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!

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.

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

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.

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!

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!

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

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.

DOWNLOAD HERE

IPhO would like to thank Jill Hernandez, PharmD, MHA and Jordan Skiera, PharmDc 2025 (Samford University) for their hard work preparing this valuable resource!

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.

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

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

We are pleased to announce that USF Taneja College of Pharmacy is the latest school to join our growing network of 100+ chapters!

Congratulations to the student pharmacists at USF! IPhO now connects them to more than 5,000 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!

REGISTER HERE: https://us02web.zoom.us/webina...

IPhO Annual Meeting Information Session on August 28, 2024 at 7:30-8:30 PM ET. Join James Alexander, PharmD, IPhO Executive Director and Founder, and Melissa Rodenbach, IPhO VP of Marketing and Communications to learn more about what to expect at the 2024 Annual Meeting this September, and how you can make the most of your attendance as you pursue an industry career!

This webinar will be helpful for both registrants and non-registrants still interested in attending. You'll come away with:

- An insider's perspective on the meeting's value

- An understanding of exactly what to expect at the meeting (and why you can't miss it)

- A deeper look at the virtual networking platform and experience

- Tips for how to make the most of your attendance and networking opportunities

The 2024 Industry Pharmacists Organization (IPhO) National Fellows Council (NFC) Kick-Off Meeting was a two-day event this August, hosted at UCB’s campus in Atlanta, GA. Fellows, preceptors, directors, and the IPhO leadership team congregated to share insight and passion for the pharmaceutical industry, highlighting the pivotal role that pharmacists can play.

The Annual Kick-Off Meeting provided fellows, preceptors, and directors the opportunity to connect and network, develop and expand on their professionalism, and increase visibility with key industry leadership team members. This year, 21 attendees participated in person while 17 joined virtually.

Our IPhO National Fellows Council Diversity Team chats with Ibrahim Younis, PharmD, Senior Clinical Scientist at Pfizer, about his inspiring career journey.

Please see the statement below from AIFA, whose Member Fellowship Programs collectively offer the majority of available fellowship positions.

Aligned First Offer Date: December 16, 2024

The choice of a Post-Doctoral Industry Fellowship is an important decision. AIFA exists to promote a consensus first offer date for all Fellowship positions. We believe this is a positive reflection of the cultures our Programs offer, and that culture is a critical consideration in choice of Fellowship.

We hope that other academic and non-academic Fellowship Programs will NOT pressure candidates to accept offers prior to this aligned offer date.

Carley Yawn, PharmD
IPhO/Clinical Education AllianceHealthcare Education and Outcomes Research Fellow
University of Georgia College of Pharmacy

Meet Carley, an IPhO/Clinical Education Alliance 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?

I would say it's our ACCP Visual Abstract. The ACCP Visual Abstract Challenge is an opportunity for postgraduate trainees, including residents, fellows, and full-time graduate students to blend their ability to evaluate primary literature with the art of creatively communicating key research components through visual representations. In our digital age, visually representing research can significantly enhance its impact, making complex information more accessible and engaging.

I’m particularly proud of this project as it perfectly aligns with my dual passions for creating visually appealing content and for clear, innovative scientific communication. My background includes working in the marketing department of InpharmD, an AI-driven startup dedicated to providing clinical pharmacists with drug information answers. The Visual Abstract Challenge honed my skills in making scientific content both easily digestible and aesthetically pleasing.

What is the most exciting place you've traveled?

Alaska

What is your favorite hobby?

Thrifting vintage home decor.

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

Barbie!