IPhO News

Nicholas Heath is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at Takeda Pharmaceuticals in the Global Pharmacovigilance department. As a member of the MCPHS University Biopharmaceutical Industry Fellowship program, he has taken the initiative to be involved in numerous committees, scholarly publications, and in May 2016 was appointed executive board President. Inspired by the work he has been involved with at Takeda, Nick will be climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro to support the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF). Other participants include multiple myeloma patients, caregivers, and health care professionals.

Mt. Kilimanjaro reaches 19,341 feet and has various climates, wildlife, and hiking conditions for participants to overcome. The hike up the mountain will take just over 6 days and over 60 guides, porters, and local staff. Nick will be one of two Takeda representatives hiking the mountain, following in the footsteps of Ryan Cohlhepp, Takeda’s Vice President of U.S. Marketing, who completed the hike in January 2016 with the MMRF.

Nick has been involved with fundraising for the MMRF since the beginning of his fellowship and constantly finds ways to support a cause that is close to home. Whether it has been a road race, obstacle race, or even hiking Mt. Kilimanjaro, Nick seems to push through the challenge to support those that each event will benefit. As an industry pharmacist, he is able to see how R&D can impact entire patient populations in need. Events like these, either nationally recognized or individually organized, provide support to patients battling disease. As a member of the MMRF Team for Cures, Nick hopes to fundraise over $20,000 to support research being done in multiple myeloma as well as support his teammates, some of which are myeloma patients, up Mt. Kilimanjaro next February.

Please contact Nick at nicholas.heath@takeda.com if you are interested in learning more about his hike and would like to support him.

Company and Department: GSW Advertising, inVentiv Health

Current Role: Associate Scientific Director

Alma Mater: Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers University 2013

During the spring of 2016, I came to a pivotal place in my career path and decided to engage a professional coach at IPhO.

The IPhO Coaching Service helped me clarify my early career goals, customize my CV, review potential positions, and navigate the interview process including reviewing specific job offers.

Jerry Silverman, BS Pharm, RPh and VP of Professional Development and Coaching helped me to thoroughly analyze my professional interests and to establish appropriate short, medium, and long term career goals. I had strong clinical and analytical experiences throughout my pharmacy rotations and was able to secure a 24-month contracted position in drug safety after graduating from pharmacy school. While I could have built upon this initial industry experience to secure another similar position, it became clear to me that I desired to switch tracks and pursue new opportunities in marketing and collaborating with scientific, clinical, and creative teams. In discussing this with my coach he impressed upon me that going directly from a position such as drug safety to marketing was nearly impossible and that we would need to methodically identify the steps over the next several years to make that possible.

Company and Department: Allergan, Medical Affairs

Current Role: Medical Director

Alma Mater: Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers University 2002

Entering pharmacy school, a career in the pharmaceutical industry was not on my mind. During my 4^th year, I realized that I would be interested in a non-traditional role for a PharmD, and I sought out some recent graduates to learn more about potential pathways. I also diversified my experiential rotations as much as possible and spent my “off cycle” at a pharmaceutical company. At that point I knew I wanted to work in the pharmaceutical industry.

As the 2015-16 academic year draws to a close, IPhO would like to express its sincere thanks to the three National Student Officers for their outstanding contributions to the organization.

Kimberly Gittings, PharmD

University of Rhode Island

National Student Officer, Chapter Management

Vineeth Nair, PharmD

Northeastern University

National Student Officer, Chapter Development

Sean Harrison, PharmD

Virginia Commonwealth University

National Student Officer, Professional Development

Their notable accomplishments include: (click or tap "read more" below)

Following a thorough evaluation process, the IPhO National Fellows Council is pleased to present the results of the 2nd Annual VIP Advocacy Challenge!

The IPhO VIP Advocacy Challenge is an annual program that IPhO Student Chapters participate in to create positive messages about the Value of Industry Pharmacists and the pharmaceutical industry. All IPhO Student Chapters were invited to develop an outreach platform that advocated for the contributions pharmacists make in supporting the role of industry to improve patients’ quality of life.

Company and Department: Bristol-Myers Squibb: Medical Contact, Content and Insight (MCCI) Contact Center

Current Role: Medical Information Manager-Oncology

Alma Mater: MCPHS University, Class of 2015

Like a growing number of student pharmacists today, I was intrigued to learn about the different roles that pharmacists could hold in industry by the end of P2. I grew to like the idea of pursuing a non-traditional pharmacy practice career and began looking into opportunities to get exposure in this field of work. I was very fortunate to be able to participate in two pharmaceutical industry rotations through my school, MCPHS University in Boston. These APPEs were very competitive to secure and gave me the experience I needed to help me decide which commercial industry function I wanted to pursue. Most importantly, it gave me confirmation that industry was where I wanted to be.

Reported by: Ogechi Umejei, PharmD Candidate 2018, St. John’s University

Special thanks to:

St. John’s University IPhO Student Chapter President, Nancy Simon, and St. John’s University alumni and current Post-Doctoral Fellow, Praneeta Nagraj, Dr. Rahul Bhambri, Long Island University alumni and current Pfizer Medical Director, and IPhO Student Chapter President, David Pinkhasov and IPhO Student Chapter Secretary, Laura Sedita Alaimo, and Patrick Campbell, LIU Director of Student and Professional Activities.

Often times in pharmacy school, students are encouraged to pursue more conventional career paths within hospital or community pharmacy. However, a PharmD is a powerful degree that can allow entry to working in a variety of different settings. While careers within both community and hospital are of great importance to our society and the healthcare system, student pharmacists deserve to be informed about the diverse roles they can hold once they gain entry into the work force. Information regarding career paths in the pharmaceutical industry can be difficult to gain prior to APPE rotations. In a quest to gain more insight and knowledge about the opportunities available within the pharmaceutical and biotech industry, students around the country are joining the Industry Pharmacists Organization (IPhO).

On March 10, 2016, pharmacy students from St. John's University and Long IslandUniversity had the opportunity to attend a site visit at Pfizer.

On April 2, 2016, Purdue University IPhO hosted its inaugural Industry Pharmacist Symposium, which took place on Purdue’s campus. This event connected about 50 students from eight schools of pharmacy with a diverse set of speakers having backgrounds in clinical research, medical affairs, commercialization, and regulatory affairs. Participants were able to engage in interactive workshops exploring industry based cases, as well as network with fellow pharmacy students and industry professionals via facilitated programs. The Symposium culminated in ‘State of the Chapter’ presentations from the University of Illinois at Chicago, University of Cincinnati, and Purdue University that highlighted the chapters’ paths to formation, currently implemented programs, and future ambitions.

Company and Department: Baxalta, Business Operations
Current Role: Senior Director
Alma Mater: University of Wisconsin and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

When asked how I got to where I am today, I reflect that many of the roles in my career were not even an idea in someone’s mind when I left pharmacy school. My background in Pharmacy has provided me with strong scientific acumen and a solid understanding of business, and I have found that the pharmaceutical industry is the perfect place to bring these attributes together.

After graduating, I completed a fellowship at East Carolina University in Geriatrics and later became Senior Fellow in Pharmacogeriatrics at Duke University, while also working as adjunct faculty for the University of North Carolina. This was an amazing opportunity to work with the best and the brightest clinicians and researchers. Upon completing this work I transitioned to a faculty role at the University of Illinois – Chicago, where I continued refining my clinical and teaching skills. I enjoyed working with students and patients, but I was always looking to make a greater impact on patients’ lives. I saw that entering the pharmaceutical and biotech industry was an opportunity to impact patients more broadly. I cannot emphasize enough the value pharmacists with clinical practice experience bring to the industry. The foundation of clinical experience, teaching, and research are a tremendous asset in my career.

Industry Pharmacists Organization (IPhO) Announces Introduction of Industry Elective Course for Student Pharmacists

IPhO is pleased to announce the launch of an innovative live- online elective course entitled, Commercialization of Pharmaceuticals: From A to Z and the Role of Industry Pharmacists, designed to support the growing numbers of student pharmacists interested in pursuing an industry career.

There are approximately 130 U.S.-based colleges and accredited schools of pharmacy in the US. A very low percentage of these have industry electives and the few that do offer an industry elective are usually focused on drug development only.

If you do not have access to an industry elective at your school of pharmacy; then this industry elective course may be just what you need! If you are a student pharmacist interested in pursuing an industry career, including applying for an industry fellowship, this course is for you!

Learn More and Register

Pharmacogenomics, better known as gene-based therapy, represents a revolutionary new way to look at treatments across all populations. Increasingly, genomics courses are being taught in pharmacy schools as the profession shifts more towards individual-based medicine. But how has academia caught up with this sweeping clinical trend?

According to polls taken annually at St. John’s University, the percentage of PharmD candidates expressing an interest in pharmacogenomics has steadily increased over the past five years. Amongst faculty, the interest has risen to the point where professors and students are working together to run clinical pharmacogenomics projects. (Poll shown in Figure 1 taken from anonymous St. John’s University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences students from 2010 to 2015).

Company and Department: Becton Dickinson and Company, Clinical Marketing
Current Role: Clinical Education Specialist, Diabetes Care, Canada
Alma Mater: MCPHS University, Class of 2013

As I entered pharmacy school, I always thought that I would be working in a position at a retail pharmacy just like all of the other pharmacists in my family had done. Some of them had ventured into the field of hospitals and long term care, but industry was not an option that I had ever considered, until my first professional year of pharmacy school. At that time we were introduced to the different fields that a pharmacist could work in and the idea of working for a pharmaceutical company captured my attention. I could not believe the multitude of job opportunities available in the industry, and how much of an impact pharmacists could have working there.

When I started pharmacy school back in 1988, I had a professor that emphasized the importance of the Doctor of Pharmacy degree and what it meant to him. He instilled in us that “No one will know more about drugs than the Pharm.D.” “We are the drug experts” he would always say. In fact, Pharm.D.s have multiple years of pharmacology experience, much greater than most MDs. During my 4th year of Pharmacy School, while I was doing an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) rotation, the attending physician, after having exhausted all he could do for a vancomycin-resistant patient who had a very difficult Staph hemolyticus infection, turned to me as a PharmD resident and said “Do you have any ideas how we can treat this person?” I remembered during my training that certain drugs have synergistic properties when given together. If you give vancomycin with rifampin together it will have a synergistic effect. Sure enough, the attending said go ahead give the combination and soon this drug combination had eradicated the organism and the person lived. This case report was my first publication and the first time I realized the significance of the knowledge that PharmDs possess and what role a clinical pharmacist can play in the management of patient care.

My professor also said that if we wanted to work in the pharmaceutical industry he would recommend an additional post-doctoral fellowship training to enhance our candidacy. Well, I took his advice and it worked. I have been in the pharmaceutical industry for over 17 years in the field of Clinical Research and Medical Affairs. I initially started in a Phase 1&2 Clinical Pharmacokinetics department as a Senior Clinical Research Associate and worked my way up to Vice-President of Clinical Research and Medical Affairs.

The current PharmD degree curriculum offers extensive didactic clinical preparation, a full year of hands-on practice experience in a wide array of healthcare settings, four years of pharmacology, extensive knowledge in pharmacokinetics and an emphasis on clinical pharmacy practice pertaining to pharmacotherapy. The PharmD is the expert in drug interactions, drug side effects, pharmacokinetics and based on the diagnosis, he/she can determine the exact drug or drugs to administer specifically for the patient.

This type of expertise is exactly what the pharmaceutical industry needs. Our industry is dedicated to discovering and developing new medicines. Who better to hire as an employee than a drug expert?! Someone who knows how these drugs work, how they interact with other drugs, how they are metabolized, and what patients will benefit from them! Not to mention that pharmacists consistently rank as one of the most trusted professionals in today's society. These are the values that a pharmacist brings to the pharmaceutical industry!

Through the course of my pharmaceutical industry career, I collaborated with essentially every department within the pharmaceutical company.Most of these departments have pharmacists working in them, including marketing, market research, pharmacovigilance, clinical development, clinical research, medical communications, medical information, medical affairs, regulatory affairs, business development and competitive intelligence.

Pharmacists/PharmDs are more equipped than ever to work in a pharmaceutical company. There is literally no limit to the positions a pharmacist can hold within the industry. Pharmaceutical training, expertise, and ethical reputation make today’s pharmacist an ideal contributor to the pharmaceutical industry.

Authored by

Paul Mastoridis, PharmD
Worldwide Brand Medical Director
Cystic Fibrosis, Devices & eHealth Solutions
Respiratory Franchise
Global Medical Affairs
Novartis Pharmaceutical Corporation

During the recent Midyear Meeting in New Orleans, IPhO and its National Fellows Council hosted an exciting event for Fellows of all Fellowship Programs around the country 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 an expert panel of successful fellowship alumni who shared their insights and guidance on how to search for a full-time position within industry. 

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

• Erica Dankiewicz, Senior Medical Information Specialist, Acorda Therapeutics 
  (2012 Alumna, Rutgers/Bayer Fellowship)
• Rebecca Pleat, MSL Rare Diseases, Sanofi-Genzyme 
  (2015 Alumna, MCPHS/Genzyme Fellowship)
• Corey Ritchings, HIV Medical Scientist, Bristol-Myers Squibb 
  (2013 Alumnus, Rutgers/BMS Fellowship)
• Bryant Tran, Medical Affairs Scientific Director, GlaxoSmithKline
  (2011 Alumnus, UNC/GSK Fellowship)

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

On November 10, 2015, IPhO and the "Pharmacists at Bayer" (PhAB) group from Bayer Healthcare hosted an event entitled "Human Capital: Shaping the Future of Industry," at Bayer Healthcare Headquarters in Whippany, NJ.

About 100 industry pharmacists from 25 different companies in the NJ/NY/CT/PA area participated in this inaugural event. 

Highlights included a "speed networking" session and a panel discussion about how talent acquisition and management strategies are shaping the future of industry, and what this means for industry pharmacists.  Moderated by IPhO Executive Director James Alexander, the panel was comprised of industry experts from Human Resources, Executive Search, and Senior Management including Naina Dhingra, Associate Principal for McKinsey & Company, Mark Durham, Managing Partner at Strawn Arnold, and Todd Paporello, Vice President of Regulatory Affairs at Bayer.

IPhO was pleased to collaborate with PhAB to present the event, and the participants expressed their appreciation to Bayer for their hospitality and generosity!

Stay tuned for future IPhO events. Next up is the December 5 event in New Orleans for Industry Fellows: How to Land a Full-Time Job Post-Fellowship. 

The Midyear is approaching fast! As a service to IPhO Student National Members, the National Fellows Council is collecting your questions and answering them here on the website!

We want to answer YOUR question - please email us here: fellows@industrypharmacist.org

Please click or tap on "Read More" to view current Fellows' answers to the following questions: 

• Are interviewers made aware of what other fellowships you are applying to via PPS, or is this question asked during interviews?
• If you don't click with one preceptor/fellow pair for one position at a reception, will that affect your chances of making a good impression with another fellow/preceptor pair (different position or not) at that company?
• Is it appropriate to offer my business card to a fellow/preceptor interviewer after an interview or reception? Or is that too aggressive/unprofessional by any means?
• How long after you request an interview on PPS do you receive a reply?
• Can you estimate the time you should stay at a reception if you plan on attending multiple?
• For Rutgers fellowship program, do I submit my letter of interest following the midyear? If so, when is the appropriate time to submit the letter of interest?
• Is it necessary for women to wear suits at interviews or is it ok for women to wear other business professional attire (not a jacket)?  
• I have a brief phone call interview scheduled, and I'm not sure what to expect. What's the purpose of phone call interviews?

As a service to IPhO members, the National Fellows Council is pleased to provide professional guidance related to Midyear. Remember to submit more questions to: fellows@industrypharmacist.org

Are interviewers made aware of what other fellowships you are applying to via PPS, or is this question asked during interviews?

Fellowship programs will not know which other programs/positions you’ve applied to unless it’s within the same fellowship. Bear in mind however that interviewers most likely expect candidates to have applied to multiple programs. There’s nothing wrong with that. There’s also nothing wrong with applying for multiple positions within the same fellowship program especially if you are consistent with which functional areas/positions you apply to.

If you don't click with one preceptor/fellow pair for one position at a reception, will that affect your chances of making a good impression with another fellow/preceptor pair (different position or not) at that company?

You might not necessarily click with everyone you connect with at a reception or interview, but remember a decision on which candidates are offered positions will be a collective decision among all the stakeholders involved with the selection process. Hence, the more people you click with, the higher your chances of a favorable interview outcome. In addition, very few final decisions are made at the midyear.  Your goal is to get an onsite interview, and that is also a group decision.

Is it appropriate to offer my business card to a fellow/preceptor interviewer after an interview or reception? Or is that too aggressive/unprofessional by any means?

It is appropriate to bring business cards to interviews and receptions and gives candidates a professional polish. Feel free to offer your card or ask for the fellow’s card first.

How long after you request an interview on PPS do you receive a reply?

This varies from program to program and from position to position. It could be immediately, or it could be weeks later.

Can you estimate the time you should stay at a reception if you plan on attending multiple?

It depends on how many receptions you need to attend. If it is more than two in one night you will need to make a plan of action.  The most important thing is to stay long enough to have a meaningful interaction with the people you need to. Staying for about 30-45 minutes should be enough time.

For the Rutgers fellowship program, do I submit my letter of interest following the midyear? If so, when is the appropriate time to submit the letter of interest?

For the Rutgers Fellowship Program, you should submit your letter of interest immediately following Midyear. Ideally, you could upload it on the Wednesday or Thursday after the program receptions. Candidates submit one letter for the Rutgers Program, even if applying to multiple companies.

Is it necessary for women to wear suits at interviews or is it ok for women to wear other business professional attire (not a jacket)?

Students sometimes wear business professional attire other than suits to their interviews, depending on how it looks and how comfortable you are. However, please keep in mind that packaging is important.  Your attire is a reflection of how you are as an individual and how serious you are regarding the position.  Appearance matters!

If I have a brief phone call interview scheduled, and I'm not sure what to expect. What's the purpose of phone call interviews?

For most programs, there is a finite number of interviewing slots at midyear, and the number interested candidates exceeds it. The purpose of a phone call interview/screen is for the interviewer to assess whether or not you are a serious applicant. The questions will more likely be more general in an initial screening interview. Remember that your goal is to come across as enthusiastic and committed so that you are invited for more interviews!

Sample Measurement of Satisfaction with a Professional Industry Coaching Service

The interest in pursuing a professional career in pharma continues to increase, as many pharmacists are not satisfied with the practice that they are currently employed in. Additionally, there is growing interest by student pharmacists who are being exposed to industry through rotations, electives, and internships. This has resulted in a significant increase in pharmacy graduates seeking to pursue industry as a career. Unfortunately, this has resulted in steep competition among candidates especially for entry- level positions and fellowships within industry. To support this growing need, IPhO launched a career coaching service for its members.

Lauren Bartolome, a University of Florida PharmD Candidate and IPhO Chapter President participated in an IPhO internship and collaborated with Jerry Silverman, VP Professional Development and Coaching to measure satisfaction among a sampling of participants utilizing this coaching service.

Methods

A ten-question survey was developed to measure overall participant’s satisfaction including: assistance in customizing their CV/resume, identifying their strengths and weaknesses, providing honest feedback and practical guidance, and participant determination of cost-effectiveness. The coaching service is available in time increments of 45 minutes each and respondents purchased on average three credits.

Results

The vast majority of candidates (73%) sought coaching to customize their CV/resume for industry. All respondents stated that they were satisfied or very satisfied with the IPhO Coaching Service. When respondents were asked whether they would be likely to recommend this coaching service to a friend or colleague; 91% responded very likely or likely.

IPhO is very pleased with the consistent feedback and ongoing demand for its coaching service to date. Based on the participant’s rating of satisfaction, referral, and cost-effectiveness, the IPhO Coaching Service looks like it is on the right track in providing this important service.

For more detailed information concerning this research study and to view the published poster, please visit IPhO Scholarly Publications

Authored by Lauren Bartolome, PharmD Candidate, Class of 2017, University of Florida

IPhO is pleased to introduce a new resource for its members, the Industry Certificate Catalog. This Certificate Catalog contains important program and contact information describing industry-focused post-graduate certificate training programs in the U.S. 

In many cases there is significant value to certificate programs – which are very practical and often underutilized credentials that can provide new graduates and experienced industry pharmacists with an appealing combination of i) rapid post-secondary achievement and ii) portable skills and knowledge. Certificate programs enable graduates to enhance their resume/CV credentials and strengthen their candidacy for their first industry position.   These programs also serve as valuable collateral to help industry pharmacists transition into disciplines outside of their existing/core department.

IPhO Members can click/tap “Read More” below to view or download the Industry Fellowship Catalog.

Click/tap here to view or download the Certificate Catalog

IPhO welcomes your assistance in keeping the Certificate Catalog as current and accurate as possible, so please email any suggested updates using our contact form.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS CATALOG IS INTENDED FOR THE INDIVIDUAL USE OF IPhO MEMBERS ONLY AND SHOULD NOT BE COPIED OR OTHERWISE REDISTRIBUTED.  Please refer to the IPhO website terms of service policy here: http://www.industrypharmacist.org/legal.php

IPhO recognizes and sincerely thanks the following IPhO Student Interns and National Fellows Council members for their work on this project; Kimberly Gittings, PharmD Candidate 2016, University of Rhode Island and Chair, IPhO National Student Chapters, Megan N. Brown, PharmD, Fellow Drug Information Purdue/Janssen/FDA, Matt Vitale, PharmD, Visiting Scientist Fellow, Eli Lilly, and Kushal Patel, PharmD Candidate 2016, Rutgers University.

The number of pharmacy schools is steadily increasing, but what about the number of pharmacy jobs? The job market is very different than it was 10 years ago; there is no longer a pharmacist shortage. Since there aren’t as many incentives to join retail pharmacy as before, students have started exploring other career paths for pharmacists. Students say they are not receiving enough information about industry, so why is there increasing interest in it?

In a recent survey, almost 50% of student pharmacists indicated that the reason they are potentially interested in the biopharmaceutical industry is to discover areas of pharmacy other than the conventional retail and hospital pharmacy they are exposed to in school. This may either be due to an interest in finding out more about something unfamiliar or a desire to explore a different career path because they do not see themselves working in a hospital or retail setting.

17% of students surveyed indicated that they want to help discover new medications and 16% of students want the ability to help patients in different way. In a hospital or retail setting, there is a limited radius of patients a pharmacist can impact. In industry, the potential to help patients extends to a global level. 13% of students see the industry as a source of job and financial security.

The “other” category (5%) included reponses like self-satisfaction, growth, research opportunities, and the ability to help patients on a global level while merging business and research and development into one career.

The robust PharmD curriculum prepares pharmacy graduates well for traditional pharmacy roles. But the PharmD degree is also very versatile and allows pharmacists to venture into many non traditional roles as well, including industry. Accordingly, some students appear to be eager to pursue a multidimensional career, rather than just the clinical aspects of pharmacy. This bodes will for the biopharmaceutical industry, since it is represents one of the best ways for a pharmacist to apply his/her skills and knowledge outside of the traditional pharmacy setting.

Authored by Nikole Shpilfogel, MCPHS University-Boston PharmD Class of 2017, with contributions from Professor Bernard Tyrrell, MCPHS University-Boston, and James Alexander, Executive Director of IPhO

IPhO MCPHS- Worcester and VCU Chapters Place First and Second in the Annual VIP Advocacy Challenge Program

The VIP Advocacy Challenge is an annual program IPhO Student Chapters participate in to create positive messages about the value of industry pharmacists and the value of the pharmaceutical industry.

The VIP Advocacy Challenge is targeted to providers, payers, and industry employers to highlight the critical roles of pharmacy professionals within the pharmaceutical industry. Each IPhO Student Chapter was invited to develop an outreach platform that advocates for the contributions make in supporting the role of industry in improving patients’ quality of life.

This program was designed, supervised, and evaluated by the IPhO National Fellows Council (INFC), which is comprised of current Fellows, and IPhO members that represent a significant majority of the industry fellowship programs nationwide. The INFC collaborates to establish various developmental and networking activities consistent with the mission and goals of IPhO.

Following a thorough evaluation process, the INFC is pleased to present the results of the 1st Annual VIP Advoacy Challenge!

 FIRST Place Winner

MCPHS University-Worcester IPhO Chapter Presents: The Industry Pharmacy Experience

The MCPHS-Worcester IPhO chapter collaborated with Science Café Woo and Nu Café a local cafe in Worcester, MA to host an event to promote the ongoing R&D of pharmaceutical companies to a consumer audience. The event was also able to showcase how a pharmacist in the industry could impact patient health.

The event included 3 guest speakers: Professor Bernard Tyrrell, Director of the MCPHS University Biopharmaceutical Industry Fellowship Program; Lee Anne Filosa, a Translational Medicine Fellow at Novartis Institutes of Biomedical Research; and Carrie Cammarano, a Clinical Supplies Fellow at Genzyme.

An IRB-approved six-question survey assessed audience impact. 27 of 80 consumer participants completed pre- and post-program surveys to evaluate changes in attitude and knowledge. The evaluations showed a marked 19.2% increase in consumer’s perception of the impact of industry pharmacists.  

This event was a remarkable success and drove several outreach opportunities and partnerships in the local community.

Second Place Winner

Virginia Commonwealth University IPhO Chapter: Professional Advocacy Series Highlighting the Importance of Pharmacists in Industry

Pharmacists are consistently recognized for being the most trusted healthcare professionals. This respect is earned mainly from their contributions in traditional community and hospital roles. However, the scope of pharmacy practice also extends to the pharmaceutical industry, where pharmacists work in many diverse areas.

To highlight the impact of pharmacists in these roles, the VCU-IPhO Advocacy Challenge Committee created and produced a short film. This video provides an overview of a drug product’s life cycle and the contributions that pharmacists make throughout the process. The committee collected the opinions of VCU School of Pharmacy students and faculty via on camera interviews, and produced a video featuring both live interviews and animations. The final product provided student and faculty insights in combination with key information about the pharmaceutical industry.

The intended audience for this film was the student and faculty community of VCU School of Pharmacy. To increase outreach within the VCU School of Pharmacy, the video was shared on several social media platforms, including YouTube and Facebook. Video viewership was promoted via in-class announcements and school-associated social media outlets, which enabled the film to reach students and faculty who were less familiar with the diverse roles that pharmacists hold within industry. The impact of the film was measured by viewership, which has already exceeded 300 views.

Awards and Recognition

• First place winner MCPHS University-Worcester received $250
• Second place winner Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) received $150
• Other IPhO Chapters participating in the Challenge received $75 each (Northeastern University, Rutgers University, and Temple University) 
• Recognition of the 1^st and 2^nd place winners will reach all 2,500 IPhO student and fellow registrants/members via email and the IPhO website

IPhO will also identify and evaluate elements from all chapter submissions that may be suitable for inclusion in future national programs and chapters will be recognized accordingly.

INFC and IPhO Leadership thank all chapters for their participation and commitment in creating and implementing advocacy programs that promote the Value of Industry Pharmacists to all of the many stakeholders who influence our professional success.

Best,

Bhavini Parikh, PharmD

Chair, IPhO National Fellows Council

Fellow, Eli Lilly & Company, FDA, Purdue University

Jerry Silverman, RPh

VP, Professional Development and Coaching, IPhO