The IPhO Podcast

Episode 45: From Community Pharmacy to Medical Information with Marise Khalil On this episode of the IPhO Podcast, we're joined by Marise Khalil, PharmD, MBA, RPh, Senior Associate, Medical Information - Rare Disease Lead at Amgen. Marise shares how her scientific knowledge and expertise in pharmacy practice have supported her transition to the pharmaceutical industry. She also breaks down the workflow differences and similarities between community pharmacy and medical information—including the many skills needed for both roles! This episode will help pharmacy students and practicing pharmacists learn to highlight their skills and experiences while pursuing industry roles. Marise's advice: get involved and retain as many skills as you can, because those skills will lead to career opportunities!

On this episode of the IPhO Podcast, we're joined by Mohamed Elzokm, PharmD, RPh, MBAc, first-year Consumer Health Medical and Clinical Affairs Fellow at Bayer/Rutgers. Mohamed shares a personal reflection on what inspired him to pursue the pharmaceutical industry, skills for students to highlight in interviews if they don't have industry experience, his positive outlook on encountering roadblocks along the way, and so much more. This episode will help students prepare to break out of the pharmacy school mindset, to present with confidence and succeed on the path to fellowship and beyond.

Episode 43: From Fellow to Full-Time Role with Megan Kahleifeh On this episode of the IPhO Podcast, we're joined by Megan Kahleifeh, PharmD, Senior Manager, Global Medical Communications at Genmab. As Megan neared the end of her medical affairs fellowship, she began to explore full-time roles at other companies. Though it wasn't her original plan to leave, she found external opportunities that aligned more closely with the career path she hoped to take. Megan shares the knowledge and skills she gained during her fellowship that made her a strong candidate when applying for full-time roles. One of her biggest pieces of advice: know how to communicate effectively and proactively! If you're preparing for next steps after your fellowship, you don't want to miss this episode! We hope you enjoy.

Episode 42 - Maintaining Your Network with Naomi Kozlowski On this episode of the IPhO Podcast, we're joined by Naomi Kozlowski, PharmD, Regulatory Promotion Lead at Amgen. Naomi shares how a unique leadership training experience in pharmacy school piqued her interest in the pharmaceutical industry, how she honed her problem solving and critical thinking skills, and the early connection that changed the entire trajectory of her career. Naomi's journey is proof of the power of building and maintaining your network—in pharmacy school and beyond.

On this episode, we're joined by Keroles Nakhla, PharmD, Principal Scientist in PK Sciences at Novartis. Keroles shares the experiences in pharmacy school that set him up for success, provides a helpful overview of PK Sciences, and describes his journey to discovering his passion for this unique functional area. Plus, he talks in-depth about his transition from industry Fellow to full-time employee at Novartis, and some of the most important things to look for in a future employer.

On this episode of the IPhO podcast, we introduce our newest host, Rita Youssef! Rita is the current Rotational Regulatory Affairs Fellow at Amgen in partnership with the Rutgers Pharmaceutical Industry Fellowship (RPIF) Program. The Podcast team would like to welcome Rita and thank Brian Arana-Madriz for his hard work and dedication to the series for the past year.

On this episode of the IPhO podcast, we are joined by Josiah Moore, a current PharmD candidate at Mercer University and a contractor at UCB. Josiah shares how he made the decision to pursue industry, how he secured life-changing industry experiences, and his major takeaways as he began his industry work as a contractor.

On this episode of the IPhO podcast, we are joined by Josef S. Wills, PharmD, RPh and Brandon Vassar, PharmD for an insightful discussion on the future of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the pharmaceutical industry. Our guests share powerful first-hand experiences from their own career journeys and offer their thoughts on how to keep moving forward.

Join us for this exciting episode of the IPhO Podcast, as we dive into the world of pharmaceutical marketing with Dr. Shivani Vora. As a seasoned professional in the industry, Dr. Vora shares her expertise on global brand marketing, with a specific focus on oncology. Discover Dr. Vora's unique career journey, from her beginnings in HEOR market access to her current role in shaping the future of pharma. Gain valuable perspectives into market access strategies and the challenges of transitioning from a medical to a commercial role. We think you'll enjoy getting to know Dr. Vora as much as we did! And we hope you'll come away with tips to help shape your own future in the world of pharma. Listen now!

This podcast episode features Kyle Noonan, PharmD, Health Outcomes & Market Access Fellow at AmerisourceBergen Xcenda. Listen in as we explore the world of market access and its vital role in driving patient access. Kyle shares his experiences collaborating with stakeholders in the drug channel and working alongside the Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR) department. You'll also learn more about Pharmacy Benefit Managers and their important position in the pharmaceutical ecosystem. Kyle's diverse background in healthcare settings and strong leadership experience give him a unique perspective on the world of market access and how to establish yourself as a top candidate. You'll come away with key takeaways and valuable advice—you don't want to miss it!

On this episode of the IPhO podcast, we have the pleasure of speaking with Camille Pope, Chief Medical Lead at Acclinate, who has more than 15 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry. Camille shares her insights on networking, maintaining professional relationships, navigating mergers and acquisitions, and creating more opportunities for diverse talent. Camille is passionate about fostering diverse talent and striving for health equity through inclusive research. She has established multiple initiatives and programs to help students attending historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) gain experience in the pharmaceutical industry. Camille's dedication to diversity is an inspiration to others in the industry. Tune in for invaluable tips on building a strong network, nurturing meaningful professional relationships, and creating a more inclusive and equitable future for the pharmaceutical industry. We are also thrilled to have Camille joining us at the 2023 Annual Meeting as our keynote speaker! She will elaborate on the importance of patient diversity in clinical trials—a critical topic for anyone interested in an industry career. Register today!

On this episode of the IPhO Podcast, we are joined by Kevin Darko. Kevin is a PharmD working as a Global Regulatory Affairs Fellow at UCB. His industry journey started as an undergraduate research assistant at the Bowie State University Drug Synthesis lab. There, his passion for drug development and interest in pharma flourished as he learned more about how these drugs related to the disease state and by extension the patient's quality of life. Always wanting to help people and improve their health status, Kevin came into pharmacy school knowing he wanted to go into industry. There, Kevin was able to hone the many skills needed to be successful in industry by pushing himself outside of his comfort zone, and continually challenging himself to reach the top of his game. Tune in this week as we go over the ins and outs of Regulatory Affairs, and what you can do to stand out among the competition, only on the IPhO Podcast.

On this special podcast episode, we are joined by our very own National Student Officer for Marketing and Partnerships, Jessica Blaze! Jessica is a fourth year pharmacy student at Nova Southeastern University (NSU). Prior to attending NSU, she graduated with a Bachelors in Biological Sciences with a minor in General Business from The University of Rhode Island. Currently, she is pursuing an MBA in addition to her PharmD degree. During her time at NSU, she has acquired multiple leadership positions including President of the IPhO chapter, Historian for the Student College of Clinical Pharmacy, and Scholarship Chair for Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity. She also spends time working as a Dean's Ambassador, representing NSU College of Pharmacy to alumni and future pharmacy students. Along with her current National Student Officer role and APPE rotations, Jessica works at a boutique dietary supplement company as a health and wellness writer, creating promotional content. Jessica's plate may be incredibly full, but her strategies for time and project management serve her well. Tune in to learn how Jessica juggles her workload, maintains a healthy work/life balance, and grows her confidence in industry along the way! A special thank you to our episode sponsor, Boehringer-Ingelheim.

On this special podcast episode, we are joined by Kelly Cheung, Immunology Medical Affairs Fellow at UCB. Kelly has been a highly involved member of IPhO serving as the ACPHS Local Chapter President, and later becoming a Regional Student Officer and joining the IPhO National Fellows Council. Kelly's engagement with the pharmacy community doesn't stop with IPhO. While at ACPHS, Kelly also served as a student ambassador, a peer tutor, a student researcher, and the President of the Multicultural Club which won club of the year award 2 years in a row under her leadership. Tune in this week to hear more on how Kelly was able to leverage her experiences through IPhO and ACPHS to successfully break into industry pharmacy without having direct industry experience. All this and more on episode 32 of the IPhO Podcast! A special thank you to our episode sponsors, Parexel and the University of the Pacific: Parexel: https://jobs.parexel.com/IPhO-Webinar-Path-to-Project-Leader-Program#:~:text=Parexel%27s%20Path%20to%20Project%20Leader%20Program%20provides%20the%20opportunity%20for,to%20an%20Associate%20Project%20Leader University of the Pacific: https://pharmacy.pacific.edu/pharmacy/fellowship/

We are kicking off the new year with a special podcast episode featuring Shawn Leland, CEO and Founder of Elevation Oncology! Shawn brings over a decade of experience in medical affairs and business development for the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, with a focus on building collaborations to realize the full potential of targeted and personalized therapeutics. His company, Elevation Oncology, is leading the way in novel cancer treatment, while always prioritizing the work/life balance and well-being of employees. Shawn stresses the importance of a flexible work environment that allows employees to be present in their careers and their homes. To perform at your best, he says, you need to have the time to sit back and refresh. Tune in now to learn about Shawn's journey and the exciting new developments happening at Elevation Oncology!

On this episode of the IPhO Podcast, we are joined by Ekene Oranu, PharmD, US Oncology Marketing Fellow at Merck. Ekene shares how to leverage your transferable skills within industry to secure the position that's right for you. Ekene breaks down the skills you likely already possess to help bolster your resume as you apply for fellowships and entry-level roles, as well as how to succeed once you're there. You'll learn how to make the most of your relationship with your preceptors, develop your industry confidence as a PharmD, navigate industry functional areas, and more. This is an episode you don't want to miss! A special thank you to our episode sponsors, the National Pharmaceutical Council, RevHealth, and the University of Southern California. NPC: https://www.npcnow.org/about/health-policy-fellowship-rutgers-npc RevHealth: https://www.industrypharmacist.org/resources/f7a77ebfd6665c5b96576ab65f65d420.pdf USC: https://pharmacyschool.usc.edu/program/fellowship-programs/

On this special podcast episode, we are joined again by IPhO CEO and Founder, Jim Alexander. And it's the perfect time: 2022 marks the 10th anniversary of IPhO! We're proud to look back on our very first days, celebrate how IPhO has grown over the past 10 years, and share our big plans for the future. "IPhO is not a thing; it's a community of people," says Jim. With 100 student chapters, a growing diversity and inclusion program, incredible partnerships with industry leaders, and a network of passionate and talented members, there's no limit to what IPhO can achieve over the next decade and beyond. You definitely don't want to miss this one, so throw on your headphones and check out episode 29 of the IPhO Podcast! A special thank you to our episode sponsors, Pfizer and Novo Nordisk.

Episode 28: Meet Our Newest Podcast Host (Brian Arana-Madriz, PharmD) We're excited to officially introduce you to the newest member of our IPhO Podcast team, Brian Arana-Madriz. Brian is a Global Regulatory Affairs Fellow at Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease, and an active member of the IPhO National Fellows Council! Join us as we get to know Brian and learn about his background, experiences, future plans for the podcast, and helpful advice for those who may be pursuing non-traditional pharmacy roles. Whether it's advice on networking effectively, choosing a functional area, planning for fellowship interviews, or sending out fellowship applications—Brian's got you covered. A Special thank you to our episode sponsors, Northeastern University, and Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia College of Pharmacy. Northeastern University: https://bouve.northeastern.edu/pharmacy/fellowships/ SJU: https://www.sju.edu/departments/pharmacy-practice/postgraduate-programs/fellowships

John M. O'Brien, President and CEO of the National Pharmaceutical Council (NPC), joins us for episode 27 of the IPhO Podcast! John has quite the resume, having worked in pharma, academia, health policy, and government—just to name a few—throughout his career. Growing up, he wanted to be a sports broadcaster. But watching how much of an impact medicine made on his own mother's life changed his career plans entirely. Since then, he's gone on to establish himself as a leader in Healthcare Policy, influencing decisions that have positively impacted access to medications for millions of patients. We can't wait for you to listen and meet John, learn a bit about the NPC Fellowship Program, and gain a better understanding of what it means to work in this important realm of industry. A special thank you to our episode sponsors, Eli Lilly and Company, UCB, and UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy! Eli Lilly and Company: https://www.industrypharmacist.org/resources/70f55464042425ad7ff4d0442279d7fc.pdf UCB: https://www.industrypharmacist.org/resources/3880d166c5aba7c0772ffb6966a64e7b.pdf UNC: https://pharmacy.unc.edu/education/fellowships/

I'm overwhelmed with my pharmacy school loans; I know I need to save for my future, but I don't know where to begin; I thought I was making a great income until I realized how expensive life out of school really is; the list goes on. These were just some of the comments that Tim Ulbrich, CEO and Co-Founder of Your Financial Pharmacist, heard over and over again. They inspired him to take action and help others navigate their financial well-being. Building his business from the ground up was no easy feat. He grew his idea into a hobby, and then turned his hobby into a side hustle. His side hustle took off and evolved into his current business—and Tim reached all these milestones while simultaneously pursuing his academic career. Whether you are a current student, recent graduate, Industry Fellow, or experienced Industry Pharmacist, you don't want to miss this insightful podcast episode. Tim shares his advice for how to set yourself up for financial success, some of his go-to reads on the topic of financial well-being, and so much more.