Medical Affairs is one of the three strategic pillars of the pharmaceutical and MedTech industries, but while clear career paths exist for Commercial and Research and Development, there is no formal training structure for Medical Affairs professionals. Medical and scientific expertise is a prerequisite for entry into the function, and many people transitioning into Medical Affairs have advanced degrees such as PhD, MD, or PharmD. However, these clinical/scientific experts may not be especially well-versed in aspects of industry such as the drug development lifecycle, crossfunctional collaborations within industry, and digital tools that are transforming the ways Medical Affairs generates and disseminates knowledge. This primer for aspiring and early-career Medical Affairs professionals equips readers with the baseline skills and understanding to excel across roles.