t just recount the highlights of his career; he offers a masterclass in perseverance, humility, and in turning scientific discovery…

People in this episode

Guest: Mikael Dolsten

Topics covered

• healthcare
• leadership
• scientific discovery
• COVID-19
• cancer treatment
• pharmaceutical industry

Keywords

• Mikael Dolsten
• Pfizer
• COVID-19
• cancer
• leadership
• scientific discovery
• healthcare

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Pfizer, Novo Nordisk, AstraZeneca, Wyeth

Places: Sweden, Lund University

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