Please introduce yourself and what you do
Hi, my name is Juliet Iwuamadi, and I have been working as a medical affairs undergraduate at Pfizer for a year. I am on a 4-year intercalated degree and will be returning to complete my 3rd year of undergraduate study this autumn.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
I enjoy the cross-functional working aspect of my role. I get to engage with teams such as Access and Value, who are responsible for gathering the evidence to support the evaluation of cost effectiveness of medicines, and working with the commercial teams on different projects. We all have interweaving priorities while trying to help each other reach our goals. I also particularly enjoy the omnichannel aspect and coming up with strategies to engage healthcare professionals while delivering disease education.
What was your route into industry from education?
I studied Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics at A-level and did AS Level Economics. I then went on to study Biomedical Sciences (BSc) at the University of Warwick. In my second year of study, I decided to add on a year in industry as I wanted an insight into the corporate world. I wanted to see how knowledge from my degree would apply outside the lecture hall and impact people. The medical affairs role intrigued me, so I sent in my application. I began working at Pfizer in September 2023.
Did you always aspire to work in pharma?
No actually! The pharmaceutical industry was all very new to me when I started my role, and it wasn’t a sector I had previously considered as I hadn’t heard too much about it. When looking for placements, I was keen to explore the different careers available in the life sciences industry that were outside the lab. Working at Pfizer revealed to me the range of careers available in pharma from teams like marketing to R&D. I was reassured that not everyone’s path is linear and there are a diverse range of skills aligned to each role.
Has your experience in pharma been what you expected or has it been different?
I came into my placement year with no expectations and that really allowed me to enjoy the process and fully embrace the opportunities and challenges that were presented. One thing I particularly like about Pfizer is the joyful work culture. I was given the opportunity to take part in various volunteering days and be part of the DE&I colleague resource groups (CRG), which allowed me to meet lots of people that I may not have otherwise encountered. It was also a great chance to give back and contribute to a positive work environment.
What are your future aspirations with your career in pharma?
I would love to continue a career in the pharmaceutical industry and have enjoyed my time working in medical affairs. I would like to continue in medical affairs and continue building upon the skill I have developed so far. I would also be open to trying out other disciplines in the industry such as commercial (account management) or global policy and public affairs, there’s so much out there!
What tips would you give a new starter interested in getting into pharma
1. Do your research and find out which function most interests you and compliments your skillset. There are so many different departments with different priorities so find one that suits you!
2. Make sure to network and ask engaging questions.
3. Be open to trying new things.
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