IPhO News

As you prepare for the fellowship application and interviewing process in today's competitive market, your first impression will not be a handshake, but most likely a scheduled call or a login link. Companies are increasingly using phone screens to vet candidates!

Think of the phone screen as the rapid-fire checkpoint. It’s typically short—often 15 minutes—and is usually conducted by a current industry fellow. The primary goal for the company is efficient, high-volume screening.

Congratulations to student pharmacists at the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, the newest addition to our growing student chapter network. IPhO now connects them to a national network of 100+ chapters and thousands of industry-minded student pharmacists with similar interests, as well as a national network of hundreds of industry fellows and thousands of industry pharmacists.

To start a chapter at your school, contact us here.

For the student benefits of joining IPhO, view the National Student Brochure here!

During the Saturday session of this year’s IPhO Annual Meeting (IAM), we were proud to recognize the top five IPhO student chapters nationwide for their outstanding dedication and impact. These chapters stood out across these major scoring categories of our Recognition of Chapter Annual Program (ReCAP): membership recruitment, social media engagement, professional development, VIP Case Competition participation, fundraising, and community service.

This year’s top performing chapters are:

• Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Pharmacy (First Place)

• Rutgers University Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy (Second Place)

• Temple University School of Pharmacy (Third Place)

• University of Maryland School of Pharmacy (Fourth Place)

• Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and Saint Joseph’s University Philadelphia College of Pharmacy (Tied for Fifth Place)

Ridhi Sharma, PharmD
Gilead Sciences
Global Medical Strategic Operations, Medical Information

What was your motivation to pursue the pharmaceutical industry as a career path?

My motivation to pursue a career in the pharmaceutical industry stems from a desire to drive transformative healthcare innovations that directly advance global health equity, inspired by my experiences volunteering in clinical settings and witnessing the impact of access to life-saving medications. I am passionate about combining my clinical expertise as a pharmacist with the opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking therapies and strategic initiatives that improve patient outcomes on a global scale. The dynamic, collaborative environment and focus on scientific innovation within the industry align perfectly with my commitment to making a meaningful difference in patient care and public health.

Talk about diversity, equity, and inclusion in the pharmaceutical industry; what should companies be doing to continue making progress?

Pharmaceutical companies should drive meaningful progress in diversity, equity, and inclusion by embedding DEI accountability into leadership, setting measurable goals for diverse representation at every level, and fostering inclusive company cultures where all employees and patients feel valued. To advance health equity, companies must prioritize inclusive clinical trial recruitment, partner with communities, and transparently report outcomes to ensure treatments work safely across populations. Sustained commitment—from flexible hiring and ongoing education to innovation in outreach and unbiased advancement opportunities—will empower the industry to better serve global health needs and unlock greater innovation.

Yuxi Lei, PharmD
Global Commercial Fellow
Novocure/IPhO

What was your motivation to pursue the pharmaceutical industry as a career path?

My motivation to pursue a career in the pharmaceutical industry came from wanting to combine my pharmacy training with opportunities to improve patient outcomes on a broader scale. I was drawn to the idea of shaping strategy, education, and access in ways that influence healthcare beyond the individual level.

Talk about diversity, equity, and inclusion in the pharmaceutical industry; what should companies be doing to continue making progress?

Companies should continue embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion into recruitment, leadership development, and clinical trial design. It’s also important to create fair growth opportunities and foster an environment where different perspectives are not only represented but also actively valued in decision-making.

Samia Baig, PharmD, MPH
Senior Data Scientist
Johnson and Johnson Innovative Medicine
LinkedIn Profile

I’m a Senior Data Scientist (Data Engineer) in an R&D Data Science and Digital Health team, where I implement pipelines to extract data from various sources to develop data solutions for clinical trial teams and ML/AI use-cases. My role blends subject matter expertise from my pharmacy and public health background and technical skills in data science and software development that I have gained over the years through prior roles in hospital pharmacy, public health and academia.

We're diving into a fundamental skill that underpins success in any field but is particularly crucial when navigating the dynamic and highly competitive landscape of the pharmaceutical industry: goal setting and achievement.

Whether you're a recent graduate eyeing your first role in the pharmaceutical industry or an experienced pharmacist considering a transition into this health care segment, having a clear roadmap and the strategies to reach your destination is paramount.

The pharmaceutical industry thrives on innovation, precision, and a long-term vision. Your career pursuit should mirror these principles. Simply having a vague aspiration to enter industry isn't enough. You need to move beyond generalities and cultivate specific goals that can be monitored, measured, and achievable within a reasonable timeframe. For example, your goal may be to secure a fellowship in medical affairs (MA) this coming fall application cycle.

The 2025 Industry Pharmacists Organization (IPhO) National Fellows Council (NFC) Kick-Off Meeting was hosted in July, in person at the UCB campus in Atlanta, GA. The event brought together fellows, preceptors, directors, and members of the IPhO leadership team to network, exchange insights on the pharmaceutical industry, and emphasize the vital contributions pharmacists make within the field.

This year, 25 attendees joined us in person, while another 10 tuned in virtually!

The meeting featured networking sessions, educational seminars, and professional development panels. The day opened with welcoming remarks from Nicole Thompson, Vice President of the IPhO Fellows Community. Nicole provided an overview of IPhO, highlighting its impact on students, fellows, and industry professionals.

To student pharmacists navigating your path, let's dive into a crucial conversation about the future of pharmacy. A recent article in Drug Topics (1), brings to light a vital topic: how pharmacy education must evolve to genuinely prepare you for the realities of the modern workforce, particularly concerning the pervasive issue of pharmacist burnout.

This article highlights a Pennsylvania survey (2) where most pharmacy students observed significant burnout across various practice settings, with community chain pharmacies frequently cited. This observation profoundly influenced their career choices, leading many to prioritize roles that promise better work-life balance and flexibility. It's a clear indication that the next generation is acutely attuned to the pressures within the field, and rightly so.

For many aspiring pharmaceutical industry fellows, the application process can feel like a high-stakes puzzle; CVs are polished, research projects highlighted, and industry rotations and/or internships, if available, are meticulously detailed. Yet, one critical piece often goes underemphasized: a student pharmacist’s direct patient care experience. While it might seem counterintuitive for a role focused on drug development, medical affairs, regulatory affairs, and other common industry fellowships, patient care is the foundation of expertise that sets industry pharmacists apart from other non-pharmacy professionals.

Believe it or not, this year's Annual Meeting is less than two months away, on September 4-7, 2025! We're giving registration away for free to five contest winners!

The rules are simple:

• Follow IPhO on Instagram (@industrypharmacistorg).
• View our feed and locate the "IPhO Annual Meeting 2025" Giveaway post (to be made at 10:00 AM ET on Tuesday, July 22, 2025).
• Like the post.
• Unscramble the three words and comment on the post with your answers!
• Share the post to your story and tag IPhO (@industrypharmacistorg), along with three friends who might benefit from entering the contest.
• Five winners who follow the steps above will be selected at random and tagged in an announcement post on Tuesday, July 29.
• Winners will receive a complimentary code to register for the meeting on the IPhO website. Registration must be completed by August 31 at midnight.
• Terms and conditions apply. Please see below.
• Deadline to like, comment, and share is Sunday, July 27, at midnight ET. Good luck!

Sissy Owusu-Addo, PharmD
Manager–Americas Regional Regulatory Scientist
ImBu

What was your motivation to pursue the pharmaceutical industry as a career path?

I have always been interested in working in the pharmaceutical industry since undergrad. I enjoyed learning how medications were created and wanted to be in a career that would serve patients on a broader scale. I loved the various roles that came with industry and how they blended well together.

It's summertime—or as I like to call it “Fellowship Preparation Pre-season”—which means a busy time of the year for our IPhO coaches, as proactive industry-interested students begin the process of identifying and selecting their functional priorities and continuing to develop and complete their CVs and cover letters in preparation for submitting fellowship applications in the late summer and early fall. Year after year, the competition for these coveted positions keeps increasing.

Back in the fall of 2023, in the Coach's Corner, I described how challenging it can be for students to select an Industry Career Coach, now that there are more choices than ever. When I created the IPhO Coaching Service in 2013, not only were we surprised how popular it had become, but we also never expected the current quantity of options.

Namareq Musa, PharmD
US Medical Information/Publications Fellow
Pfizer / Howard University

When I first started my fellowship journey, I knew I had to do more than just apply—I had to truly understand what I was getting into. I wanted to learn everything I could, not just about the functional areas, but also about the therapeutic space and the role of a fellow within these pharmaceutical companies.

So, I started reaching out to current fellows, former preceptors, classmates, and anyone willing to share their experiences. There were moments when the process felt overwhelming. I found myself constantly refreshing my inbox, second-guessing whether I had prepared enough, and wondering how I’d ever manage to stand out in such a competitive field. But looking back, fellowship season turned out to be one of the most fulfilling times in my professional life.

Early bird pricing for the 2025 IPhO Annual Meeting (IAM) ends TONIGHT (Monday, June 30) at midnight! If you've been waiting to register, your time is almost up.

Now is your last chance to sign up and save. We will not offer pricing lower than it is today!

REGISTER HERE

To help spread the word about your attendance and encourage your peers to join you, we've created social media graphics and suggested captions you can feel free to use on your Instagram and LinkedIn accounts.

DOWNLOAD THEM HERE

There are separate graphics for P4 and P1-P3 students, and also a cover image for P4s to use on LinkedIn for an extra boost to let prospective employers and meeting sponsors know they're attending. Be sure to tag IPhO if you post so we can like and share your notes!

Shelby Matthews, PharmD, RPh
UCB/IPhO Medical Affairs - Immunology Fellow
Alma Mater: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM)

Meet Shelby, a current UCB/IPhO Medical Affairs - Immunology Fellow and a member of our National Fellows Council Publications Committee!

What fellowship project are you most proud of so far?

Creating medical leave behind resources

What is the most exciting place you've traveled?

Alaska

What is your favorite hobby?

Yoga

Finish this sentence: The greatest movie of all time is...

The Pursuit of Happyness

Congratulations to student pharmacists at Washington State University, the newest addition to our growing student chapter network. IPhO now connects them to a national network of 100+ chapters and thousands of industry-minded student pharmacists with similar interests, as well as a national network of hundreds of industry fellows and thousands of industry pharmacists.

To start a chapter at your school, contact us here.

For the student benefits of joining IPhO, view the National Student Brochure here!

Congratulations to student pharmacists at Roosevelt University, the newest addition to our growing student chapter network. IPhO now connects them to a national network of 100+ chapters and thousands of industry-minded student pharmacists with similar interests, as well as a national network of hundreds of industry fellows and thousands of industry pharmacists.

To start a chapter at your school, contact us here.

For the student benefits of joining IPhO, view the National Student Brochure here!

Megan Griffin, PharmD
Regulatory Scientist
UCB

What was your motivation to pursue the pharmaceutical industry as a career path?

As a pharmacy student, I became interested in the pharmaceutical industry after attending IPhO meetings, where I heard regulatory affairs professionals speak with enthusiasm about their roles. Their passion for the dynamic nature of FDA meetings and the complexity of regulatory decision-making sparked my curiosity. I realized that regulatory affairs would allow me to achieve my core goal: increasing patient access to innovative therapies. By helping ensure that safe and effective products reach the market efficiently, I could make a meaningful impact on public health.

IPhO is pleased to introduce the newest member of its leadership team! Juliette Muszka, PharmD, RPh, joins as the Vice President of Student Leadership Development. Dr. Muszka may be a familiar face to some, who know her as their IPhO Career Coach!

She is a passionate industry pharmacy leader with over 30 years of experience optimizing value across Global Research & Development, Commercial and Medical Affairs functions. Earlier in her career, Dr. Muszka worked in clinical and academic pharmacy practice settings with a focus on acute patient care and formulary management.