IPhO News

Fellowship Sponsor Company: ECIR Medical Communications

Function/Discipline: Medical Affairs and Scientific Communications

Fellowship Years: 2019—2021

Alma Mater: Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Class of 2019

I was inspired to become an industry pharmacist from a young age. My mother worked as a pharmaceutical sales representative for nearly 15 years and informed me that several coworkers she frequently interacted with during training and company events were pharmacists. Upon meeting these coworkers, they informed me that working in industry as a pharmacist is an excellent way to be at the forefront of cutting-edge scientific knowledge while working in a flexible corporate environment. I shadowed these professionals, who ranged from medical education specialists to medical science liaisons, during summers as an undergraduate student. I found myself enthralled about the work I saw being conducted, and felt confident that pursuing a career in industry was the best decision for me.

Company: AstraZeneca

Current Role: Associate Pharmacovigilance Scientist - Oncology

Alma Mater: Notre Dame of Maryland University, Class of 2017

As a student, I completed a rotation at AstraZeneca for Pharmacovigilance. When my rotation ended, my preceptor's manager felt my work was strong and asked to keep a copy of my CV on file. My rotation took place after Midyear ended, and unfortunately I had not matched with a fellowship program, so it was critical that I maintained a strong professional network after my rotation and after graduation.

IPhO is pleased to announce the addition of another new student chapter to our growing national network!

Congratulations to student pharmacists at University of Arizona College of Pharmacy. IPhO now connects them to a national network of 77 chapters and more than 4,000 student pharmacists with similar interests, as well as a national network of hundreds of industry fellows and thousands of industry pharmacists.

Several more schools are in the late stages of filing their chapter applications and will soon join the growing national network.

To start a chapter at your school, click here.

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

Company: Arbor Pharmaceuticals

Current Role: Territory Business Manager

Alma Mater: University of Maryland–Baltimore, Class of 2016

While fellowships are a great way to break into the pharmaceutical industry, many pharmacists have landed various positions within the pharmaceutical industry without a fellowship. Fortunately, I was able to secure a commercial role through an unconventional route by connecting the dots of my past experience to procure my current role. I worked in retail for two years after pharmacy school, becoming a pharmacy manager in the process. Not long after, I worked as a clinical pharmacist in the private practice setting. These positions helped me develop a strong business acumen and build relationships with healthcare providers.

The 2019-20 IPhO Industry Fellowship Analysis has been published!

The report highlights key characteristics of all current fellowship programs—such as functional area, academic affiliation and alma mater of the fellow—and identifies emerging trends in PharmD Industry Fellowships based on 6-year longitudinal data.

There are 552 PharmDs currently participating in US-based, industry-focused postgraduate fellowships, representing +10% growth versus last year.

Below is a sneak peak into just some of the findings in the publication.

IPhO is pleased to announce the addition of another new student chapter to our growing national network!

Congratulations to student pharmacists at Roosevelt University College of Pharmacy. IPhO now connects them to a national network of 76 chapters and more than 4,000 student pharmacists with similar interests, as well as a national network of hundreds of industry fellows and thousands of industry pharmacists.

Several more schools are in the late stages of filing their chapter applications and will soon join the growing national network.

To start a chapter at your school, click here.

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

In December 2019, during the ASHP Midyear meeting, the National Fellows Council hosted its annual "How to Land a Full Time Job Post-Fellowship" event. Eight extraordinary former fellows discussed a variety of topics to help fellow attendees feel prepared to secure the right full-time role when their fellowship program concludes. Both internal and external opportunities were discussed.

Fellowship Sponsor Company: UNC/PPD

Function/Discipline: Clinical Research & Drug Development

Fellowship Years: 2019—2021

Alma Mater: South College School of Pharmacy, Class of 2019

Starting out in pharmacy school, I really wasn’t aware of all the career opportunities for pharmacists in the pharmaceutical industry. I always imagined that I would pursue a career as a clinical pharmacist. However, with a bit of luck, a research assistant position opened up in my program’s pharmaceutical sciences department, and I had the opportunity to take an elective course detailing the drug development process. It was through those opportunities that I became interested in researching career paths for pharmacists in the pharmaceutical industry. It was also how I first discovered IPhO. IPhO was an incredible resource of information that helped me learn about the different roles in industry and decide on the role that I felt fit my interests the best.

IPhO is pleased to announce the addition of two new student chapters to our growing national network!

Congratulations to student pharmacists at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Ferris State University College of Pharmacy. IPhO now connects them to a national network of 75 chapters and more than 4,000 student pharmacists with similar interests, as well as a national network of hundreds of industry fellows and thousands of industry pharmacists.

Several more schools are in the late stages of filing their chapter applications and will soon join the growing national network.

To start a chapter at your school, click here.

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

Fellowship Sponsor Company: Eli Lilly

Function/Discipline: Global Regulatory Affairs: US and International Policy and Strategy

Fellowship Years: 2019—2020

Alma Mater: Howard University, Class of 2019

Prior to pharmacy school, I coordinated pharmacology research projects in a translational medicine lab. Intrigued by the drug development process and clinical trials, I sought a career change that would allow me to explore those areas. A doctorate in pharmacy was the perfect fit for me because of the sheer amount of fellowships available at pharmaceutical companies post-graduation. While in pharmacy school, I took a clinical pharmacology internship in South San Francisco with the intention of learning about common functional areas for pharmacists. Regulatory affairs stood out to me, due to the role's liaison nature between the company and regulatory agencies. Additionally, I’ve always been interested in global roles and held two global leadership positions for the International Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation (IPSF) on the Public Health Committee.

Fellowship Sponsor Company: Allergan, University of Southern California

Function/Discipline: Clinical Development

Fellowship Years: 2019—2020

Alma Mater: Keck Graduate Institute, Class of 2019

I knew early-on that I wanted to pursue a career in the pharmaceutical industry. Before pharmacy school, I earned my certificate in Clinical Trials Design and Management while working as a Clinical Research Associate at a hospital. From that experience, I met pharmacists working in industry and was introduced to this unique career pathway. What attracted me most about Clinical Development was the opportunity to work with investigational drugs in clinical trials. Working with data that is unknown from a clinical perspective resonated with the skills that I developed during my undergraduate studies. It was a natural transition for me to pursue Clinical Development after pharmacy school.

IPhO played an important role for me throughout pharmacy school. I was involved with the Keck Graduate Institute chapter, which started during my P2 year and I served on the executive board. I also participated in the VIP case competition and became a national student intern. IPhO provided me a network of industry professionals and exposed me to the various roles that pharmacists assume in industry. Additionally, IPhO guided me throughout the fellowship application process (which is getting more competitive every year). I joined the National Fellows Council not only to help pharmacy students but also to give back to the organization in any way possible.

Have a fellowship question? Click here to ask a current fellow!

You didn't have to look far at the recent IPhO National Student Meeting to find a maroon wristband, promoting the #valueofindustrypharmacists to all 400 student pharmacists in attendance.

The wristbands were worn by students with pride throughout the meeting, but they were more than just a gift for attendees.

On Friday, September 27th and Saturday, September 28th, IPhO and its National Fellows Council hosted the first-ever stand-alone National Student Meeting in New Jersey. 375 students from 78 universities; 50 speakers; and 20 sponsors attended the meeting, and we are so grateful to everyone who traveled from near and far to attend. View the full album of meeting photos here.

On Friday evening, Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) graciously hosted the meeting reception in The Mansion in the heart of its campus. Jim Alexander, PharmD, Executive Director and Founder of IPhO, shared opening remarks, followed by a special welcome from Michael Avaltroni, PhD, Dean of FDU School of Pharmacy. The keynote speaker for the reception was Rob Kowalski, PharmD, Executive Vice President, Head of Regulatory Affairs, Novartis; US Head of Global Drug Development. Dr. Kowalski spoke about the value that pharmacists bring to industry and the tremendous amount of career opportunities available to pharmacists within the pharmaceutical industry. The evening brought together students from across the country to network, learn from leaders in industry, and relax before the meeting on Saturday.