2025 Student Fellowship Spotlights
As the end of the school year is approaching, the class of 2025 is looking towards their life post-grad. One path that students at the R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy can 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 13th year. The goal of the program is to pair students with mentors consisting of faculty, clinical partners and alumni to provide students with guidance for completing the residency and fellowship application process. We are elated that our students have been matched with such varied residencies and fellowships throughout the country and we look forward to their contributions to an everchanging profession!” -Amy K. Kennedy, PharmD, BCACP, Associate Professor & Assistant Department Head, Pharmacy Practice & Science, Chair, Residency-Fellowship Preparation Program.
Pearl Craig
Where is your fellowship?
My fellowship is with the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) & Pfizer. The first year will be spent in Chicago at UIC, the second year will be at Pfizer’s headquarters in New York City.
What sort of work will you be doing?
During my first year as a Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR) fellow, I’ll engage in graduate coursework and collaborate on faculty led research projects at UIC on topics such as patient-reported outcomes, economic modeling, and real-world evidence generation. In the second year, I’ll transition to Pfizer, joining the Global Health Technology Assessment (HTA), Value, and Evidence - Immunology team. There, I’ll to contribute to outcomes research and project management initiatives that demonstrate the clinical and economic value of therapies to patients, payers, and healthcare systems.
How did the R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy prepare you for this opportunity?
The college provided a platform for early leadership development and professional growth. I was heavily involved in student organizations like the Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA) and the Industry Pharmacists Organization (IPhO), which exposed me to industry career paths and networking opportunities as a student leader. These experiences made me a stronger candidate for competitive, industry-related Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPEs) and programs, which in turn prepared me for fellowship applications. I also participated in the college’s residency and fellowship preparation program where I received mentorship throughout the fellowship application process. Additionally, my research and quality improvement experiences during pharmacy school helped build skills directly relevant to the field of health economics and outcomes research.
What advice would you give to other students preparing to apply for fellowships?
Start early. Seek leadership roles and relevant experiences as early as your first or second year to strengthen your candidacy. Join student organizations like SNPhA or IPhO and actively participate in webinars, case competitions, and conferences to learn more about the pharmaceutical industry. Be proactive in applying for industry APPEs and internships as they can be competitive and require preparation in advance of your P3 year. Explore different functional areas before narrowing your focus. Once you’ve identified your interest, tailor your experiences to that area and begin preparing your application materials before fall of your P4 year. Create a comprehensive list of programs you’re interested in, finalize your CV early for review, participate in mock interviews, and connect with current fellows to gain insights into the application and interview process.
How do you feel this fellowship will contribute to your future successes?
This fellowship will equip me with a strong foundation in HEOR and the skills to communicate the value of healthcare interventions. It will prepare me to support market access strategies, inform payer decisions, and contribute to improving patient outcomes in the pharmaceutical industry.
Janice Jang
Where is your fellowship?
I will be located in Seattle, WA in my first year with the University of Washington and at AbbVie in North Chicago, IL for my second year.
What sort of work will you be doing?
As a health economics and outcomes research (HEOR) fellow, I will be working towards a master’s degree in HEOR in my first year, learning research tools in pharmaceutical economics and health policy. In my second year, I will be integrated into the AbbVie team where I will gain experience into how economic analyses and outcomes research is utilized in the industry setting.
How did the R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy prepare you for this opportunity?
Through COP, I am grateful to have received a strong education and diverse experience from professors and rotations and to have had the opportunity to perform research alongside my curriculum. Through the summer research internship, I performed research on the cost-efficiency of adalimumab biosimilars and was grateful to have Dr. Abraham’s mentorship through the process. With this research, I was further able to have the opportunity to present my poster at the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) Nexus as a final contestant. Nexus was a great chance to network/connect and learn about managed care and HEOR. Also, participation as an eboard member of the Industry Pharmacists Organization student chapter and VIP Case Competition were routes through which I gained exposure to the pharmaceutical industry field. Next, the industry elective led by Dr. Ciambella was very insightful in learning about the different therapeutic areas of the pharmaceutical industry and the pathway to applying. Lastly, working at the Arizona Poison and Drug Information had been a really incredible experience for me to develop communication and clinical skills, as well as gain exposure to pharmacy practice outside the traditional roles.
What advice would you give to other students preparing to apply for fellowships?
I suggest that students try to diversify their learning experiences with internships and/or research and be open to new opportunities. If interested, I think seeking out research opportunities could be a really good way to explore fields within pharmacy, particularly for HEOR. For students who will soon apply to fellowships, I found it useful to have my CV reviewed by multiple mentors and professors. Many organizations offer CV reviewing services, including ACCP, ASHP, and our student UACOP PLS yearly. If interested in applying to HEOR, I suggest attending AMCP Nexus. At Nexus, there is a fellowship/residency showcase with many HEOR-related fellowships in attendance.
How do you feel this fellowship will contribute to your future successes?
Through this fellowship, I will be receiving a strong education and performing research while attaining a master's degree in health economics and outcomes research. I will be honing my skills and experience within this field and importantly, making connections along the way.