What a Clinical Trial Pharmacist at UCLA Health Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Pharmaceutical Industry
Chai, a Clinical Trial Pharmacist at UCLA Health, advises aspiring professionals to gain "research and development experience," ideally "one or two years," before entering the field. This experience is crucial for understanding the pharmaceutical industry and clinical trials, as it significantly aids in navigating the complexities of a role as an R&D pharmacist or clinical trial pharmacist.
Research and Development, Clinical Trials, Pharmaceutical Industry, Internship Experience, Career Development
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Chai Lam
Clinical Trial Pharmacist
UCLA Health
UCLA 2004
UCSF PharmD
Biology & Related Sciences
Biotechnology & Pharmaceutical
Research and Development (R&D)
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Pell Grant Recipient, Took Out Loans, Immigrant, Worked 20+ Hours in School, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Research and development (R&D) experience is extremely helpful in understanding clinical trials and the pharmaceutical industry.
2. Internships or paid positions in R&D can provide valuable background knowledge for aspiring clinical trial pharmacists.
3. Students interested in this career path should aim for at least one or two years of R&D experience to better understand the role of a clinical trial pharmacist.
Transcript
What have you learned about this role that you wish someone had told you before you started?
Having research and development internship or similar experience, especially if it's a paid position, is extremely helpful. It allows for a better understanding of R&D in the pharmaceutical industry and of clinical trials.
My own path led me this way. I had R&D experience after undergrad, and I also precept students. The students I work with often lack R&D backgrounds.
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