Meet the Expert: Belinda Yap

What is the best part of your job? What do you find fascinating about it?

My work gives me the opportunity to play a part in bringing therapies to patients, which is incredibly rewarding. Even though much of it happens behind the scenes, it has a tangible impact by helping ensure meaningful new treatments are recognized, accessible, and able to reach the patients who need them.

I’m also energized by the cross-functional nature of the field. It sits at the intersection of science, analytics, market access, medical strategy, and policy, so I get to collaborate with talented colleagues across disciplines to solve complex problems. Just as exciting is the pace of innovation — data, methods, and technologies are constantly evolving, opening new ways to answer important questions in more robust and patient-centered ways.

What is your superpower? What is your expertise in the pharmaceutical field?

My superpower is turning ambiguity into clear, actionable insight. In my field, where data can be incomplete and stakeholder needs are constantly evolving, I bring structure to complex questions, identify what matters most, and help teams move forward in a thoughtful, strategic way.

I balance big-picture thinking with strong attention to detail, keeping broader business, clinical, and evidence-generation goals in focus while ensuring technical rigor and solid execution.

I also work hard to understand different stakeholder perspectives and tailor how I communicate so it resonates with them. Whether partnering with medical, market access, clinical, or commercial partners, I focus on what matters most to each audience and connect the evidence or recommendation to their priorities.

How do you foster a positive work environment within your team?

Creating a positive work environment starts with trust, transparency, and open communication. I try to make sure my team feels informed about the context behind decisions, aware of the challenges we’re working through, and connected to the bigger picture of how their work supports our organizational goals.

I also care deeply about supporting each person’s growth and development. I make it a point to understand what my team members are working toward in their careers and to help create opportunities that align with those goals whenever possible. For me, building a strong team means not only supporting the work that needs to get done, but also helping people feel valued, encouraged, and inspired along the way.

How do you stay ahead of industry trends and collaborate with external partners?

I make it a priority to keep learning by regularly attending leading industry conferences, where I stay current on emerging methodologies, data innovations, and evolving evidence standards shaping HEOR and RWE. Serving as a board member of the Canadian Association for Population Therapeutics (CAPT) further strengthens this perspective by keeping me connected to key priorities, future trends, and peers shaping the field.

Speaking engagements and external collaborations add another valuable dimension by giving me opportunities to exchange ideas and challenge assumptions. At the same time, some of my most meaningful insights come from outside formal settings altogether — through ongoing conversations with clients and industry experts. These discussions keep me grounded in the real challenges stakeholders face and ensure my work stays practical, relevant, and responsive to their needs.

What do you do when you are not working?

When I’m not working, I’m usually planning my next adventure or deciding where to eat next. I love traveling, especially when it means seeing incredible wildlife — from hippos in Botswana to giant tortoises in the Galápagos. Closer to home, I love checking out new eats around Toronto with friends, and I like balancing that out with hiking, boxing and the occasional dance workouts. I’m happiest when I’m exploring, staying active, and collecting great food and travel stories along the way.

Belinda brings a wealth of expertise in evidence generation, outcomes research, and complex modelling to her current role. She leads a team of HEOR specialists in addressing the most critical reimbursement challenges confronting new therapies today. Belinda’s successful record in leading numerous highly challenging files is a testament to her ability to create innovative HEOR and RWE solutions while providing strategic and technical leadership across RWE initiatives and HTA submissions.

Belinda obtained her MPH in Healthcare Management (Columbia University), her Ph.D. in Health Sciences and Technology (Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts Institute of Technology), and completed her post-doctoral training at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital (Boston). Prior to her role at Innomar, Belinda worked at the Programs for Assessment of Technology in Health (PATH), McMaster University. At PATH, she designed and managed large multi-center clinical studies and applied specialized knowledge and scientific principles in support of a variety of health technology assessment (HTA) projects for both public and private sectors, including reimbursement of new drugs in Canada. She also has extensive experience developing and maintaining relationships with Canadian Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs).

 The information provided in this piece does not constitute legal or medical advice. Innomar Strategies Inc. and its parent Cencora, Inc. strongly encourage the audience to review available information related to the topics discussed to rely on their own experience and expertise in making decisions related thereto. Further, the contents of this piece are owned by Innomar Strategies, and reproduction is not permitted without the consent of Innomar Strategies.