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Pharmacists in the Industry:
A New Trend? By Alexis Lee I used to think that I was treading in new water when it came to pursuing a career in the biotech industry with a degree in pharmacy. However, I quickly realized that wasn’t the case at all, or at least, not entirely. Many professionals with a pharmacy background have already taken a pioneering role to create exciting new career opportunities among large and high-profile companies like Genentech and Pfizer. They have paved the road for future pharmacists to hold and build upon existing responsibilities that would not have appeared conventional ten or twenty years ago. And I state not entirely, because in our mainstream society there still exists this inexorable, orthodox conception of a pill-dispensing pharmacist that is slowly, but surely, evolving. I, myself, used to work for a biotech company and have always felt that the industry was a place for scientists, researchers, sales reps and some MD’s, but never pharmacists. So, ultimately, when I got a chance to meet up with a mentor who was a pharmacy graduate who ended up in the industry, I was very eager to learn and gain as much insight as I could. My mentor, Dr. Janice Tam, surpasses the expression “over-achiever.” She is someone with years of experience in many different fields, including teaching. The first thing I was able to discuss with Janice was the career path that she chose and the reasons behind that choice. After pharmacy school, Janice did a UCSF fellowship, then took on the role of an infectious disease specialist at Stanford, then went into managed care and health policy as a VP, and now works as the Director of Medical Affairs for Gilead. (Wow!) I wanted to soak up any and all information from someone with such invaluable and knowledgeable experience. The most important discussion that I had with Janice was regarding the right time and opportunities to conduct research. She gave me such great advice that I can truly say that no matter which decision I make, I know that my mind is at ease knowing that research is something I can always pursue during and after school. School and career were not the only topics on our agenda, I was also able to ask about Janice’s family life and the impact that an arduous career can have on a family. “Of course, sometimes work takes a toll on your personal life,” she replied. However, I was glad to hear that there are jobs that offer flexibility. Even with a full family, she travels quite frequently and is able to work at home and drive or pick her kids up from school. If there is one take-home message that I have gained, it is that after I finish pharmacy school and whether I end up in research, teaching, managed care, residency, or in the industry, there are myriad of opportunities that are waiting to be created and filled. I am grateful to have a mentor like Dr. Tam, and I know that she is someone I can count on to be a great resource for acquiring advice about the industry. I just hope that someday I can be a mentor to someone who might one day feel like that he or she is treading in new water. Alexis Lee is a second-year pharmacy student.
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