IPhO News

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

Congratulations to student pharmacists at The University of Texas - Austin College of Pharmacy. IPhO now connects them to a national network of 4,000 student pharmacists with similar interests, as well as a national network of 440 industry fellows and 10,000 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: GlaxoSmithKline (UNC)

Function/Discipline: Global Regulatory Affairs

Fellowship Years: 2017-2019

Alma Mater: Rutgers University, Class of 2017

Industry is full of new and exciting innovations that drew me in from early in my pharmacy school career. I knew from my involvement in the Rutgers student chapter of DIA and my experiences within industry that I wanted to be a part of this dynamic environment and continue to grow as a life-long learner. I have always been passionate about wanting to help patients on a macro scale, and the pharmaceutical industry provides an ideal outlet for these ambitions.

Fellowship Sponsor Company: Merck (Rutgers)

Function/Discipline: Global Regulatory Affairs

Fellowship Years: 2017-2019

Alma Mater: Howard University, Class of 2017

Throughout pharmacy school, I gained work experience in both the retail and hospital settings, and I knew that the “traditional roles” of pharmacy practice were not the best fit for me. I wanted to position myself to do more. During my second year in pharmacy school, I was given the opportunity to work with a team of colleagues to develop a multidisciplinary initiative that targeted the homeless population of Washington, DC. As I worked on the project, I recognized how much I enjoyed working with individuals with unique areas of expertise in order to create something innovative that provided a major positive impact to underserved communities. This experience inspired me to pursue post-doctoral opportunities that would allow me to work in a similar environment. Soon after the initiative, a Howard University alumnus and Rutgers Fellow came to speak to us regarding the various roles for pharmacists within the pharmaceutical industry. As he discussed the details of the various positions within several functional areas, I was reminded of the role I played in the homeless outreach initiative. After his presentation, I decided that I was going to pursue a position in the pharmaceutical industry.

Check out this new book about how to be an entrepreneur and start a business, and also how to become a leader in healthcare starting with a pharmacy degree.

The book features a series of chapters written by successful pharmacists who have become enterpreneurs and leaders in healthcare, including IPhO CEO James Alexander.

Order your copy HERE.

Company: Halozyme Therapeutics
Current Role: CMC Specialist, Regulatory Affairs
Alma Mater: Touro University, California, Class of 2016

In 2011, my 12-year career as a microbiologist for the largest brewing company in the Pacific Northwest unknowingly came to an abrupt end. Changes in the small company I joined in 1999 that had a top 10 national ranking in 2016, manifested in layoffs. As the layoffs gathered momentum, it was my signal to leave and begin a year long process looking at alternative career options where I could leverage my 12-years of service in aseptic manufacturing. I had spent my career focused in the life sciences after graduating from the University of California Santa Cruz. I was 42 years old and married for 8 years to a PhD scientist who had been employed as a MSL in the pharmaceutical industry since 2003. My sister-in-law, a PhD clinician, was also employed as a MSL. After numerous discussions with family members, I began to explore the application process to pharmacy school in the fall of 2011 and fully consider the prospect of earning a PharmD degree. Ultimately, I considered a doctoral degree in pharmacy as the best opportunity to leverage my 20-years of experience in healthcare and aseptic manufacturing. I believed the best fit for my unconventional background was the School of Pharmacy at Touro University California.

Fellowship Sponsor Company: Takeda Oncology (MCPHS)

Function/Discipline: Global Medical Affairs, Medical Science Liaison

Fellowship Years: 2017-2018

Alma Mater: Fairleigh Dickinson University, Class of 2017

I am eager to learn, develop, and implement healthcare strategies and educational tools to improve peoples’ health and their quality of life. Prior to pharmacy school I earned a bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Food Science from Southern Utah University. Upon graduation, I had the opportunity to teach low-income families and individuals the basics of food budgeting, safety and preparation. Later, I worked as a pharmaceutical compounder, using my food science skills to develop individualized medicine. In both of these roles, I greatly enjoyed being able to make a difference in peoples’ lives. I decided that I wanted to be part of a team that truly makes a difference in the lives of patients’ and their families on a global level. I returned to school to obtain a PharmD degree and pursue a career in the pharmaceutical industry.

Fellowship Sponsor Company: Takeda Pharmaceuticals (Purdue)

Function/Discipline: Global Regulatory Affairs – Strategy

Fellowship Years: 2016-2018

Alma Mater: Purdue University, Class of 2016

I had every intention of becoming a community pharmacist in my small hometown of Francesville, Indiana. However, after spending 4 years in the retail setting, I realized I did not feel as challenged or fulfilled as I hoped. Thus, I began to look at other opportunities outside of traditional hospital and community pharmacy. My curiosity led me to many presentations and discussions at Purdue with pharmacists and leaders in the pharmaceutical industry. It was here I learned that an industry pharmacist can be highly involved in developing and promoting access to new medications for patients all over the world. This was the challenging career that I was looking for.

www.phactmi.org/PortalCodeOfPractice

Thursday, August 17, 2017 - The Pharma Collaboration for Transparent Medical Information, known as phactMI™, is pleased to announce the publication of the MI Code of Practice. Written by phactMI members, the Code of Practice provides pharmaceutical-company MI professionals with standards to guide their responses to healthcare professional requests.

“The MI Code of Practice articulates standards that Industry MI professionals follow in responding to questions about their respective products,” says Dominick Albano, Vice President, Global Medical Information, Pfizer and Board of Directors, phactMI. “It reflects the integrity with which we approach our work, which supports the safe, effective, and appropriate use of medicines, thereby ultimately benefiting patients.”

MI professionals have access to scientifically accurate, up to date information on their products. As such, they are able to support healthcare professionals in their commitment to provide quality patient care. The Code of Practice provides guidance to MI professionals centered on three core elements:

• Clinical and pharmaceutical expertise
• Scientific balance of medical responses
• Quality standards

“I think it is important that Healthcare professionals who utilize industry MI services or who are considering using MI services know who we are and what we stand for,” continues Albano. “I think the same is true for patients and caregivers. The Code of Practice helps provide this understanding and can serve to increase trust.”

The phactMI Code of Practice can be accessed at:

www.phactmi.org/PortalCodeOfPractice

MAPS, the Medical Affairs Professional Society, is a non-profit global society of Medical Affairs professionals across a spectrum of fields, experience and locales. I chose to be a part of MAPS because it is the only society BY Medical Affairs professionals, FOR Medical Affairs professionals. Medical Affairs as a designated function has only been around for about 25-30 years which is relatively young compared to other functional areas in the industry. I believe in the vision of MAPS to elevate the role of medical affairs to be an equal partner to other functions, and lead the industry in the education of customers for the greater benefit of patients.

Pharmacists such as myself in the pharmaceutical industry can benefit from MAPS by expanding their understanding of medical affairs from true industry leaders, and networking through engaging professional events. I encourage you to explore the opportunities and resources that MAPS can provide you!

Visit HERE to learn more about MAPS!

Best Regards,

Ramin Farhood, PharmD, MBA, Vice President and Head, Global Medical Affairs, AveXis, and MAPS Executive Leadership Committee Member

Fellowship Sponsor Company: Merck

Function/Discipline: Clinical Safety and Risk Management

Fellowship Years: 2017-2019

Alma Mater: University of Maryland, Baltimore, Class of 2017

My choice to pursue pharmacy and the pharmaceutical industry never really surprised me. Even in undergraduate school, I was a biology major looking into entering public health instead of joining everyone in pre-med. I suppose it was my unique experiences and perspective in health care that influenced me to be where I am today.

Fellowship Sponsor Company: Entrée Health (Omnicom Health Group)

Function/Discipline: Market Access

Fellowship Years: 2017-2019

Alma Mater: Rutgers University, Class of 2017

“You went to pharmacy school…to do marketing?” a good friend asked me (with a very confused expression) when I announced my decision to join a fellowship program offered by Omnicom Health Group. That was the first of many times I would hear that question since accepting the offer.

Company and Department: Amgen, Regulatory Promotion Compliance

Current Role: Senior Associate Reviewer

Alma Mater: Temple University, Class of 2017

I have heard countless times how important networking is, but I did not truly understand its value until it helped me land my first job in industry.

Like many student pharmacists, my interest in the pharmaceutical industry as an alternative to traditional pharmacist roles was strong, but my knowledge of what one can do in industry was lacking. Therefore, in my first year at Temple University School of Pharmacy, I co-founded our chapter of IPhO. This was in an effort to increase my classmates, and my own, understanding of the avenues that were available to us in industry upon graduation. We gained valuable insight from each speaker that came in, and we learned some of the nuances of each position, from regulatory to medical affairs, to marketing and much more.

Authored by Alyssa Bowling, PharmD, Medical Information/Medical Affairs Fellow 2016-18, MCPHS University. The views and opinions represented below are those of the author alone, and should not be attributed to any organization with which the author is employed or affiliated.

A decade ago, the idea of “patient-centricity” in pharmaceutical industry was brand new; however, it has quickly become commonplace in nearly every company. It seems that conversations take place daily to evaluate how companies can shift focus from viewing patients as merely customers to instead seeing them as the group that drives and directs company initiatives. Rather than communicating solely with healthcare professionals to discuss products, the industry is moving toward engaging patients to better understand their personal experiences and to uncover unmet needs.

I put on my jacket and immediately my shoulders went back and I stood up straight.

I think I need to practice in my suit. I feel more “on” when I do.

These comments, from participants in a recent class on presentation skills, demonstrate that your clothing choices can help you to project confidence and to come across as a credible person – one your audience wants to listen to. Yet attire is one of those little things that presenters often don’t think about, or plan.

We are pleased to formally introduce our 2017-18 National Student Officers (NSOs). The competition for these prestigious leadership positions gets higher every year as the number of pharmacy schools with approved IPhO Chapters has now reached 50!

IPhO is pleased to announce the addition of two new student chapters, and our growing national network has now reached 50 schools of pharmacy!

In just the fifth year of operation, IPhO represents the fastest growing student pharmacist chapter network in the United States.

As the 2016-17 Fellowship year officially comes to an end, several IPhO National Fellows Council (NFC) members have successfully completed their industry fellowships/residencies and accepted their first full time industry positions. We recognize and congratulate them, and all the outgoing fellows, on this significant accomplishment!

Outgoing NFC Leaders

• Alex Wei, PharmD
• Matthew Schmidt, PharmD
• Joyce Cao, PharmD
• Vatche Demirjian, PharmD
• Nicholas Heath, PharmD
• Gediminas Pliura, PharmD
• Alisha Couto, PharmD
• Phil Armendi, PharmD