Based upon the exponential growth in the number of Industry Fellowship Programs for PharmDs, it is not surprising that the IPhO Industry Fellowship Catalog has become one of the most valuable and frequently visited resources that IPhO provides. It is the only place candidates can find relevant information describing almost every Industry Fellowship offered in the US.
For each fellowship program, the IPhO Industry Fellowship Catalog lists the name of the sponsor company, affiliation (if any), fellowship types offered, and the program website/brochure/contact information.
IPhO recently introduced Industry Fellowship Catalog Version 3.0, with better functionality, more information, and easier user-friendly navigation. Candidates can now search by sponsor, affiliation, or fellowship type, which makes it easy to find only fellowship positions that are of interest. In addition, IPhO has simplified the fellowship search process by creating 16 common search terms that group “like” positions/functions that offer similar experiences for the fellow. For example, searching for the suggested key term “Clinical Research” will return results for Clinical Research, Clinical Development, Clinical Pharmacology, and several other similar position titles. In the past, candidates would have had to search each of these position titles independently, so it is now much easier and less confusing.
As the quantity and variety of industry fellowships continues to grow, the process of identifying, evaluating, and applying for these positions has become increasingly complex for candidates. Not long ago, the number of companies sponsoring fellowships could be listed on a half-page. In 2016, there are now over 50 different company sponsors. Many sponsors offer multiple fellowship positions within their company and a number of the larger sponsors affiliate with more than one university. Fellowship sponsors now include all key segments of industry, including Big Pharma, Biotech, CROs, Generics, OTCs, Medical Advertising, Medical Communication, and Consulting companies. The positions are also diverse, ranging from traditional functions like medical affairs, to commercial functions like marketing, market research, new product planning, and business development.
As a student pharmacist and fellowship candidate, I could not imagine a more useful resource in preparation for the strenuous application and Midyear process. Not only do we have few opportunities to learn about industry pharmacy and fellowship positions while in school, our academic and rotational workload does not leave ample time to navigate the increasingly complex fellowship evaluation, application, and interview process. I personally have used this resource as a learning tool. The IPhO Fellowship Catalog design has allowed me to both sort and search for specific programs of personal interest. There is a good mix, and learning more from program brochures can help you narrow down the type of program that best suits your interests and experiences. The brochures are eye-catching and informative, and I have learned so much from reading through them. Descriptions of each fellowship type, including pictures and testimonials from current fellows, have played an important role in envisioning myself in those positions.
Please note that host companies vary on the timing and frequency of revising their fellowship brochures. IPhO monitors industry fellowships on a continuous basis for new sponsoring companies and brochure revisions. We welcome your assistance in keeping the Catalog as current and accurate as possible, so please email any updates to: support@industrypharmacists.org .
Authored by Rosemary Boshar, IPhO National Student Officer, Scholarly Activities
MCPHS Worcester, Class of 2017
Fellowship Catalog 3.0 Project Director
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Kimberly Gittings, PharmD
Vineeth Nair, PharmD
Sean Harrison, PharmD
