IPhO News

The 2019-2020 IPhO National Student Leadership application is now open to students! Apply now for the unique opportunity to lead national initiatives, expand your network, and make a difference in a professional organization on a national level.

Don't wait! The deadline for application submission is March 1, 2019.

View application information and apply here.

We are pleased to announce that the 2019-2020 IPhO National Student Leadership application will open on February 18, 2019! Because of the rapid growth of the organization, we have added new National Student Officer (NSO) positions as well as new regions for our Regional Student Officers (RSOs) for the coming year. This is a great opportunity for students to lead national initiatives, expand their networks, and make a difference in a professional organization on a national level.

Check back again on February 18. Position details, eligibility requirements, and application instructions will be available. Good luck!

Fellowship Sponsor Company: ECIR Medical Communications

Function/Discipline: Scientific Communications/Medical Affairs

Fellowship Years: 2018—2019

Alma Mater: Keck Graduate Institute School of Pharmacy, Class of 2018

I knew early on when I started pharmacy school that I wanted to pursue a career in industry. My interest was peaked when my pharmacy school provided a 10-day introduction to industry experience, giving me the opportunity to visit Amgen. I learned about the various roles that pharmacists in industry play and the global impact they make on patients and healthcare.

My coursework and industry experience through rotations helped me determine the areas of insdustry that interested me most. I leveraged my rotations, leadership experience gained through IPhO, and the network I built throughout pharmacy school to prepare for a fellowship.

While on rotations, I set up as many 1:1 meetings with individuals in different roles as possible, and always offered a helping hand so I could gain exposure to their day-to-day responsibilities. I took on several leadership roles, including my role with IPhO, to improve my public speaking skills as well as to learn from others. Finally (and importantly), I turned to my mentors for guidance and advice. Ultimately, I decided to pursue a fellowship in scientific communications/medical affairs to advance my skills and knowledge in pharmacy and expand my career options. As a current fellow, I am grateful for my role and being part of a supportive team and work environment that allows me to grow personally and professionally each day.

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

Industry Pharmacists Organization (IPhO) and Center for Communication Compliance (CCC) have partnered to launch a Regulatory Compliance Certificate Program customized for students pursuing an industry career, as well as graduated pharmacists looking to break into industry. The program equips PharmDs with critical knowledge about foundational government and industry requirements that impact the roles and responsibilities of industry pharmacists.

“Compliance is a top priority for the pharmaceutical industry and the regulatory environment is very complex. This program covers key regulatory principles related to advertising and promotion and explains how these principles apply to the various types of product communications typically seen when working in industry,” comments IPhO consultant Leah Palmer, PharmD who was formerly Executive Director of Regulatory Promotion at Amgen.

The custom eLearning program features ten distinct modules on compliant promotional activities and scientific exchange, followed by a post-test that participants must pass to earn their certificate of achievement. Participants can also engage in interactive online games that help reinforce the regulations, guidances, and codes discussed in the coursework. Program content is reviewed for accuracy by former government officials and regulatory lawyers and updated based on material changes in regulatory policy.

“We are delighted to prepare future industry pharmacists to communicate scientifically balanced, medically accurate information that contributes to the development, commercialization, promotion, and optimal use of medicines,” states Ilyssa Levins, CCC President.

James Alexander, PharmD, IPhO Executive Director and Founder, adds that "this comprehensive certificate program is another example of how our organization is providing timely, relevant information to our members to help them advance their professional careers."

This article was originally published on barbarapachtersblog.com.

It’s that time of year again – the time to make New Year’s resolutions. But instead of just going the traditional route – pledging to join a gym to work off holiday excesses – why not opt to give your career a boost as well? Resolve to improve your communication skills.

Yes, you read that last sentence correctly! How you communicate with others—whether in person, in writing, or online—has a tremendous impact on your career. It affects every aspect of your working life, no matter how good your specialized skills are in your particular field.

For the coming year, make these communication resolutions to enhance your career:

1. Resolve to keep your phone off the table when meeting with someone. Having your phone visible tells the other person, “I am so ready to drop you and connect with someone else.” It’s important to give people your full attention.

2. Take a presentation skills class. Work on becoming a better presenter. You need to get your point across. And if you do so effectively, not only does your audience gain information, but you look good.

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

Congratulations to student pharmacists at Washington State University College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. IPhO now connects them to a national network of 63 chapters and 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, contact us here.

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

Company and Department: Parexel, Pricing & Market Access

Current Role: Associate, Pricing and Market Access

Alma Mater: Temple University School of Pharmacy, Class of 2018

One of the reasons I chose pharmacy school was the versatility of the degree. The option to choose among retail, hospital, and industry was enticing and I set out to make my time in school valuable by experiencing as many different potential avenues as I could, which I did through internships/IPPEs/APPEs and various jobs. I was fortunate enough to have two of my fourth-year rotations at Teva and Genomind. These experiences made me want to pursue a career in the pharmaceutical industry.

The opportunity to make an impact on a large scale and have a dynamic set of day-to-day responsibilities while maintaining work-life balance appealed to me on a major level. So, like many students, I attended Midyear with the goal of attaining a fellowship. I spent an absurd amount of time on applications, cover letters, resumes, and interview prep. At the time, I truly had everything planned down to the most meticulous of details—like the weight of the paper my resume was printed on and the general statements to be included on my thank you notes. Midyear and the subsequent months were an anxiety-ridden blur, filled with interviews and waiting. At the end of it all, despite three on-sites, nothing lined up for me and I was distraught, especially since I was graduating in two months.

Even though Midyear is behind you, there is still work to do! Some of you may already be embarking on your onsite interviews. Others may be searching for new fellowship opportunities. Wherever you are, check out the list of post-Midyear tips below to make sure you continue on as strongly and confidently as possible. Best of luck!

Continuing to Establish Connections

• Be sure to send thank you cards and/or emails to all team members who interviewed you onsite. Being so far into the process, these thank yous will help keep you fresh in the minds of those you met.
• Never stop networking! Continue to reach out to fellows/industry professionals to learn more about how to get your foot in the door, whether it be through applying for contract positions or other fellowship opportunities that arise post-midyear.

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

Congratulations to student pharmacists at Concordia University Wisconsin School of Pharmacy. IPhO now connects them to a national network of 62 chapters and 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, contact us here.

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

Fellowship Sponsor Company: PRI Healthcare Solutions

Function/Discipline: Medical Communications

Fellowship Years: 2018—2019

Alma Mater: St. John’s University, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Class of 2018

Throughout pharmacy school, I always set my sights on the “bigger picture.” I felt that the knowledge I was acquiring could be used to benefit a larger group of people than just the patients I would see if I worked in a retail or hospital setting. I wanted to make a bigger impact by sharing the healthcare information I learned regionally, nationally, or even internationally. This desire sparked my interest in the pharmaceutical/medical communications industry.

After talking with former pharmacy students who shared their experiences with fellowships and industry, it became even clearer to me that pursuing this path would help satisfy my personal and professional aspirations. To better understand industry, I decided to select elective rotations in medical communications during my final year of pharmacy school. I learned all about the value of a pharmacist in the collaborative medical communications/ medical affairs field. Because of the experience gained during my rotation, I knew that pursuing a fellowship was the best next step for me.

As a pharmacy student in pursuit of a post-doctoral fellowship in the pharmaceutical industry, you are probably feeling like attending ASHP Midyear and interviewing well was the be-all and end-all of furthering your career. However, not all P4 students hoping to land an industry position have the opportunity to fly out to the conference and only a small amount who do attend actually land positions during midyear. The bad news? Competition is fierce and it only gets more brutal every year. The good news? I am here to tell you that ASHP Midyear is not the only way to get your foot in industry’s door so that you can begin your fellowship the summer after graduation. There are other opportunities waiting for you just around the corner, but you must be prepared to take advantage of every single one that comes your way in order to establish yourself professionally.

Last year, I returned home from the happiest place on earth (Orlando, ASHP Midyear 2017) having secured a few on-sites, but was devastated to learn that I did not actually secure a fellowship position. I had been hoping for a fellowship since my P1 year and it felt like all my chances to do what I really wanted in my career were eliminated. My hopes were shattered and I had no idea what to do next. It felt surreal and it took a lot of motivation and courage not to give up right then and there.

To kick off the 2018 Midyear Meeting in Anaheim, IPhO and its National Fellows Council hosted an exciting event for all fellows from across the country to network and learn the ins and outs of how to land a full-time position post fellowship. Moderated by IPhO Executive Director Jim Alexander, the program featured a series of roundtable discussions with successful fellowship alumni/industry executives who shared their insights and guidance on how to pursue a full-time position within industry.

Company and Department: Arena Pharmaceuticals, Program Management

Current Role: AD, Global Program Management (R&D)

Alma Mater: Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, Class of 2014

My career path has been filled with curiosity and opportunity. But before I dive into the details, I think it’s important to appreciate the tremendous amount of opportunities available for pharmacists—in hospital, retail, managed care, or the pharmaceutical industry. No matter what role you pursue, at the end of the day, your doctorate in pharmacy will serve you well and provide you with a strong scientific acumen. The beauty of the pharmaceutical industry is that there are countless opportunities that require you to apply your scientific knowledge and ultimately learn to develop a solid understanding of the business.

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

Congratulations to student pharmacists at South College School of Pharmacy. IPhO now connects them to a national network of over 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, contact us here.

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

IPhO would like to thank Nina Johnson, New England Regional Student Officer and PharmD Candidate 2019, for leading the development of this valuable student resource.

The Rutgers Professional Industry Fellowship (RPIF) program will be hosting its annual Fellowship Information and Networking Day (FIND) on November 16, 2018. Hundreds of fourth-year pharmacy students from across the country attend this event to learn more about the nationally recognized fellowship program.

The event is broken down into three sessions: a didactic session, an information session and Q&A panel, and a networking session.

Members of the IPhO National Fellows Council (NFC) and leadership team have provided their FIND insight—including how to prepare for the fellowship application and interviewing processes—to help students make the most of their time at the event.

The University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy has added the IPhO Value of Industry Pharmacists (VIP) Case Competition as a 1 credit Independent Study Research Course option, beginning spring 2019.

The VIP Case Competition provides student pharmacists with the unique opportunity to demonstrate their pharmaceutical industry knowledge and design a comprehensive drug development plan.

Students are involved from the hypothetical drug’s initial concept, all the way through to approval and product marketing.

Click here to learn more about this year’s competition.

University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy students interested in learning more and obtaining permission to participate for credit can email Dr. Andrew Wiemer.

IPhO is pleased to announce the addition of the 60th student chapter to its growing national network!

Congratulations to student pharmacists at the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy. IPhO now connects them to a national network of over 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 September 2018, the St. John’s University IPhO chapter and fellows from the Allergan-SJU fellowship program collaborated to educate student pharmacists about career opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry.

Many St. John’s University students, representing all class years, attended the event, which was part of an Allergan research project to be presented at the 2018 ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting. The Allergan fellows presented on the roles of pharmacists in various functional areas within industry, including Clinical Development, Regulatory Affairs, and Medical Affairs, while providing an overview of the drug development process—from research and development to marketing. Attendees, who all signed an informed consent form, were provided with a survey before and after the presentation to gauge their knowledge level upon receiving the information.

Fellowship Sponsor Company: USC/Allergan

Function/Discipline: Medical Affairs- Global Phase IV

Fellowship Years: 2018—2019

Alma Mater: University of Cincinnati, College of Pharmacy, Class of 2018

I knew I wanted to be a pharmacist at a young age. However, figuring out my niche in the field took some exploration. During my first year of pharmacy school, a pharmacist came to campus to speak and he introduced me to industry pharmacy. His talk sparked my interest and from there, I began to research more about what industry pharmacy was, types of fellowships available, and where I would fit best. Like many other schools, my college of pharmacy was better versed in information relating to residency or community pharmacy. It became my responsibility to discover what industry opportunities existed and to take advantage of them.

IPhO is celebrating its 6th birthday by welcoming its 60th student chapter! Thanks to the dedicated industry pharmacists, fellows, and student pharmacists who have trusted IPhO as their proven path to industry for the past 6 years.