2024 Student Fellowship Spotlights
As the end of the school year is approaching, the class of 2024 is looking towards their life post-grad. One path that students at the R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy follow is a fellowship after their last year in school. The application process is rigorous and it is a great accomplishment. Here we have spotlighted some of the amazing students who have been placed in a fellowship.
"It is a privilege to chair the RF prep committee now in its 12th year. The goal of the program is to pair students with mentors consisting of both faculty, clinical partners, and alumni to provide students guidance for completing the application process. We are thrilled that our students have been selected for excellent fellowships for the coming year." -Amy K. Kennedy, PharmD, BCACP, Associate Professor & Assistant Department Head, Pharmacy Practice & Science, Chair, Residency-Fellowship Preparation Program
Amanda Flood
Where is your fellowship?
PTC Therapeutics, Global Regulatory Affairs
What sort of work will you be doing?
I will participate in the development of global regulatory strategies supporting the development, approval, and maintenance of drugs and biologics. I will work with both R&D and non-R&D team members to identify solutions that meet regulatory requirements and commercial objectives. I will submit and maintain regulatory applications, including INDs, CTAs, and NDAs/BLAs.
How did the R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy prepare you for this opportunity?
Early on, the college introduces students to the different areas of pharmacy. This early start was important for me to begin gathering experiences and education that would shape me towards the area I wanted to pursue.
What advice would you give to other students preparing to apply for fellowships?
As you are looking into programs, don't overlook the importance of the company's mission statement and culture. If you connect with the company, it will be a better fit and mutually benefit both parties. Make sure to gather your materials early so you can apply as soon as applications open and be passionate about the companies you relate to.
How do you feel this fellowship will contribute to your future successes?
Fellowship is a unique opportunity to gather various experiences in the pharmaceutical industry that are not introduced in pharmacy school. I am excited and fortunate to be able to explore different areas for specific roles I would want to pursue as a career after.
Hirra Zaidi
Where is your fellowship?
My fellowship is in Global Patient Safety and Risk Management with Northeastern University and Alnylam Pharmaceuticals located in Boston, Massachusetts
What sort of work will you be doing?
As the Global Patient Safety and Risk Management fellow, I’ll be overseeing activities related to the detection, assessment, understanding and prevention of adverse effects or other medicine-related safety concerns to ensure safe use of medicines and to safeguard health of patients.
How did the R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy prepare you for this opportunity?
RKC College of Pharmacy provided me with valuable resources such as industry pharmacy electives, research opportunities, and faculty mentorship, which prepared me for this fellowship. The mock interview sessions were instrumental in readying me for fellowship interviews and the feedback received contributed to my success.
What advice would you give to other students preparing to apply for fellowships?
My advice would be to research the companies and connect with current and past fellows in the areas students are interested in. I’d also recommend pursuing opportunities such as internships or rotations within industry to gain experience. This will help with networking within the field as well as broadening their understanding of the different functional areas within industry.
How do you feel this fellowship will contribute to your future successes?
This fellowship represents a crucial starting point for cultivating skills, knowledge, and experience in the field of drug safety. The expertise gained here will not only enhance my performance within the fellowship but also prove valuable in various future endeavors. By participating in this program, I will be better equipped to surmount challenges and make significant strides toward my aspiration of becoming a competent and versatile pharmacovigilance scientist.
Ed Evangelista
Where is your fellowship?
The American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP) in Bethesda, MD
What sort of work will you be doing?
This fellowship focuses on pharmacy association leadership, management and advocacy for the professions. I will be an executive fellow, I will be learning all facets of non-profit leadership and advocacy. I will be partnering with the different areas within ASHP helping to conceive, initiate, and move projects forward to enhance the profession of pharmacy.
How did the R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy prepare you for this opportunity?
I am grateful that the college of Pharmacy offered several different electives that helped to prepare me for this fellowship. The Leadership and Rural Health Certificate programs offered my unique experiences that I was able to use during the fellowship process. I am also grateful that U of A had a rotation preceptor at ASHP, so that I was able to go and learn more about ASHP. Having student clubs on campus also helped, as you could participate on eboards to gain some leadership experience.
What advice would you give to other students preparing to apply for fellowships?
Be open to new experiences and opportunities. Use the student clubs to explore different types of aspects of pharmacy. You never know what you will discover!
How do you feel this fellowship will contribute to your future successes?
This fellowship will help me further hone my leadership skills and work in project management. This will allow me to continue to advocate for the pharmacy profession in different roles as I move through my career.
Vanessa McWilliams
Where is your fellowship?
Pfizer Headquarters in New York City, New York
What sort of work will you be doing?
I will be working on the U.S. Medical Affairs- Rare Disease team to help patients with sickle cell disease, working on projects that will ultimately lead to getting vital medications into patient's hands.
How did the R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy prepare you for this opportunity?
A UACOP alumni, Michelle Ciambella, created an industry elective that provided amazing information and education to students about the opportunities that PharmDs have in the pharmaceutical industry. This course taught me about the different functional areas and how a pharmaceutical company works. IPhO was also instrumental in helping me prepare for a fellowship by hosting helpful networking and Q&A sessions with both industry professionals and current fellows.
What advice would you give to other students preparing to apply for fellowships?
I would advise other students to create a LinkedIn page and start networking as soon as possible. Take the time to teach yourself about the different functional areas and discover which is most interesting to you. I would also highly recommend trying to do a summer internship in industry or set up industry APPEs if possible.
How do you feel this fellowship will contribute to your future successes?
This fellowship will expose me to a variety of teams that make up a functioning Medical Affairs unit at a large pharmaceutical company. This experience will allow me to build a portfolio of projects that I have worked on or lead. Along the way, I will be able to network with established industry professionals, which is also an important part to success in industry.
Mentors
“As both an alumna and preceptor of the University of Arizona's R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy, witnessing the enthusiasm of UA pharmacy students towards careers in drug development is immensely gratifying. Pharmacists, with their unique education, are primed to excel in diverse roles within the biopharmaceutical industry. In my capacity as the Executive Director for Critical Path Institute's latest public-private partnerships—the Critical Path for Lysosomal Diseases (CPLD) and the Critical Path for Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (CPA-1) Consortia—I have the privilege of exposing students to multifaceted projects and educational opportunities, spanning from research endeavors to regulatory engagements.
This rotation offers students an immersive experience, fostering their growth and understanding across various facets of drug development. Through hands-on involvement, students gain valuable insights that can catalyze their professional journeys towards broader pathways, all the while contributing meaningfully to the global mission of enhancing patient lives."
Amanda Klein, PharmD, CDCES
Executive Director, CPA-1 and CPLD Consortia
“It is great to see students’ interest in industry growing. I have found the pharmaceutical industry a mentally stimulating area of work. Furthermore, it presents a great work life balance, good benefits, and excellent compensation. Working with students interested in industry has been such a joy. The preparation, determination, and excitement they bring to the process is inspiring. It’s also a highly competitive process. One fellowship position can easily have over 100 applicants. To see students from UofA with limited access to the pharmacist industry get fellowships is impressive. I am very proud of all the students I have worked with and can’t wait to see what their futures hold.”
Michelle Ciambella
Medical Communications Lead - Meta+ NF1-PN