Advice and information from Monica Shaw who moved from the NHS into the private sector.

1. THE WAY I SEE IT
Dermatology to drug development
HowMonicaShaw moved from the NHS
As part of the
About six months ago I resigned from my job as Pharmaceutical Industry code of practice, which
a dermatology senior house o cer to work as outlines do’s and don’ts for the pharmaceutical
clinical development
a medical adviser for a drug company. When I industry and handles any complaints by doctors, department, I am
told friends I was leaving the NHS, most were other companies, or the general public. Although concerned with phase
encouraging, a few were disparaging, but all had it’s much smaller than the Oxford Textbook of III and IV trials and
little idea of what my new job would entail on a day Medicine, it contains guidance on every situation have input into study
to day basis or what it might o er me. faced by the pharmaceutical industry during
their interaction with members of the healthcare
protocols and design
Dermatology to drug development profession. In particular, my job helps to ensure
I came across an advertisement in the BMJ which that the company does not exaggerate or
described a job concerned with multicentre misrepresent data and that our representatives are
clinical trials and the development and marketing trained to present the data appropriately.
of newly produced medicines, with attendance
at medical conferences; there were no nights Backroom team
on call. The catch? I would have to leave clinical Representatives are the face of the pharmaceutical
medicine and join the pharmaceutical industry. industry; as doctors we are sometimes less
Up until then I had a limited understanding of the aware of the huge number of people that work
industry, which I had acquired through lunchtime behind them. As well as marketers and sales
meetings where our focus was on the free pens. managers there are people who focus on drug
Over the next couple of weeks I looked at the discovery, licensing, safety of medicines, clinical
vast amount of information available on the web. development, health economics, and information
Doctors within the pharmaceutical industry were for the public and for doctors. Through interacting
invariably helpful and gave me personal insights with them I have gained new skills, in particular
into their experiences. Within six weeks of that business and management knowledge that I had
advertisement, I had joined a recruitment agency, not been exposed to before. Being pitched to by an
had my interview, and was o ered a post as a advertising agency was certainly a new experience.
medical adviser.
Work with patient groups
Working at the cutting edge of new medication Although I no longer see patients, the industry is
The pharmaceutical industry has a variety heavily involved in delivering better health care.
of jobs, including working in phase I units, I am currently participating in a working group
trial development at all phases, helping to for the Association of the British Pharmaceutical
market drugs already licensed, and monitoring Industry, which, in conjunction with Diabetes UK, is
pharmacovigilance. Working for a medium sized producing a national scheme to encourage patients
pharmaceutical company has enabled me to work to ask about their diabetes medication.
in several areas and keep any two days from being
the same. I am concerned with multiple products Continuing education
across the cardiology, diabetes, and respiratory Unlike my old job, I am now based in an o ce, but
specialties. I enjoy keeping up to date with these on average one day a week is devoted to visiting
treatment areas and have a greater awareness of consultants and general practitioners to discuss
the evidence than when I was practising. As part trials, going to medical conferences, or attending FURTHER INFORMATION
of the clinical development department, I am training courses. The Faculty of Pharmaceutical • www.pharmiweb.com: gives
concerned with phase III and IV trials and have Medicine now aligns higher medical training with a comprehensive list of jobs,
input into study protocols and design. I also help that of every other specialty. I am therefore in the companies, and pharmaceutical
allocate resources to clinicians wanting to set up process of applying for a national training number news
their own investigations. in pharmaceutical medicine, and at the end of • www.fpm.org.uk: Faculty of
four years (via an exam) I should be awarded a Pharmaceutical Medicine
Ensuring accuracy of promotional materials certi cate of completion of specialist training. • www.brapp.org.uk: British
A major part of my job is supporting the marketing The only absolute requirement for a job in the Association of Pharmaceutical
Physicians
team. This is the area that was really new to pharmaceutical industry is to be registered with
me. I was unaware that all advertisements, the GMC and have two years’ experience. Research Monica Shaw
representative training manuals, sales aids, or business experience are not necessary, but Medical Adviser,
meetings, and even pens must be reviewed by a the industry does look for highly motivated, hard- Merck Pharmaceuticals,
doctor before being released. I now assess these working individuals. It may be an option for doctors West Drayton
items according to the Association of the British looking for a less clinically oriented pathway.
BMJ CAREERS 17 MARCH 2007 99