Nancy Tomka - UCSD

Dawn Lam

Dawn Lam
Marketing Manager
CTK Biotech
Class of 2019

Why did you choose to attend the Master in Drug Development and Product Management (DDPM)?

I was attracted to the Master in DDPM for its comprehensive drug development and commercialization curriculum. I used to work for a pharma company but only knew a small part of drug development; therefore, I wanted to learn and understand the whole process. My other goal was to explore different career paths in the biotech/pharma industry, and I knew this program would provide me with that opportunity.

What skills and proficiencies did you gain from this program and how did it benefit your career?

The marketing and entrepreneurship/IP courses allowed me to apply the knowledge on the job immediately. I used the course materials to prep for my job interviews and received great feedback on my experience in this area. The group projects taught me to be collaborative, innovative, and adaptive, which is essential for a managerial position.

Can you describe networking experiences that were initiated by the program?

The networking opportunities that I got from the program were valuable. I got the chance to meet a VP of my previous company during one of the lectures. I connected with him in person, and he offered to create an internship for me and be my mentor.

What did you like best about the program?

I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of the program. The knowledge I gained was the most current information, which made me a competitive candidate in the workforce. In addition to the coursework, the guest lecturers and professors are experts and well connected in their fields, making the new program more credible.

If you could give an incoming DDPM student one piece of advice, what would it be?

I would suggest getting involved with professional organizations to expand your network. If you are looking for a new job or transition into a new field, it is best to be proactive and reach out to your academic and professional network to let them know your career goals.

Jeremy Ballack

Jeremy Ballack
Senior Manager, Commercial Operations
bluebird bio, Inc.
Class of 2020

Why did you choose to attend the Master in Drug Development and Product Management (DDPM)?

After spending ~7yrs in Regulatory and Marketing roles within Pharma post-undergrad, I recognized a gap in my insight of the medical function. I wanted to be exposed to clinical trial design, manufacturing and pharmacology. To gain this, I needed to work towards a goal I’d been neglecting in fear for some time, returning to school.

The DDPM program was thoughtfully crafted for working professionals who yearn to pursue something greater in their careers, in their lives even. I applied because I trusted that UCSD’s Skaggs School of Pharmacy professors would be best equipped to elevate a new breed of continuing students, even if their academic background was not initially in the sciences. As a humanities undergrad with some pharmaceutical work experience, I believed the posted DDPM curriculum was specific enough to glean worthwhile, practical learnings. So, I pursued this cohort wholeheartedly. And then, it changed my life.

What skills and proficiencies did you gain from this program and how did it benefit your career?

Time management, relationship building, navigating group project dynamic, aural and oral presentation skills. Recognizing that it takes an empathetic village with a shared goal to accomplish anything, no matter the task, is a reassuring lesson in accepting that none of us are ever truly alone. These ‘soft skills’ are profound in the work setting, helping us all to connect with the human side of corporate work, so often deeply robotic and capitalist in foundation.

Can you describe networking experiences that were initiated by the program?

I do not recall attending any networking events, if offered, other than briefly meeting guest lecturers post-class. I default to other alum’s answers to this question, as I don’t have a substantive perspective or recollection.

What did you like best about the program?

My peers. The international student cohort brought a wealth of perspective and personality to the classroom every week. Our group chats were helpful to keep track of class responsibilities throughout each semester. The acquaintanceships, both personal and professional, made during the quick 1.5yr program are my fondest gifts.

If you could give an incoming DDPM student one piece of advice, what would it be?

Believe in your capability and capacity. Know you belong everywhere and anywhere, even when you feel darkest. Be proactive with planning your work schedule. Speak up for yourself, because healthy boundaries are important. & Keep pushing!

Amanda Vogel

Amanda Vogel
Sr. Associate, Biomarker Operational Specialist
Pfizer Inc
Class of 2021

Why did you choose to attend the Master in Drug Development and Product Management (DDPM) Program?

Before the program, the majority of my experience and knowledge was limited to diagnostic laboratory work. I had just transitioned into a project management position at a Pharmaceutical company and I felt that I needed to expand my knowledge of the pharma world. I was excited when I discovered this program and saw that I would have the opportunity to learn about drug development, clinical trials and product marketing. I decided to attend this graduate program not only to help me excel in my current position but to also help myself in advancing my career.

What skills and proficiencies did you gain from this program and how did it benefit your career?

Not only did this program help me understand the bigger picture of my new position at work but it also opened my eyes to potential avenues along my career path. In addition, I gained insight on business plans, financial statements, and how to interpret clinical trial protocols and ICER reports.

Can you describe networking experiences that were initiated by the program?

The program introduced us to experts in different areas of the pharmaceutical world which allowed us to ask questions and gain knowledge of career paths we may not have known about before.

What did you like best about the program?

I appreciated that it was a more intimate class size in comparison to undergraduate classes. I also really liked the broad range of topics that we learned about from PK/PD, reverse engineering a drug, regulatory agencies, marketing and entrepreneurship .

If you could give an incoming DDPM student one piece of advice, what would it be?

You get what you put into it. Make sure you take advantage of the wealth of knowledge and experience that all the professors have and ask questions.

Keira Kim

Keira Kim
Medical Writing Manager
Jazz Pharmaceuticals
Class of 2022

Why did you choose to attend the Master in Drug Development and Product Management (DDPM)?

I had been working as a medical writer in pharma for 10+ years and wanted to expand my knowledge and opportunities. I was confident in the UCSD faculty and their network of industry professionals to help me attain my goals of increasing my knowledge of the development, management, and commercialization of new drugs and increasing my perspective of key stakeholders, especially upper management.

What skills and proficiencies did you gain from this program and how did it benefit your career?

The greatest gains were in presentation skills, interpersonal communication, and strategic thinking. Learning how to think and plan strategically has helped me grow as a leader and has changed my approach to project management resulting in greater successes. My increased understanding of drug development/commercialization and growth in strategic perspective combined with my medical writing/management skills will be beneficial when working with and leading cross-functional teams.

Can you describe networking experiences that were initiated by the program?
All the professors and guest speakers provided their contact info and invited us to reach out to them with any questions, which is a tremendous resource. I also greatly appreciated the career guidance provided by my mentor and the support of my classmates.

What did you like best about the program?

The mastery of the professors combined with the varied professional experiences of the students and their willingness to share created a rich learning environment.

If you could give an incoming DDPM student one piece of advice, what would it be?

Be proactive by coordinating with your team early and asking your professors for clarity or guidance when needed; school is the safest place to learn, not work.

Chelsea Friedman

Chelsea Friedman
Graduate Research Assistant
UT Austin – DiGiovanni Lab
Class of 2019

Tell us a little bit about the work that you are currently doing.

I’m a first year Translational Science PhD student working in the DiGiovanni lab. My dissertation project has not been fully decided yet, but I’m really interested in personalized medicine and my research will revolve around elucidating the mechanisms of cancer and seeing how modulating the underlying pathways impacts disease state.

Why did you decide to get this MAS degree?

I had been working in the biotech/pharma industry for a few years and knew I wanted to continue my education. My undergraduate degree was in Molecular & Cell Biology and I thought it would be beneficial to get a Master’s degree in a slightly different discipline. I was intrigued by the objectives and curriculum of the program and thought it could open up new opportunities for me. The fact that this program was designed for students who were working full time so I didn’t have to put my career on pause was definitely a factor in my decision to apply.

What did you like best about the program?

I appreciated the small class sizes because it helped me to make meaningful connections with my professors, guest lecturers and classmates. My cohort had a very diverse group of students with different professional backgrounds and it was really interesting to hear their perspectives on various issues. Working in the pharmaceutical industry while attending this program was an added bonus because it gave me the opportunity to see the concepts taught in class be applied in a real world setting.

What skills are you using that you learned in the program?

Project management skills, interpersonal skills, risk management… the list goes on! I’ve honestly drawn upon something I learned from every course while I was still working in industry.

How did you (or do you plan to) leverage the program to further your career?

While I was attending this program I was working at a small pharmaceutical company that was starting a phase 2 clinical trial. Because of this program, I was offered the role of the unblinded representative for a phase 2 clinical trial they were initiating. I impressed them enough on that trial to be offered the role again for a clinical trial investigating a potential treatment for COVID-19. Now I have some clinical trial management experience under my belt, which could open up other opportunities for me in the future. Through this program, I gained valuable insight into the complexities of drug development, FDA regulations and post marketing challenges and I can’t wait to finish my PhD and get back into industry to put it all to good use!

What would you like to tell someone who is considering the program?

Take advantage of all that this program has to offer! You get out what you put in, and time management is a key piece in being successful in this program. It’s hard work but it’s totally worth it!

Bobbi Hsieh

Bobbi Hsieh
Associate Clinical Trial Manager
Fate Therapeutics
Class of 2020

Tell us a little bit about the work that you are currently doing.

My responsibilities are to oversee clinical trial operations, including site management, initiation and qualification, patient recruitment, the timeline of the study, etc. My job’s primary goal is to ensure that clinical trials can be implemented smoothly and successfully at different clinical sites. With that, high-quality data must be collected and used to support new drug approval.

Why did you decide to get this M.S. degree?

Previously, I didn’t have any work experience in the U.S. industry. DDPM is an efficient one-year program that would give me a comprehensive understanding of the pharmaceutical industry and the drug development process in the U.S. In addition, I was interested in the business side of the industry, which is a large part of the DDPM curriculum.

What did you like best about the program?

There are many guest lecturers from pharma and biotech companies that provided us with professional insights and practical knowledge. That knowledge is what the industry needs. Also, the case studies and the questions from the business class are superb. They really gave me a chance to think about the industry from different perspectives.

What skills are you using that you learned in the program?

I appreciate that I learned the concept of clinical trial design and about FDA regulations. They were extremely helpful for me in understanding the rationale of trial design and clinical strategy, which are very important when collaborating and communicating with different departments. In addition, the program improves your presentation skills by requiring more than 20 presentations throughout the year, which I found to be very useful.

How did you leverage the program to get a new job?

Since the DDPM program is highly related to the biopharmaceutical industry, all the knowledge I gained from the courses was beneficial on the job search. Students are given a general understanding of the role of different departments, which is very helpful in interviews. In addition, some of the faculty are DDPM career mentors, and their advice is truly useful. The guest lecturers are also open to providing insight and expanding your professional network.

What would you like to tell someone who is considering the program?

If you are interested in the pharmaceutical industry and would like to have a big picture of the whole process of drug development, from research to commercialization, DDPM is an amazing program for you to explore.

María Jarama Ruiz

María Jarama Ruiz
Assistant Product Manager
CTK Biotech
Class of 2020

Tell us a little bit about the work that you are currently doing.

In my current role, I maintain and track databases, design projects, and manage engineering change requests. I also acquire standards, clinical specimens, and competitor products, and generate experiment protocols, data analysis, and reports.

Why did you decide to get this MAS degree?

I applied to the master’s degree because of the courses it had. These courses connected science to industry and business, which greatly interested me. I also decided to do the MS because of the job opportunities that are made available to students. I have an undergraduate degree in biotechnology, so I knew I could have applied to biotech companies before getting this degree. However, I wasn’t sure if a pharmaceutical company would hire me without understanding the drug development process, so I entered the degree seeking to expand my knowledge. Thanks to this master’s degree, I was able to move away from the bench and obtain a position as a Product Manager.

What did you like best about the program?

I liked how much I learned in the marketing course. It opened my mind. I never thought I was going to like marketing, and it turned out to be my favorite course and the direction in which I would like to take my career in the future. While doing the case studies, I noticed how much I learned after doing 2 or 3. I rapidly noticed how my writing skills improved. I also learned that it is important to say what you think even though you may not know if that is the correct answer. I also liked the idea of creating my startup, which I hopeI can do one day.

What skills are you using that you learned in the program?

Project management, product management, communication skills, organization skills, time management, working in a cultural environment, hard work.

How did you leverage the program to get a new job?

Thanks to the help UCSD provided, my resume changed from something that was overlooked to a resume that got me a lot of interviews and eventually a job.

What would you like to tell someone who is considering the program?

I would say that with hard work and motivation, anything is possible. It can be stressful and time consuming, but once you are done with it, the knowledge and the experience you get with the master is worth it. Something important to take from the master’s is that it prepares you to break into the industry. When they told me to read their SOPs during my first day of work, I realized that if it hadn’t been for the master’s degree, I wouldn’t have been able to understand half of what they had on it. Furthermore, with the master’s, you get used to being on the spot almost every week. The presentations prepare you to speak in front of people, which happens every day at work. Overall, I really recommend this master’s degree.

Cecilia Tran

Cecilia Tran
Project Manager
Argonaut Manufacturing Services
Class of 2019

Tell us a little bit about the work that you are currently doing.

I provide overall program management at a strategic and tactical level to 15-plus diagnostic, life science, medical device, and drug product companies. Among these programs, 7 of them are COVID-19 products.

Why did you decide to get this MS degree?

I decided to get this degree for my professional development. My undergrad was a BA in International Studies. I was pre-med, but that didn’t translate into the job offers that I was looking for. I wanted to further develop my career in the biotech/pharma world, but I needed to equip myself with more knowledge and an official MS stamp to “validate” my background and core competencies on paper.

What did you like best about the program?

There were so many amazing things about this program. The interaction and learning from industry leaders was incredibly interesting and useful. The real-world case studies also helped us better understand the complexities of drug development. The professors from the School of Pharmacy were very effective in teaching us the pharmacology behind drug products. Overall, the degree has a very well-rounded curriculum that prepares you for all aspects of the industry.

What skills are you using that you learned in the program?

Project management, time management, a comprehensive product life cycle management, and most importantly, people/team management.

How did you leverage the program to further your career?

I added highlights of my class projects and learning points to all my cover letters. Depending on the job description, I highlighted key aspects of what I had learned. I made sure to advertise those key points during phone interviews and in-person interviews. Most hiring managers I interviewed with were impressed and expressed interest in the program.

What would you like to tell someone who is considering the program?

I love that the program is tailored for working professionals who want to further develop their career in product management. I love that I got to learn real-world case studies from leading professionals of the industry and learn from some of the best professors at a world-class institution. Last but not least, the best thing was learning from my fellow classmates who came from all different areas of the industry. This network that I formed is truly amazing; not just for my professional growth, but for my personal growth as well.

Gaia Canevari

Gaia Canevari
Commercial Haematology Graduate
Bristol Myers Squibb
Class of 2020

Tell us a little bit about the work that you are currently doing.

This role is a 2-year graduate programme that focuses on the commercial aspects of the pharmaceutical industry. I will be working on market research, market access, business planning and analytics, building and implementing marketing plans and strategy. It is in the Haematology business unit, and I will have the chance to work on the launch of several drugs.

Why did you decide to get this MAS degree?

This master’s degree was the perfect integration of my scientific background (having an undergraduate degree in biochemistry) and the commercial part of product management that I was keen to explore. My ambition is to be a successful product manager in a big multinational pharmaceutical company and this master’s degree has been the perfect opportunity to give me the basis to start my career in this field. The courses looked very appealing and everything I had hoped to learn, and even more, was included in the syllabus.

What did you like best about the program?

I loved the fact that the programme is built in such a way to get the bigger picture of the entire drug development process. It includes all the steps from the early research and discovery to the commercialisation, post-launch and declining phases of a product. On top of the scientific and more technical contents of the entire process, I really liked the fact that the programme also involves the regulatory, pharmacoeconomic, marketing, business and law aspects (and others!) of the industry. This gave me a very solid view of the drug development process and all of its important features.

What skills are you using that you learned in the program?

We were often asked to work in teams during the programme, which is something I enjoyed a lot as the cohort was very diverse with everyone having a unique background. I learned a lot from my classmates, and I know that working in a team is one of the strongest skills I can have for my career.

How did you leverage the program to get a new job?

The programme gave me all the features that this new role was asking for. During the interviews, I spoke a lot about the course content, especially about the Marketing and Pharmacoeconomics courses, as well as the Business Development and the Clinical Trials courses. They were impressed by how comprehensive the programme was, and I felt confident in talking about more technical and deeper details with them.

What would you like to tell someone who is considering the program?

I would definitely recommend this programme. The faculty is great, and you will get a lot of external lecturers who give you many opportunities to network. UCSD is one of the top institutions of the world, and the programme will leave you with great knowledge and a way of thinking that will 100% be essential for your career.

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