Pacific Pharmacist Career Pathways
Supported by the Office of Student Affairs

A fellowship is optional postgraduate training that is typically with a pharmaceutical company, academic institution, or a regulatory body. They are commonly 2 years in duration, however, can range anywhere from 1-3 years. Fellowships can focus on various areas including but not limited to business, clinical research, marketing, drug information, business, safety, clinical development, medical affairs and many others. You do not need any previous experience or qualifications besides your PharmD. Fellows are highly respected amongst pharma companies and have a lot of visibility. This enables fellows to secure mentors easily and connect with high level management. You also will not enter entry-level positions after your fellowship, as many fellows are marked for leadership and can secure manager roles.

The most typical fellowships are ones sponsored by pharmaceutical companies. Fellowships can be academic-focused, regulator-focused, or industry-focused. Some encompass all three. Common areas to complete a fellowship include; Academia, Clinical/Research, Commercial (business), Health Outcomes, and Regulatory Affairs. Please refer to the list on the right hand side of this page to view all types.

Securing a fellowship is not an easy task. Less than 15% of applicants secure a position but the number of opportunities continues to expand each year. To put things into perspective, fellowships are expected to be approximately 4 times harder to secure than residencies.

August Begin researching programs of interest Look into maximizing your rotations to favor industry Update your CV Start preparing application materials Reach out to your LOR writers September Begin sending your CV to mentors for feedback Begin reaching out to current fellows with questions Register for PPS October Attend fellowship webinars and Q&A sessions Finalize all materials (CV, LOI and LOR) Review the list of positions available in PPS Once PPS opens, begin applying to programs November Begin preparing for the interview Update your CV Schedule your interviews Create quick guides for your interviews December Attend Midyear Schedule on-site interviews

A fellowship is a bridge that will take you from where you are to where you want to be. Fellowships allow you to gain the necessary experiences so you can begin an impactful career. Pharmacists in industry have had multiple roles and each role comes with a bonus, raise, and or more stock options. From a financial perspective, industry has no limits as salaries are commonly significantly higher than any salary in a retail or hospital setting.

Right off the bat: You are qualified. Your PharmD places you on the same playing field as everyone else. Fellowship directors are looking for individuals who are ready to learn, and not so much the "know-it-all" candidates. Not having industry experience does not mean you will not be a competitive candidate. During an interview, if you don't have industry experience, do not spend time highlighting experiences you do not have. Instead, try to fill them with other experiences that demonstrate the same/similar transferable skillset. Generally, the most competitive applicants have the following experiences: -Industry or non-traditional experience (Payer/Insurance rotation, contract research organization, managed care, P&T committee focused rotation, FDA, and/or CDC) -Relevant leadership positions held within the past two years -Scientific publications or ongoing research (especially if it is relevant to the area you are applying) Lastly, fellowship directors want someone with a positive attitude.