The IPhO Podcast

Episode 11 - Jessie Kim and Richard Cale

In what feels like a universe full of fellowship positions, it can feel daunting to know how to narrow down options and select "the one."

Should you choose a program affiliated with a university? One with a partner organization like IPhO? A one-year position or a two-year position? There are many factors to consider when determining which program is the best fit for you.

On episode 11, Aleksey is joined by Jessie Kim, PharmD, MS, first-year Global Regulatory Affairs Fellow at UCB; and Richard Cale, PharmD, first-year Marketing Fellow at Becton Dickinson (BD). Aleksey, Jessie, and Richard chose fellowship positions affiliated with IPhO, and they share their thoughts on how and why they made the choices that they did when applying for fellowships.

Episode 10 - Jim Alexander Returns

Jim joins us for the second time on the IPhO podcast—and the timing couldn't be better. Listen in as he shares information about the important resources on the IPhO website that will help fellowship candidates and employers navigate the ever-changing fall recruitment period. Students get advice on how best to prepare for their interviews and what to do to stay organized and confident. Plus, he shares valuable tips for those conducting interviews. The key? Resist the urge to find a clone of yourself, as tempting as it might be.

Episode 9 - Preston Skersick, PharmD, US Medical Affairs Fellow at GSK/UNC

Going through the fellowship interview process at Midyear poses many challenges: keeping track of timelines, preparing for interviews, staying calm under pressure, feeling confident in your responses and decisions - the list goes on and on.

Thankfully, IPhO Podcast episode 9 offers some important guidance to help you prepare. On this episode, Aleksey is joined by Preston Skersick, a current US Medical Affairs Fellow at GSK/UNC. They both share tips and tricks that helped them navigate the fellowship interview process and land the positions they really wanted.

Episode 8 - Rolee Das, PharmD - Senior Director, WW Medical Lead, Women’s Cancers and GBM at BMS

For episode eight, we are joined by Rolee Das, PharmD, who has built a successful career at Bristol Myers Squibb. Rolee dives deep into her career journey, which she says took many unexpected twists and turns.

From clinical, to academia as a professor at Rutgers, to industry—she has worn many hats and shares her thoughts on each one. What advice does she have for pharmacists being told that working in industry is "selling out?" What does she enjoy most about her work? And what traits separated her top students from the rest (hint: it's not the grades)? Get answers to these questions (and so much more) in episode eight!

Episode 7 - Corey Rantz, PharmD WW Medical Strategy, Oncology Fellow, BMS

We are excited to release the first podcast episode hosted by our newest member of the team, Aleksey. Aleksey is joined by Corey Rantz, a current Bristol Myers Squibb fellow.

 

It's no surprise how important it is to find mentors throughout your career—individuals who can help guide you, answer your questions, and look out for you as you navigate industry.

 

But finding the right mentor can sometimes feel overwhelming. In this episode, Corey and Aleksey share personal stories about how they found and built relationships with their mentors and what other students can do to get started searching for their own. 

Episode 6 - Aleksey Gitelson, PharmD Incoming Global Patient Safety Fellow UCB/IPhO

Aleksey, an incoming UCB/IPhO fellow and Class of 2021 graduate of Wilkes University, joins us for IPhO Podcast episode six.

 

As a student, Aleksey was looking for more information about Midyear, fellowship recruitment, and general advice on starting out in industry as a pharmacist. He reached out to our IPhO podcast team with the goal of creating a second monthly episode offering tips and advice for students—and the rest is history in the making! 

 

Aleksey will join as our newest podcast host later this summer with his very first episode. And in the meantime, tune in to episode six to learn more about what's to come from Aleksey, hot topics in industry today, and more!

Episode 5 - Nicolas James, PharmD, MBA and Sona Patel, PharmD

Nick and Sona are natural-born leaders. Not only are they excelling in their respective fellowship programs—Nick is the UCB/IPhO Global Regulatory Affairs Fellow and Sona is the RevHealth/IPhO Pharmaceutical Advertising Fellow—but they also served as co-chiefs for the National Fellows Council (NFC) during the 2020-2021 term.

 

Sona got her start with an industry internship by applying to nearly 100 (yes, really!) companies to find her best fit. Nick took an active role in his school's IPhO chapter and established long-lasting industry connections with mentors. Their determination and willingness to put in the work required to stand out have not gone unnoticed.  

 

All that said: one of their key takeaways is simple. Don't feel like you need to stretch yourself too thin. Find what you're passionate about and make it better. Make a change and an impact on whatever you choose to spend your time doing, and you will be better for it.

Episode 4 - Ralu Vlad, VP, Development Team Lead at BMS

Ralu Vlad is a risk taker. Throughout her successful career, she's made various transitions that have pushed her outside her comfort zone. Her philosophy? She says, "there are things that I can control; there are things I cannot; but I am willing to try. And I am willing to be uncomfortable, because it's going to make me a better leader, person, team player, mom, and partner."

 

Plus, she candidly shares how she manages to balance her career with being present for her young family. Hint: some days are better than others! Some days, it's easy to have it "all together," and other days—not so much. But take each day as it comes, constantly re-evaluate and re-balance, and know the value of "quality over quantity" in all areas of life.

 

Listen in as Ralu shares her story and offers her advice to those considering taking their own career risk.

Episode 3 - Gerald Finken, CEO of RXE2, LLC

Gerald Finken, the founder of RxE2 and E2 services explains how he is using an efficient clinical supply chain process to deliver affordable, effective, and quality services. Gerald is following this one simple rule of disruptive innovation to improve patient centered care. He says, “Believe in your idea, have faith, and don’t go against collective knowledge” to be successful in any area of your life. Check out his idea behind the simple foundation of incorporating pharmacy practice in clinical research and how simplifying this leads to innovation and approval of new medications at an accelerated rate. He believes in showcasing dispensing methodology while improving quality and states, “RXE2 is pharmacy for everyone, everywhere.” His contagious positivity and diverse experiences are the perfect storm for business minded pharmacists to try a new venture.

Episode 2 - James Rawls, Vice President, Head, Global Regulatory Affairs at Sunovion

In this episode, you'll meet James Rawls, PharmD, Vice President and Head of Global Regulatory Affairs at Sunovion Pharmaceuticals. James shares his incredible story of growth within Regulatory Affairs and—importantly—how he sees the diversity and inclusion landscape evolving in the pharmaceutical industry.

What can companies do now to promote and support equal opportunity and access for all? What can industry pharmacists do to propel change? And how does James compare his Blackjack strategy to his career decisions? Get answers to these questions and more by listening in!