Industry Pharmacist Success Stories
James Rawls
Boston Biodevelopment
Senior Vice President, Head of Regulatory Affairs
IPhO Advisor
https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-rawls-20bb727/
What was your motivation to pursue the pharmaceutical industry as a career path?
To pursue a career that would be limited only by my own aspirations.
Fellow Feature
Shaliyah A. Sledge, PharmD
Abbott Diabetes Care/Northeastern University Global Medical Affairs Fellow
Alma Mater: Howard University
Meet Shaliyah, an Abbott Diabetes Care/Northeastern University Global Medical Affairs Fellow.
What fellowship project are you most proud of so far?
Facilitated medical resources
What is the most exciting place you've traveled?
India
What is your favorite hobby?
Workout classes
Finish this sentence: The greatest movie of all time is...
Finding Nemo “just keep swimming”
Fellow Feature
Naz Chand, PharmD
Avenacy
Regional Business Manager-Midwest
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nazchand/
What was your motivation to pursue the pharmaceutical industry as a career path?
I’m drawn to the pharmaceutical industry because it offers a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact on global health while constantly growing through new research, technologies, and innovations. I’m excited by the chance to work upstream in the provider-patient relationship, helping shape treatments and healthcare solutions that directly improve patient outcomes. The ability to contribute to life-saving advancements while continuing to learn and evolve professionally makes this career path incredibly fulfilling. Ultimately, I want to be part of a field where I can make a lasting difference in both science and healthcare.
Fellow Feature
Veedhi Shah, PharmD, RPh
Biogen/MCPHS Regulatory Strategy Fellow
Alma Mater: Midwestern University College of Pharmacy
Meet Veedhi, a Biogen/MCPHS Regulatory Strategy Fellow and a member of our Fellowship Central National Fellows Council Committee.
What fellowship project are you most proud of so far?
Regulatory Strategy Leadership
What is the most exciting place you've traveled?
Banff
What is your favorite hobby?
Singing
Finish this sentence: The greatest movie of all time is...
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Fellow Feature
Paige Madariaga, PharmD
IPhO/UroGen Medical Affairs Fellow
Alma Mater: University of Florida
Meet Paige, an IPhO/UroGen Medical Affairs Fellow and a member of our Professional Programming National Fellows Council Committee.
What fellowship project are you most proud of so far?
A Data Gap Analysis
What is the most exciting place you've traveled?
Milan, Italy
What is your favorite hobby?
Fantasy Football
Finish this sentence: The greatest movie of all time is...
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Fellow Feature
Joelle Odigie, PharmD
UCB
Global Medical Affairs Fellow
https://www.linkedin.com/in/joelleodigie/
What was your motivation to pursue the pharmaceutical industry as a career path?
When I worked as a marketing specialist for a Customer Relationship Management company, I had the opportunity to collaborate with medical affairs organizations, which inspired me to pursue a career where I could make a tangible impact on patient outcomes. This experience ignited my passion for combining strategic thinking with science to have meaningful change in the pharmaceutical industry.
IPhO News
IPhO Executive Director and Founder, Jim Alexander, may have been the only one in the group sporting a Nebraska jacket, but he was still welcomed with open arms by team USC!
Fellowship program leaders, Bill Gong and Michael Lim, spent a sunny afternoon cheering for the USC football team along with Jim and their current fellows. Another fun reunion to celebrate at IPhO!
Fellow Feature
Srayant Gayam, PharmD
Fellow
PumasAI
I am a Class of 2023 graduate from Rutgers University. My story is rather unusual. Going into pharmacy school, I wanted to be like my father, a pharmacist proudly serving his community over the past 20 years. However, I kept an open mind to other perspectives. My journey started in 2018 after networking with Dalton Fabian, who had a unique blend of data science framed within a pharmacy background.
After our discussion, I had an inclination that data science/AI would be the next big break and wanted to get my hands on it to increase my professional skillset and leverage the demand. I grew a liking to data science but was not sure how to incorporate it with my clinical knowledge and strived to find an answer to this question over time. Shortly after starting pharmacy school and hearing IPhO discuss nontraditional ways pharmacists can use their clinical knowledge; this fueled my curiosity to explore an industry career further.
Fellow Feature
Maria Reji, PharmD
IPhO/UCB Medical Safety and Pharmacovigilance Fellow
Alma Mater: Midwestern University College of Pharmacy Downers Grove Campus
Meet Maria, an IPhO/UCB Medical Safety and Pharmacovigilance Fellow and a member of our Diversity & Representation National Fellows Council Committee.
What fellowship project are you most proud of so far?
Trend Analysis of the Signal Detection System. This project involved analyzing data trends within our signal detection processes. It was particularly meaningful to me because it provided valuable insights that could be applied to future projects. Working on this project was an invaluable learning experience that underscored the critical role of thorough data analysis.
What is the most exciting place you've traveled?
San Francisco, CA
What is your favorite hobby?
Hiking
Finish this sentence: The greatest movie of all time is...
Home Alone
Industry Pharmacist Success Stories
Julian Garcia, PharmD
Amgen
Medical Science Liaison (New England, NYC, and Long Island)
https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliangarcia1218/
What was your motivation to pursue the pharmaceutical industry as a career path?
From my awareness of the industry, I knew that becoming a medical science liaison would be the ideal role for me as it is the perfect blend of communication, science, and relationship building. As an MSL, I have the opportunity to share complex scientific information in different ways to various audiences. I have always found that my strengths lie in emotional intelligence and the ability to build strong relationships, both of which are key to succeeding in this role.
IPhO News
An unforgettable milestone like a 50th podcast episode calls for an unforgettable guest—and once again, our team delivered! We are honored to welcome David Epstein, seasoned pharmaceutical executive, innovator, and trailblazer, to the show!
LISTEN TO EPISODE 50 NOW!
Throughout his transformative career, David has led teams to develop and launch over 30 new medications worldwide. Currently, he serves as Chairman of the Board at Agomab, where he continues to drive strategic initiatives and support groundbreaking advancements in the field. Previously, he led Seagen through a period of marked growth and success as Chief Executive Officer—culminating in its merger with Pfizer.
If there's anyone who knows what it takes to rise through the ranks, push boundaries, motivate and inspire others, and enjoy a truly life-changing career, it's David. And you can learn from him by tuning in!
IPhO News
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It feels like just yesterday that we were celebrating our big 10th anniversary, but today IPhO turns 12!
It has been an honor supporting thousands of students and PharmDs on their path to industry for the past 12 years. Cheers to many more together!
Take a look at how far we've come and who we've met along the way!
Fellow Feature
Ifreke King, PharmD
IPhO/Becton Dickinson Marketing Fellow
Alma Mater: PCOM Georgia
Meet Ifreke, an IPhO/Becton Dickinson Marketing Fellow and a member of our Marketing and Social Media National Fellows Council Committee.
What fellowship project are you most proud of so far?
Leading the website development for all Home Care products within my business unit.
What is the most exciting place you've traveled?
Ghana
What is your favorite hobby?
Cooking and any form of physical activity.
Finish this sentence: The greatest movie of all time is...
The Lion King
Fellowship Central
Professional Development
We are pleased to share a new resource for 2024-2025: APPE Options in Industry, Clinical Trials, or Federal
Download this free document to help navigate deadlines and important details for the many APPE options available to you as an industry-minded pharmacy student.
IPhO would like to thank Jill Hernandez, PharmD, MHA and Jordan Skiera, PharmDc 2025 (Samford University) for their hard work preparing this valuable resource!
Industry Pharmacist Success Stories
Tatiana Hines, PharmD
Sobi
Senior Manager, Regulatory Advertising & Promotion
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tatiana-hines
What was your motivation to pursue the pharmaceutical industry as a career path?
I was inspired to pursue a career in the pharmaceutical industry by my grandmother, who was one of very few Black women to work at Merck during her time. She dedicated her entire career to the company, always expressing how proud she was to be part of an effort that saved lives. This deep-rooted passion for caring for others through science has stayed with me throughout my life. When I discovered the vast array of career opportunities in pharma that align perfectly with my personality and strengths, I knew it was the ideal field where I could truly thrive.
Fellowship Central
Fellow Feature
Mackenzie Quirk, PharmD, MS, RPh
Curia Global/ACPHS/FDA OPMA Clinical Development Fellow
Alma Mater: Albany College of Pharmacy (ACPHS)
Meet Mackenzie, a Curia Global/ACPHS/FDA OPMA Pre-Clinical/Clinical Development Fellow and one of the current leads of our VIP Case Competition National Fellows Council Committee.
What fellowship project are you most proud of so far?
The development of MIC assay for a client that had no previous FDA precedent.
What is the most exciting place you've traveled?
Monterey, CA
What is your favorite hobby?
I love to exercise!
Finish this sentence: The greatest movie of all time is...
Caddyshack
Fellowship Central
Fellow Feature
Aliyah Balogun, PharmD
Johnson & Johnson Global Regulatory Affairs Fellow
Alma Mater: Florida A&M University
Meet Aliyah, a Johnson & Johnson Global Regulatory Affairs Fellow and one of the current members of our Professional Programming National Fellows Council Committee.
What fellowship project are you most proud of so far?
Patient Focused Drug Development. I feel proud of this project because it allows me to make a tangible impact on improving the lives of patients. By advocating for patient input and working to ensure that drugs are developed with their needs in mind, I am helping to bridge the gap between regulatory requirements and patient needs.
What is the most exciting place you've traveled?
Zanzibar, Tanzania
What is your favorite hobby?
International traveling
Finish this sentence: The greatest movie of all time is...
The Princess Diaries
