I currently work at a large pharmaceutical company doing research on several infectious diseases. This mainly includes executing study trials within and outside the US and some project management work.

EDUCATION | My educational background is in Biology and I also have a MPH in Chronic Disease Epidemiology.

HOW TO GET STARTED | A degree in public health or any experience with project management, whether it is a certificate or on the job experience is essential. Most people in a leadership possession have a PhD/MD but I have seen people with a lot of drive make it to the top without necessarily holding a higher degree.

MUST HAVE TRAITS | Goal-oriented and driven by results. It take a lot to run a study and you need to be everything to everyone. If you are organized and understand the end goal, you can succeed.

how I got started | I actually worked at the company after college graduation, left and came back after 4 years following graduate school. I knew it was a good place to work and it just happened to have a department that specialized in the field I studied.

why this job?| A very close friend of mine got her degree in MPH so was first tuned into public health from her. The combination of scienceand social responsibility appealed to me and when I entered into the workforce, I knew working at a large company would be able to have a huge impact on the lives on people in need.

why I love this job!| This job forced me to conquer all of my fears and be responsible for something bigger than me. I work with extremely talented and bright individuals who are more than willing to act as a mentor, this is exactly the environment I was looking for and the flexibility is amazing. My company is especially supportive of working mothers.

my typical day| My main function is to act as the point of contact between my company and outside groups such as a study sites or hired vendors. I do this for multiple studies at one time and my day usually consists of answering protocol related questions or coordinating study activities such as start up and monitoring. I meet all kinds of people who are dedicated to research and improving the lives of others.

what they are | Like any job, there are often long hours and that can inhibit any work/life balance. The biggest challenge is to communicate the constant changes and requests we ask of our sites/external partners. Also, you must always proactively try and identify challenges and be quick to resolve anything that comes your way. That said, the job is never boring and you are often rewarded for thinking outside the box.

all about growth | The career path is pretty typical, with most people possessing a public health background. What I didnt expect was a increasing need for this field in the pharmaceutical industry. The income is above average for those with a public health degree.

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