Industry Pharmacists Organization Feature

The Purdue Industry Pharmacists Organization (IPhO) opens students’ eyes to all the diverse roles that a pharmacist can pursue, including managing clinical trials to analyzing the market to making sure a new medication will add enough value before being developed). “IPhO is dedicated to enhancing student pharmacists’ understanding of the pharmaceutical industry by creating opportunities to network with industry professionals and gain meaningful experience through industry projects, internships, professional development workshops, and site visits,” says Joshua Martin, president of IPhO.

IPhO knows that students struggle to determine their passion because pharmacy is such a broad industry, so opportunities are provided to explore the many different areas. This exposure to clinical expertise is something that employers see value in, as well as the ability to network, learn, and gather advice from the alumni who give back to IPhO. Joshua was fortunate enough to lead the Value of an Industry Pharmacist (VIP) National Case Competition this past year with the chapter. The VIP Competition is a drug development project, “from bench to bedside.” The Purdue IPhO chapter was honored as “National Champion” out of the 45 competing schools across the U.S.

IPhO teaches the value a pharmacist brings to drug development and prepares members to appreciate the value and knowledge of conversations, internships, rotations, etc. “We are the future of pharmacy, so it’s up to us to advocate and practice at the top of our licenses,” says Joshua, “…As a profession, I think we have just scraped the surface of what a pharmacist can achieve in this world. Yes, pharmacy is changing, but it’s changing in our favor so we must adapt to it.”