Call for Proposals FAQ

Call for Proposals will be open through August 15th. Start your submission here.

Which regional MAPS meeting will this Call for Proposals include?

MAPS is inviting proposals for our Americas and EMEA Annual Meetings. The MAPS 2026 Americas Annual Meeting will take place in Denver, Colorado, March 22-25, 2026. The MAPS 2026 EMEA Annual Meeting will be held in May 2026. Location to be announced soon.

Who is the audience attending these Annual Meetings?

The audience for the MAPS Medical Affairs meetings generally consists of a diverse group of professionals within the field of Medical Affairs. This includes individuals in executive roles, those who are new to Medical Affairs, and those working in various sub-functions. These professionals come together to exchange knowledge, share experiences, and advance the field of Medical Affairs. In addition to Medical Affairs professionals, the Annual Meetings are also attended by solution providers, consultants, and advisors who seek to elevate the field. They provide industry professionals with cutting-edge innovations, expertise, and insights.

Is there a limit to the number of submissions per person and per company?

Each individual can submit one (1) proposal per meeting and each company may submit up to two (2) per company per meeting.

What specific guidance do I need to know prior to starting the Call for Proposals?

Please review all specific guidance and instructions below carefully. Proposals that are incomplete or do not meet the criteria provided will not be considered for review. All proposals must be submitted online through the MAPS platform. The deadline for submissions is Friday, August 15, 2025.

Proposals must include a designated submitter who will receive all notifications. The submitter can also serve as a faculty member.
All proposals must comply with the MAPS Non-Promotional Policy and the Conflict of Interest Policy.
Proposals must include a majority of faculty from pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, or other healthcare companies. We strongly encourage diverse perspectives and organizations within the sessions. MAPS will not accept proposals that do not have confirmed faculty.
Each faculty member is limited to speaking at one unique concurrent session in order to open opportunities to others and broaden the perspectives.
All faculty will receive a significantly reduced registration price.

Should the proposed content align with the competencies developed by MAPS?

MAPS would like content to be aligned to Domain and subsequent competencies. The MAPS Professional Development Committee (PDC) has refreshed the Domain descriptions from the MAPS Competency Framework and Domain Definitions. Generally, we will accept four to six sessions per domain for the Americas meeting and two to four sessions per domain for the EMEA Annual Meeting.

What information can you provide on each specific domain to better understand the audience?

The Strategy Domain focuses on the vision, value and impact of Medical Affairs. These competencies align the core capabilities of creating robust medical strategic and launch plans, identifying actionable insights and executing with operational excellence.
The Scientific and Technical Knowledge Domain describes technical and quality aspects of the drug development process, while detailing the application of various aspects of drug development within the practice of Medical Affairs.
The Business Knowledge Domain provides a solid grounding in business fundamentals to help Medical Affairs professionals vision the function within the wider context of the biopharmaceutical and MedTech industries, while powering the growth of cross-functional careers.
The Evidence Generation Domain describes the strategy and execution of activities meant to generate new knowledge about products and populations.
The Customer Engagement and Scientific Communication Domain enables Medical Affairs professionals to?maximize communication and engagement with healthcare professionals, payors, and patients/careers as well as internal partners.
The Leadership & Management Domain guides the development of current and next-generation Medical Affairs leaders, detailing not only the skills required by individual leaders, but also the context of leadership within and beyond the Medical Affairs function.
The Medical Governance and Compliance Domain focuses on the interpretation and application of regulations and industry codes of practice, coupled with ethical and risk mitigation considerations and relevant control frameworks, enabling the pursuit of patient-centric business opportunities in a rapidly evolving external environment.

What kind of concurrent session types are included for 2026?

The 2026 Annual Meetings will have two types of Concurrent Sessions.

Workshops:

Workshops at MAPS Annual Meetings provide a uniquely engaging and impactful learning experience, designed to encourage deep exploration of key topics in Medical Affairs. These sessions go beyond traditional presentations, offering a highly interactive and dynamic environment where participants can share best practices, exchange insights, and collaboratively tackle real-world challenges. Case examples and real-life examples are critical to have included. Combining structured instruction with peer-driven exercises, the workshops emphasize interactivity to maximize learning and engagement. By fostering open dialogue and active participation, these workshops help attendees strengthen their skills, build cross-industry connections, and apply their knowledge to make strategic decisions that can be implemented immediately.

Faculty: Two to three expert faculty members are required. Sessions with two (2) faculty must have at least one faculty currently employed in Pharma, Biotech, or MedTech companies; sessions with three faculty must have at least two from industry.

Expected Attendees Per Session: 150-200

Length of the Workshop: 90 minutes (15 minutes didactic; 45-minute interactivity; 15-30 minute wrap up/Q&A).

**Debate Sessions: (NEW for 2026!):**

Debate Sessions are NEW for 2026; it is a dynamic, high-energy discussion designed to ignite passionate peer-to-peer discussions and challenge conventional thinking. this format encourages open dialogue, critical questioning, and a deep dive into real-world challenges, paving the way for authentic and sometimes provocative viewpoints. By showcasing contrasting perspectives on pressing issues that have no consensus yet within the Medical Affairs community; an example could be the role of Medical Affairs pre-approval, these debates captivate audiences and cultivate a culture of shared learning. Ultimately, the goal is to empower attendees to break free from established boundaries and depart with actionable insights that elevate their thinking and propel their organizations forward.

Faculty: Two expert faculty, one currently employed in industry, with opposing views on a topic and one moderator with executive experience, past or present, from pharmaceutical, Biotech or MedTech industries.

Expected Attendees Per Session: 150-200

Length of Debate: 90 Minutes (15 minutes didactic; 45-minute debate that includes slides for opposing sides; 30-minute audience participation, e.g. through Slido).

Do you recommend any helpful resources when compiling the Call for Proposals?

Here is a curated list of invaluable resources endorsed by MAPS to effectively guide you in crafting a compelling proposal for our Annual Meetings. Leveraging these resources will enhance your chances of creating a standout submission that truly resonates.

How are the submitted proposals reviewed and selected?

MAPS staff will review the received proposals for completion and adherence to requirements. Subsequently, the Domain Leads will receive the proposals within their Domains to review for the quality of the proposal, alignment with MAPS needs or gaps, a well- developed concept or agenda, confirmation of experienced faculty (with a majority from the industry), and key learner outcomes. The PDC will make the ultimate decision based on various criteria, including the fit and balance of coverage in the Competency Framework and venue logistics.

If proposals are accepted, will presenters be offered discounted registrations?

Yes, once proposals have been accepted, speakers and facilitators are able to register for the full meeting at a significantly reduced registration cost. Speaker registration does not include access to the MasterClasses at Annual Meetings. No complimentary registrations will be offered for speakers or facilitators of concurrent sessions. MAPS does not allow any additional discount codes to be used on speaker registration.

Does MAPS offer any financial support for concurrent sessions?

Unfortunately, Concurrent Sessions at Annual Meetings do not have budget available for travel, accommodations, honoraria, printing, or other support.

Are there engagement opportunities with the MAPS team to ask specific questions?

Every other Friday, when the Call for Proposals is open, MAPS will host a Teams Meeting Q&A from 8:00 to 8:30 AM ET. During this call, we will provide updates on the process and allow organizations to ask specific questions related to it.

What if I need direct help with a specific questions?

For any General Questions please click here.

For direct assistance, please email education@medicalaffairs.org. One of our event coordinators will respond within 24 hours during regular business hours.

We greatly appreciate your interest in submitting a proposal to the MAPS Annual Meetings and look forward to your valuable contributions.