RAPS Convergence 2025 Welcome & Opening Plenary: A Love Letter to Science: Rebuilding Trust Through Transparency and Empathy

Tuesday, October 7, 2025

4:30 PM - 6:00 PM EST

Location/Room: Spirit of Pittsburgh Ballroom, Level 3

Moderator / Speaker(s)

Megha Iyer, MSc, MS, RAC, FRAPS

Director, Global Strategic Regulatory Affairs
Thermo Fisher Scientific, United Kingdom

Speaker(s)

Chris J. Whalley

Sr Director, Global Regulatory Intelligence & Analysis
Pfizer
Bill McMoil, MBA

RAPS Executive Director
Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society (RAPS)

Sponsor Speaker(s)

Sonia Veluchamy

CEO and Founder
Celegence

Speaker(s)

Jethro E. Ekuta, DVM, PhD, EMBA, RAC, FRAPS

Chief Regulatory & Safety Officer
Ascendis Pharma, Inc.

Panelist(s)

Prerna Mewawalla, MD

Associate Professor
Drexel University
Michael Morton

Sr. Policy Advisor
Medical Alley
Daniel Salmon, PhD, MPH

Director, Institute for Vaccine Safety
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

In an age where scientific advancement moves faster than public trust, how can regulatory professionals and scientists bridge the growing divide? This plenary invites a heartfelt and honest conversation about the role of science in society—not just as a tool for innovation, but as a shared human endeavor. Through the lens of regulatory decision-making in drug and device approval, we’ll explore how to communicate the value of data, the rigor of the scientific process, and the ethical responsibility of transparency. Join us as we reflect on how to write a “love letter” to science that resonates with those who feel left behind or skeptical, and how to foster a culture of trust, humility, and inclusion in regulatory affairs.