As I work on internship applications for the upcoming summer, I cannot help but reminisce about my first experience in the pharmaceutical industry!
Despite all the challenges of 2020, exploring this exciting and dynamic work environment was an encouraging part of my professional training. Here are 6 important lessons I learned last summer at Novartis Pharmaceuticals:
1. Communication and Teamwork:
Members of a pharmaceutical company must communicate effectively in order to complete projects and meet goals. Being honest and open about how much time you have for assignments allows for proper distribution of the workload.
Because my internship was completed remotely, I attended a multitude of virtual meetings. I listened in on some calls while taking notes and absorbing as much information as I could. But I also had the pleasure of leading some meetings to share my work and research!
Novartis employees are scattered around the world and the various time zones have to be considered when scheduling conferences and calls. It is important to have patience when waiting to hear back from colleagues, especially when working in a large global company.
Individuals must also be flexible with their schedules because plans can change quickly to give way to more time-sensitive operations. I learned not to fight change! The ultimate goal is to collaborate as a team for a timely and efficient conclusion of the trial.
2. Each Member and Department Brings Unique Expertise to the Table:
I was surprised by the many different roles I encountered within the company. Everyone from Data Management to Regulatory Affairs has a unique perspective and contributes to the success of a study. Individuals are constantly working with members of other departments to complete procedures or seek feedback on decisions/projects.
The most valuable example of this collaboration was one of Novartis’ Integrated Science Review Committee (ISRC) meetings. This is a thorough discussion/review of clinical study proposals prior to their approval and initiation:
- There is a Lead responsible for screening clinical development documents, assigning colleagues to review these documents, developing the meeting agenda, and leading the meeting to ensure proper participation.
- Each team first presents their proposed study including necessary background, rationale, study design/procedures, endpoints, timelines, data collection, etc.
- The reviewer then provides feedback (based on submitted documents), asks the team clarifying questions, and proposes improvements on the study.
- All meeting participants justify their rationale for the proposal or explain why it requires changes. Members of regulatory affairs, medical review, the safety team, clinical development, statisticians, data managers and more are involved in the discussion.
- There can be a lot of debate, however it is very respectful and closely monitored by the Lead.
- Anything from study design to ethical dilemmas can be considered.
- Each team must be ready to have its study scrutinized!
- This process is repeated with the remaining study proposals.
This was a very unique experience and it demonstrated the valuable perspective that each member brings to the team.
3. Learning Agility and Adaptability:
Pharmaceutical companies conduct multiple trials at the same time and their workforce must often be rearranged to meet the demands of a particular study. For instance, if one trial is near close-out or an interim analysis, additional personnel may be needed to assist with the increased workload.
Learning agility is an important skill in this scenario. When employees are onboarded to a different study, they must be able to quickly adapt to the new procedures and understand the successes and challenges of the trial. At the same time, they should feel comfortable with sharing ideas and past experiences in order to improve/upgrade current protocols.
One tip that stayed with me after attending a speaker panel was not to compartmentalize information, but rather to connect what you learn in different settings and courses to help you understand the bigger picture.
4. Excel Proficiency for Tracking Trials:
I will admit that prior to this experience using Excel was a daunting task. Although I had used it for simple data collection and creation of graphs, I was not comfortable with the more advanced tools it provides!
Conducting a clinical trial generates enormous amounts of data that must be collected and analyzed. For example, one of the studies I worked on had over 5,000 participants in multiple sites all over the world.
In addition to clinical databases (used for housing and safeguarding participant information), teams use Excel trackers on extracted data so that additional analysis can be done. Some of the tasks that can be completed with Excel include:
- Performing reconciliation of data to identify and resolve discrepancies
- Monitoring the progression of the study through endpoints/outcomes
- Easily accessing key information on a particular site or participant
- Using Pivot tables, graphs, formulas, etc. to summarize study metrics for global updates and record-keeping
5. Networking is Key!
To be honest, I had no idea how to network prior to this internship and had the silly notion that networking was reserved for higher-ups and supervisors. I quickly learned that I could build meaningful networks just as an intern!
The key is to not be afraid to reach out to individuals. Everyone in the industry has been in your shoes at some point and can share valuable input to guide you in the right direction.
I made sure to e-mail a different Novartis associate at least once a week. I introduced myself and my role, and asked if they could meet with me to discuss their experiences and insights. These are some practices that I found useful:
- Remember to really listen to the person and take notes on what they share.
- Ask for advice and feedback. I always reserved career paths and fellowship advice as conversation topics.
- Mention shared connections. Meeting new people is easier when you have spoken to someone they already know.
- Send thank you notes and add them on LinkedIn.
- Ask the person to contact you if they ever need your assistance. Offering your time shows your interest in building a meaningful connection with that individual.
Finally, don’t be shy about using your network when needed. I was able to organize a speaker event for my campus by reaching out to my former mangers and a fellow I had met during my internship. They were more than willing to come speak to us!
6. Working from Home
This was the first job I completed remotely! I am grateful for having had the internship opportunity despite the limitations imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Some challenges that I experienced included connectivity issues when connecting to the Novartis network, and feeling like I never really left work! The latter was mostly because I could always log back into the network and continue time-sensitive tasks.
I implemented the following practices to make the best of this experience:
- Managing my time well so I could deliver results without having to work overtime
- Keeping myself accountable and practicing self-management skills
- Taking breaks every hour: walking away from my desk, stretching, and meditating
- Creating an end-of-shift routine to better separate my work life from my home life
- Appreciating the extra time with my family!
Working from home also prepared me for successful online learning. Perhaps now more than ever, self-care routines are vital in an increasingly virtual world.
I have found that reflection is an important part of growth. This internship has brought me closer to my professional goals, and I am very excited about the possibility of future endeavors!
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