Why Are More Pharmacists Pursuing Fellowships Over Traditional Career Pathways

Why Are Pharmacists Entering the Pharmaceutical Industry?

Graduating with a Pharm D allows graduates to explore new routes in pharmacy, including the pharmaceutical industry. The pharmaceutical industry allows Pharm Ds to explore a range of functional areas. Pharmacists can enter the industry through entry-level roles or a fellowship which is a 1 to 2-year program for post-graduate training. Fellowships are perceived to be important in the scope of prestige, recruitment, and professional development/education. Pharm Ds can work in clinical research, drug safety, medical affairs, medical writing, regulatory affairs, education, and even traditional business disciplines such as marketing, sales, finance, and legal.(1)

Greater Satisfaction in Those that Pursue Fellowships

Graduates that pursue fellowships, or fellows, are very satisfied with their work-life balance in the pharmaceutical industry setting. A survey conducted by Industry Pharmacist Organization (IPhO) assessed fellows’ perception of their work-life balance and satisfaction with their current fellowship program. The majority of fellows, 96.1%, reported that they agree or strongly agree when asked about being satisfied with their decision to pursue a fellowship. A majority of fellows, 87.5%, reported that they agree or strongly agree when asked about their work-life balance improving from pharmacy school.(2)

Figure 1.

Careers in Pharma Peaks Pharmacy Graduate Interests

The interest in pursuing a non-traditional professional path has expanded. One, in particular, is a career in the pharmaceutical industry. This career route allows pharmacists to utilize clinical knowledge to impact patient health on a broader scale. Pharm Ds can pursue a fellowship that provides them with direct hands-on experience in a pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, medical device, or pharmaceutical service company. The availability of PharmD industry fellowship programs continues to grow, particularly in recent years.(3) Figure 1 shows the number of fellowships by year trend on the increase ranging from 2014 to 2022.

Paths to Industry

While only 1 in 5 fellowship applicants succeed in securing a fellowship, it is also true that 4 out of 5 industry pharmacists did not complete a fellowship. Student pharmacists frequently have difficulty understanding that both can be true.(4) Unfortunately, students and graduating pharmacists are unaware that many “Direct-To-Industry” roles are also available. Approximately 80% of pharmacists in the Pharmaceutical Industry have never participated in a fellowship program. Many of these industry pharmacists started as sales representatives, medical writers, or specialists in drug information or drug safety.(5)

Conclusion: Key Insight for Pharmacy Students

The pharmaceutical industry is a great nontraditional path to pursue. It allows graduates to explore a range of different functional areas. Most fellows are satisfied with their choice to pursue a fellowship and an improved work-life balance from pharmacy school. As interest in the industry is expanding, so are the opportunities available regarding fellowships, allowing more students to reach their goals. Although fellowships are the most well-known route, there are still opportunities to enter the pharmaceutical industry through entry-level roles.

Sources

1. Rossheim J, Diverse Opportunities Await Pharmacists in Industry. M. https://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/pharma-industry-jobs-for-pharmacists Retrieved November 1, 2022.

2. Ung B, et al. Work-Life Balance Among PharmD Fellows. IPhO. https://www.industrypharmacist.org/resources/c205fd2c8ad3bddb60698c9660c0d313.pdf Retrieved November 1, 2022

3. Jacob B, et al. An Analysis of 2014-15 Industry Fellowships and Related Experiences of PharmD Fellows. IPhO. https://www.industrypharmacist.org/resources/14876622e9c826432cdc7b5a5330aa55.pdf Retrieved November 1, 2022.

4. Szeto A, et al. PATHS to Industry. IPhO. https://www.industrypharmacist.org/resources/2e60387debbc11a076db714e775a9557.pdf Retrieved November 1, 2022.

5. Alexander J, et al. Analysis of Direct-To-Industry Jobs Among 2020 PharmD Graduates. IPhO. https://www.industrypharmacist.org/resources/15c2d92f3df6496ab05358ed6495bc6e.pdf Retrieved November 1, 2022.

6. Aslam U, et al. An Analysis of 2015-16 Industry Fellowships and Related Experiences of PharmD Fellows. IPhO. https://www.industrypharmacist.org/resources/c399d430d5502ade7b6e2fbc11b03480.pdf Retrieved November 1, 2022.

7. Alexander J, et al. An Analysis of 2016-17 Industry Fellowships and Related Experiences of PharmD Fellows. IPhO. https://www.industrypharmacist.org/resources/b8d6338c6143ac9d5be815d98460d037.pdf Retrieved November 1, 2022.

8. Alexander J, et al. An Analysis of 2017-18 Industry Fellowships and Related Experiences of PharmD Fellows. IPhO. https://www.industrypharmacist.org/resources/f39bcc0b8846469f52534208b683d407.pdf Retrieved November 1, 2022.

9. Alexander J, et al. An Analysis of 2018-19 Industry Fellowships and Related Experiences of PharmD Fellows. IPhO. https://www.industrypharmacist.org/resources/bef732c5ca11cad58ce900779e4cc627.pdf

10. Alexander J, et al. An Analysis of 2019-20 Industry Fellowships and Related Experiences of PharmD Fellows. IPhO. https://www.industrypharmacist.org/resources/d281ebbbdeb612d374a24ab785854639.pdf Retrieved November 1, 2022.

11. Alexander J, et al. An Analysis of 2020-21 Industry Fellowships and Related Experiences of PharmD Fellows. IPhO. https://www.industrypharmacist.org/resources/764d14c3dc93a5d40734c4dcf6c889d6.pdf Retrieved November 1, 2022.

12. Alexander J, et al. An Analysis of 2021-22 Industry Fellowships and Related Experiences of PharmD Fellows. IPhO. https://www.industrypharmacist.org/resources/a22747bf92df8561b14ef3e8d588e55a.pdf Retrieved November 1, 2022.