IPhO News

Company: Novocure
Current Role: Senior Vice President of the Americas
Alma Mater: University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Class of 2001

The driving force behind my career choices and professional advancement has been my gnawing desire to learn and to make a difference. My curiosity in life sciences drove me to pursue academic training in Pharmacy. Early on during my graduate training I wanted to learn more about non-traditional pathways where pharmacists could make an impact. Upon graduation I applied to a number of Fellowship programs in marketing, regulatory affairs and managed care. Much to my disappointment I was not selected by any of my top choices. I subsequently pursued residency programs in Medical Communications which landed me at Roche Labs. An important lesson I learned through the interviewing process for Fellowship programs was that there were many gaps in my skills and understanding of how the industry functioned.

With the increasingly prominent impact of social media on the daily lives of today’s society, one would be surprised to find that only a small handful of pharmaceutical companies utilize these new media markets. A major reason for this stems from the FDA’s ambiguous regulation of Internet and social media, leaving regulatory professionals with the task of making unclear interpretations from Draft Guidance documents and Warning Letters. Nevertheless, a recent study has shown that between 2013 and 2016, some of the top Pharma companies have strengthened their Twitter followership by nearly 300% while also increasing the average number of tweets by 530%.¹ Clearly, pharmaceutical firms are beginning to embrace social media, and moving forward, it is important to recognize the regulatory challenges that come with the increased scope of these new platforms.

Research led by IPhO National Intern and Oregon State University Chapter President, Marine Schmitt, spanning approximately one year culminated in a poster presentation at the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting on December 6, 2016. An encore presentation of the research can be found in the Scholarly Publications section of the IPhO website.

The project analyzed industry-related courses offered by Colleges of Pharmacy throughout the United States by reviewing student handbooks, course catalogs, and course syllabi. Relevant courses were categorized by topics of industry relevance including: HEOR, Preclinical Development, Clinical Development, Regulatory Affairs, Marketing and Medical Affairs. If courses provided a broad overview of pharmacists’ roles in industry, they were categorized as general industry courses.

Importantly, the results confirmed that the prevalence of industry-relevant courses is significantly higher in regions of highest geographical industry concentration. The highest percentage (52%) of pharmacy schools offering industry-relevant courses are located along the east coast, while the lowest percentage (14%) are located in the Pacific Northwest. Overall, 41% of colleges of pharmacy offered one or more industry-relevant courses, with the most common (26%) topic being Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR).

Fellowship Sponsor Company: Pfizer (Rutgers)

Function/Discipline: Oncology Medical Affairs

Fellowship Years: 2016-2018

Alma Mater: University of Southern California, Class of 2016

I first encountered pharmacists working in industry long before pharmacy school. I was fortunate enough to discover the world of healthcare consulting agencies after obtaining my undergraduate degree from University of California at Berkeley. I majored in biochemistry and was fascinated by the mechanisms of action of different medications. Working for companies that provided deliverables for biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies opened my eyes to how industry operates. I worked primarily in drug reimbursement and eventually transitioned to work full time for one of our clients in South San Francisco, Genentech, on the commercial side of the business.

During the recent Midyear Meeting in Las Vegas, IPhO and its National Fellows Council hosted an exciting event for Fellows of all Fellowship Programs in the US to network, and to learn more about how to get 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 and other industry executives who shared their insights and guidance on how to pursue a full-time position within industry.

The IPhO National Fellows Council would like to thank the following table discussion leaders for volunteering their time and sharing their key insights:

• Adrienne Aiello, Manager, Scientific Publications, Sanofi Genzyme
  (Alumna, Rutgers/Bayer Fellowship)
• Toni Burke, Associate Manager, Clinical Supply Management, Gilead
• Kevin Kerr, Manager, Clinical Development, Allergan
  (Alumnus, USC/Allergan Fellowship
• Kimberly Lehman, Associate Director, Immuno-Oncology Medical Scientist, Bristol-Myers Squibb
  (Alumna, Rutgers/BMS Fellowship)
• Shane McGann, Manager, Regulatory Affairs, Agios
  (Alumnus, MCPHS/Genzyme Fellowship)
• John O'Brien, Associate Manager, Clinical Supply Management, Gilead
  (Alumnus, MCPHS/Pfizer Fellowship)
• Alexander Schepart, Senior Manager, Medical Affairs, Pfizer
  (Alumnus, Rutgers/Pfizer Fellowship)
• Elvis Osei Tutu, Manager, Global Regulatory Affairs, GlaxoSmithKline
  (Alumnus, UNC/GSK Fellowship)
• Winnie Young, Manager, Clinical Supply Management, Gilead
  
  

IPhO would like to thank Gilead for its generous support of this event!

Stay tuned for more IPhO networking events in the near future!

Fellowship Sponsor Company: Sanofi (Rutgers)

Function/Discipline: Strategic Marketing

Fellowship Years: 2016-2018

Alma Mater: St. John's University, Class of 2016

During my time at St. John’s University College of Pharmacy, I was employed by a retail pharmacy chain, as many student pharmacists are. Because of my love of communicating with people, patient counseling was always something I thoroughly enjoyed and took pride in at my hectic 24/7 store. To put this into perspective, I was selected by my university to compete nationally in the 2015 APhA-ASP National Patient Counseling Competition in California. In addition to my self-proclaimed “people skills,” I knew I had creative tendencies with a strategic mindset, and wanted to find employment that best utilized these skills. I was able to leverage my strengths to obtain marketing jobs with the CEO of a nutraceutical company and the VP of a continuing education company. These collective experiences showed me that it was possible to combine both my knowledge of health care and my desire for creativity and innovation. During my pharmacy rotations, I was fortunate enough to spend time at the FDA, Pfizer, and American Regent. At these sites, I was exposed to completely new aspects of pharmacy and built a solid foundation for understanding how the pharmaceutical industry functions. I developed an appreciation for industry, determined that this was where my skills best fit, and finally concluded that the pharmaceutical industry was the right career path for me.

Fellowship Sponsor Company: Regeneron

Function/Discipline: Clinical Operations, Clinical Science, Regulatory Affairs

Fellowship Years: 2016-2018

Alma Mater: University of Michigan, Class of 2016

When I first stepped foot into pharmacy school, I did not realize that the pharmaceutical industry is a viable career option for pharmacists. Then, I completed a summer internship in Clinical Science at Takeda Pharmaceuticals after my P2 year. I owe much of my current success to my mentor at Takeda, who opened my eyes to the world of clinical research and helped me solidify my plans upon graduation. At Takeda, I connected with PharmDs across different departments and learned about their function and roles. What I learned is that there is no right or one linear way to go into the pharmaceutical industry.

On November 4, IPhO-Albany held its inaugural Fellowship Networking Event on its Albany, NY campus. The event was a great success as students from each professional year of the PharmD program attended ito learn more about carreer opportunities and fellowships for PharmDs in the pharmaceutical industry. IPhO Founder Dr. Jim Alexander was the keynote speaker for the event. He discussed the importance of leadership experience and networking in preparation for applying for competitive fellowships, and also highlighted non-fellowship career pathways to enter the pharmaceutical industry.

The event also featured a fellowship panel consisting of current fellows from the MCPHS and Rutgers programs. Students were able to interact with the fellows in a small-group roundtable format. Each fellow brought a unique perspective to the discussion based on their experiences working within the functional area of their individual fellowships. IPhO-Albany would like to thank everyone involved in contributing to the success of this event and we look forward to hosting it again in the Fall of 2017.

Authored by Venkatesh Satram, IPhO Student National Officer and Class of 2017, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

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

Company and Department: The Medicines Company, Global Health Science Center

Current Role: Director, Global Health Science

Alma Mater: Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers University 2009

The PharmD degree can lead to a variety of professional opportunities. While this can allow someone to be creative with their career, it can also be overwhelming as one approaches graduation. Before I had entered pharmacy school, I worked at a local pharmacy. While I enjoyed the patient interaction, I was also curious about the companies that developed the drugs used by patients. After entering pharmacy school, I earned different internships for companies such as Ranbaxy, Wyeth (now Pfizer), and Schering-Plough (now Merck) and networked with pharmacists in those companies to learn about their career paths and how they got there.

As I approached graduation, I knew that I would pursue a career in the pharmaceutical industry. I attended Midyear and interviewed for an industry fellowship. While the program was very selective, I too was selective with who I would entrust my career with. I applied for two positions, but was unable to secure a fellowship. I stayed positive and knew that there were other ways of getting a position in the industry as demonstrated by other pharmacists that I had networked with. I used the extensive preparation for interviewing for Midyear and applied for positions, including contract positions. While contract positions ranged from 6 months to 2 years, I saw this as an opportunity to experience a position with the flexibility to potentially change my path (e.g. work in drug safety for six months, then maybe medical information for 6 months).

IPhO is pleased to announce the addition of two new local chapters to our growing national network.

Congratulations to student pharmacists at the University of Houston and the University of Charleston. IPhO now connects them to a national network of 3,000+ student pharmacists with similar interests, as well as a national network of 360+ industry fellows and 9,000+ 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, visit here.

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

Fellowship Sponsor Company: Johnson & Johnson Consumer (USciences)

Function/Discipline: Regulatory Affairs and Medical Information

Fellowship Years: 2016-2017

Alma Mater: University of the Sciences, Class of 2016

I recently graduated from a six-year Doctor of Pharmacy program at the University of the Sciences with a minor in Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Business. Classically, I worked at a community pharmacy throughout school and was not initially aware of the career options available to me outside of the traditional retail realm. Progressing through my years as a student, I gradually began exploring these options by working at both the University of Pennsylvania, in a pharmacy laboratory to conduct research, and also Acro Pharmaceutical Services, a specialty pharmacy. I was also actively involved with several organizations on campus, including: American Pharmacists Association (APhA), Drug Information Association (DIA), and Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA).

Fellowship Sponsor Company: Bristol-Myers Squibb (Rutgers)

Function/Discipline: Oncology Medical Science Liaison, Medical Information, Clinical Trial Operations

Fellowship Years: 2015-2017

Alma Mater: University of the Sciences, Class of 2015

Having grown up in a low-middle income family out of Jersey City, NJ, I didn’t know much about what existed in the professional world. This simple upbringing presented me with a few challenges when I started working with professionals during my P4 year. Thinking that was tough, imagine then how I felt at the ASHP midyear meeting with hundreds of suited candidates just like myself, all prepared with their binders and their interview game faces. However, what I quickly realized was that I was just as qualified as any other candidate. Moreover, if I was going to stand out, I would have to be someone that nobody else could be. Myself. Only then did I find the program that fit my personality and one whose objectives were in line with my own.

On Friday, October 14, 2016, pharmacy students from around the country attended Alnylam Pharmaceuticals’ on site visit and networking event in Cambridge, MA. The site visit included speakers from different departments, who discussed their background, role, the company, and the PharmD Fellowship Program. Among the current Alnylam PharmD Fellows is second-year Medical Affairs fellow, Alex Wei, who is pictured here at the far left. Alex served as the first IPhO National Student Officer (NSO) from 2014-2015, and currently serves as Co-Chair on the IPhO National Fellows Council. Since Alex’s term as the sole NSO, the number of National Student Officer positions has grown to six. Three of the current NSOs had the opportunity to meet with Alex during this event, and are pictured here from left to right: Lanny Nguyen (Social Media and Marketing), Rosemary Boshar (Scholarly Activities), and Bridgette Tran (Chapter Network Management).

The 2017-2019 Alnylam Pharmaceuticals and Northeastern University PharmD Post-Doctoral Fellowship Program is currently offering positions in Medical Affairs, Regulatory Affairs, and Health Economics and Outcomes Research. For more information and to apply, please visit this link: IPhO FellowMatch

Company and Department: Astellas, Medical Affairs, Americas
Current Role: Associate Director, Medical Communications
Alma Mater: Midwestern University, Chicago College of Pharmacy, Class of 2005

During pharmacy school, I developed a strong interest in clinical pharmacy and academia. In addition to completing the standard coursework, I served as the liaison between our class and the faculty to facilitate communication of course concerns and questions. I also collaborated with a faculty and a pharmacy resident specializing in psychiatry on a research project where I assisted with screening the study patients against the inclusion criteria. I began to evaluate career pathways that would help me prepare for academic pharmacy.

Upon graduation, I participated in a PGY1 residency at the North Chicago VA Medical Center in North Chicago. After completing the residency, I accepted a faculty position at Midwestern University Chicago College of Pharmacy and practiced as a clinical pharmacist in the Internal Medicine unit at the North Chicago VA Medical Center. I gained valuable direct patient care experience, precepted pharmacy students and residents, and taught in the pharmacotherapy course at the University. To further advance my professional development, I also obtained a board certification for pharmacotherapy (BPS).