The IPhO Podcast

On this episode of the IPhO Podcast, we are joined by Raj Shah, Associate Principal Scientist and Regulatory Affairs Liaison in Neuroscience at Merck, and Timothy Haji, Associate Director in U.S. Regulatory Affairs at Merck and former Rutgers RPIF Regulatory Affairs Fellow. Raj and Tim share how their careers in the pharmaceutical industry began, one through direct entry and the other through a regulatory affairs fellowship, and discuss the opportunities, challenges, and mentorship that helped shape their paths. They explore key topics for students and early-career professionals, including the differences between fellowship and direct entry roles, how to build credibility early in your career, and the importance of networking, communication, and presentation skills in industry. They also touch on the growing role of artificial intelligence in regulatory work, along with practical advice on mentorship, professional development, and making the most of opportunities throughout pharmacy school and beyond. Listen in now!

On this episode of the IPhO Podcast, we are joined by Dr. Earl Ettienne, Assistant Dean of Graduate Programs and Industrial Partnerships at Howard University, and a nationally respected pharmacy leader, researcher, educator, and mentor. As a child, Dr. Ettienne did not see the remedy prepared, but he witnessed its impact. After his godfather suffered severe burns, a pharmacist’s custom mixture helped save his life, inspiring Dr. Ettienne to pursue pharmacy and help others. Dr. Ettienne recalls and recounts the name of everyone who impacted his life. He remembers every opportunity he was given, and every challenge he overcame. He places an incredible amount of importance on trust, integrity, and resiliency. And he shares his best advice and most personal, meaningful experiences with us on this podcast episode. This is one you don't want to miss!

On this episode of the IPhO Podcast, we’re spotlighting the inspiring journey of Dalila Masic, PharmD, Regional Medical Director - T1D Immunology at Sanofi. In this conversation with host Alena Abraham, PharmD, Dalila shares her path from completing PGY1 and PGY2 residencies in critical care at Loyola Medicine to beginning her industry career as a Medical Science Liaison in cardiovascular medicine and how she progressed into her current role, where she leads a team of 10 MSLs focused on autoimmune type 1 diabetes. She reflects on her transition from clinical practice to industry, the transferable skills that supported her pivot, and her leadership philosophy when coaching her team: anchored in clarity, curiosity, and confidence. Dalila also debunks myths about Medical Affairs, offers actionable advice for breaking into pharma without a fellowship, and shares strategies for students and early-career professionals to build credibility via science communication, curiosity, and networking. Whether you’re exploring Medical Affairs for the first time or seeking leadership insights to guide your path, this episode delivers perspective and inspiration you won’t want to miss!

In this special episode of the IPhO Podcast, Waleed Elsweesy, Current National Student Officer for Marketing & Partnerships, sits down with Melissa Rodenbach, IPhO Vice President, Marketing and Communications; and Daniel Ghattas, Former National Student Officer for Marketing & Partnerships and current first-year Fellow at Pfizer in U.S. & Global Medical Affairs, Hematology/Oncology; to talk all things IPhO Annual Meeting! They answer some of the most common student questions: Why should I attend as a P1, P2, or P3? What makes the meeting valuable for P4s preparing for fellowship recruitment? How can I make the most of networking and content sessions? What deadlines do I need to know about now? Whether you’re just starting your journey exploring the industry or you’re preparing to take your biggest step yet, this episode gives you insider advice on how to navigate the meeting, connect with industry leaders, and leave with a plan for success.

On this exciting episode of the IPhO Podcast, we’re shining a spotlight on the unique experiences of fellows working in one of the most critical phases of drug development: late-stage clinical development! Joining us are three fellows from the Merck Late Stage Clinical Development Fellowship Program: Vivian Tran, PharmD, Late Stage Clinical Development, General and Specialty Medicine; Lauren Dougherty, PharmD, Late Stage Clinical Development, Oncology; and Shakhzoda Rakhimova, PharmD, RPh, Late Stage Clinical Development, ID/Vaccines. In this conversation with their co-fellow and host, Alena Abraham, PharmD, they share their personal journeys into clinical development, what guided them toward their specific therapeutic areas, and how they’ve tackled common challenges, such as steep learning curves and navigating collaboration difficulties. They also highlight the key skills that have helped them thrive in their roles and offer valuable advice for students considering a similar path. Whether you're exploring fellowship options or have a strong interest in clinical development, this episode offers insider insight you won’t want to miss!

On this special episode of the IPhO Podcast, we’re doing something a little different! Instead of featuring pharmaceutical industry leaders or fellows, we’re spotlighting our incredible pharmacy students—specifically, the top two winning teams from the 2024-25 VIP Case Competition: Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia College of Pharmacy (SJU)! Join us as we sit down with Anna Liu, team lead from VCU, and Christ Do, team lead from SJU, to hear what set their teams apart. They’ll break down the key elements that led to their success, including their team strategy and timeline, how they leveraged their networks to gain insight from fellows, and the leadership styles and team dynamics that helped them stand out. If your chapter is planning to participate in the next competition and you want to know what it takes to win, you won’t want to miss this episode!

On this episode of the IPhO Podcast, we’re joined by Bolu Oladini, PharmD, BCMAS, Director, Generative AI Medical Content Lead at Pfizer. Bolu walks us through his career journey, from starting in medical communications, where he mastered the art of storytelling, to his transition into medical affairs and his current leadership role. He shares how his passion for innovation led him to explore the intersection of AI and medical affairs, and offers insights on how to thoughtfully leverage AI in the pharmaceutical industry. Beyond his work in pharma, Bolu opens up about his new book, which focuses on resilience and finding strength through hardship. This episode is packed with inspiration, forward-thinking perspectives, and practical advice for navigating both career and personal growth. We hope you enjoy it!

On this episode of the IPhO Podcast, you'll meet Ajith Varghese, PharmD, Strategy Insights & Planning Associate Consultant. Ajith takes us along on his career journey, which began in retail pharmacy and has culminated in a successful transition to the pharmaceutical industry. He shares his advice on how to craft a standout resume that captures your unique skills and experiences, strategies for effective interview preparation, and the key skills and mindset needed to thrive in a competitive industry. Whether you're a pharmacy student, a recent graduate, or a professional considering a career shift, this episode has plenty of practical advice and inspiration to help you take the next step in your career journey. Enjoy!

On this episode of the IPhO Podcast, you'll meet Alena Abraham—our newest podcast host—and say goodbye to Rita Youssef as she interviews her final guest. Alena chats with Rita about her inspiring journey into pharmacy, which was deeply influenced by her mother’s impactful role as a pharmacist in her community. She offers thoughtful advice on how to network effectively, including how to confidently connect with fellows and professionals. You'll be hearing a lot more from Alena in the months ahead. We're thrilled to welcome her to the team and incredibly grateful to Rita for her year of inspiring podcast content.

On this special episode of the IPhO Podcast, we put our hosts on the spot! Long-time friends and co-hosts Sergio Gatoulis, PharmD, Senior Medical Director/US Medical Lead at Pfizer, and Alex Schepart, PharmD, MBA, Senior Director, Medical Affairs at Shionogi Inc. (U.S.), chat with fellow co-host Rita Youssef, PharmD about their personal career journeys, connections to IPhO, and how the pandemic inspired this very podcast nearly four years ago. You've heard their voices since 2021, now it's their turn to share their own experiences. Don't miss this fun and heartfelt episode—it's one of our favorites!

On this episode of the IPhO Podcast, we're joined by Marla Quintana, PharmD, RPh, a second-year Regulatory Sciences Advertising and Promotion Fellow at Biogen/MCPHS; Ibrahim Hegazy, PharmD, a second-year GRA/RAI Regulatory Strategy Fellow at Merck/Rutgers; and Lana Zaki, BPS, PharmD, a Rutgers fellowship alumna who completed her fellowship in Regulatory Affairs Global Labeling Strategy at Novartis. Each guest shares personal anecdotes from their journey into regulatory affairs, starting with fellowship experiences that shaped their careers in pharma. They explore the diverse areas within regulatory sciences—advertising and promotion, regulatory strategy, and global labeling—offering insights into how these functions come together to support product development and market access. Additionally, Marla, Ibrahim, and Lana discuss the challenges and rewards of their work, the skills they’ve found essential for success, and their advice for PharmD graduates looking to break into the industry.

An unforgettable milestone like a 50th podcast episode calls for an unforgettable guest—and once again, our team delivered! We are honored to welcome David Epstein, seasoned pharmaceutical executive, innovator, and trailblazer, to the show! Throughout his transformative career, David has led teams to develop and launch over 30 new medications worldwide. Currently, he serves as Chairman at Agomab, where he continues to drive strategic initiatives and support groundbreaking advancements in the field. Previously, he led Seagen through a period of marked growth and success as Chief Executive Officer—culminating in its merger with Pfizer. If there's anyone who knows what it takes to rise through the ranks, push boundaries, motivate and inspire others, and enjoy a truly life-changing career, it's David. And you can learn from him by tuning in!

On this episode of the IPhO Podcast, we're joined by Irene Laurora, PharmD, Senior Vice President of Scientific Affairs at Perrigo. Irene shares personal anecdotes from her career journey, starting out as a clinical research Fellow and forging her path to senior leadership in the pharmaceutical industry. She explores the differences between clinical research, medical affairs, consumer science, and how they all intersect. Irene also shares her experience bringing an innovative over-the-counter birth control pill from clinical development to the consumer market—highlighting the triumphs and challenges she encountered along the way.

On this episode of the IPhO Podcast, Coach Jerry, Architect of the IPhO Coaching Service, talks about his professional career and the circumstances that led to his commitment and contributions to students, fellows, and experienced traditional pharmacists pursuing industry practice. Jerry's professional career includes positions in sales, training, and marketing at Eli Lilly, Searle, and BIMARK Medical Communications. He currently holds the position Senior Consultant, Coach, and Industry Instructor. Jerry attributes his career success to using both his “right and left brain” to integrate complex scientific and clinical principles with creativity and communication skills to bring new pharmaceutical products to market. As an industry coach, he uses these skills to identify clients' strengths and weaknesses, match them with their interests, and prepare them for the competitive interviewing process. In this episode, Coach Jerry will also explain how he overcame his greatest personal challenge, living with a disability, requiring that he retire early from his day job of running a medical communications agency to find professional joy and success in coaching others to pursue their professional dreams.

On this episode of the IPhO Podcast, we're joined by Libby Shelton, PharmD, RPh, first-year US Oncology Business Division Training and Development Fellow at Daiichi Sankyo Inc./Rutgers; and Rachel Hawley, PharmD, first-year US Medical Affairs Fellow at Alnylam Pharmaceuticals/Northeastern University. Libby and Rachel share personal anecdotes from their own fellowship application journeys, including how they prioritized uncovering their purpose and passion. They also explore the differences between affiliated and non-affiliated fellowships, to help you find the perfect fit. Plus, they share advice for crafting a stand-out CV and mastering interview skills.

On this episode of the IPhO Podcast, we're joined by Farrell Simon, PharmD, MBA, Chief Commercial Officer for Trevi Therapeutics. Farrell dives deep into his career background and what led him to pursue his PharmD and MBA. After spending a decade at Pfizer, he transitioned into his role at Trevi Therapeutics, and he helps address one of the most common questions we're asked by pharmacy students: should I work at a larger company, or a smaller one? Hear his answer—hint: it's all about experiences—and learn how to tell your personal story in a way that makes potential employers want to know more. We hope you enjoy the episode!

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.