Ken Nguyen, PharmD

Ken Nguyen, PharmD graduated from the University of the Pacific Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy in 2023. In 2023, he joined the Fellowship in Industry Program at the University of the Pacific partnered with Gilead Sciences in the functional area of Clinical Operations. We caught up with Ken to gain his insight on his current role at Gilead Sciences and to provide feedback to prospective PharmD students seeking to pursue a fellowship route into industry.

How has your fellowship been so far?

"My experience thus far has been wonderful. I have an excellent mentor and team who are more than willing to provide me with plenty of exposure to clinical operations, as well as answer my many questions every day. From the get-go, I have felt imposter syndrome, and I still do now. There is an enormous learning curve to the many systems and processes used at work. However, I know that it will take months for me to adjust. So I am doing my best to be sponge and absorb as much information as I can. Sure, it can be overwhelming at times, but it also exciting to learn as much every day.

What made you decide to pursue a fellowship route?

"I was seeking both the opportunity to work in industry, as well as strong mentorship. With a fellowship, you have the chance to work amongst many different teams who are willing to support you in achieving your career goals."

What made you decide to pursue your functional area? Did you apply to other functional areas during the fellowship application process?

"From the start, I was committed to pursuing a fellowship in clinical operations. During my APPE rotations, I had the opportunity to conduct a study start up for my university's research organization. The study is a completely digital clinical trial, which makes it unique in that no physical contact is required from participants. However, this yielded many operational challenges. I love to problem solve, so navigating the many moving parts in order to execute this study was fascinating to me, which ultimately led to my interest in clinical operations."

Have you considered applying into an entry level position (rather than a fellowship route)? Why or Why not?

"No: A fellowship provides specific goals and structure, which I appreciate and know will guide me to reach my goals within industry."

What advice do you have for PharmD students seeking to pursue a fellowship?

"The most important step is to do your homework. Understand the different functional areas and decide which is the most interesting to you, as well as which best fits your strengths. When you have a clear goal, it is easier to communicate it to your mentors in order to tailor your industry/research experiences to get the most out of them.

Nailing your interviews is very important. You could have all the industry experience in the world, but if you cannot communicate your skills simply and effectively, it does not matter. Practice interviewing with many different peers and mentors in order to gain perspective from all backgrounds."

What advice do you have for students seeking a fellowship opportunity but say that they don't have experience/ internship/ rotations in the functional area/ etc...?

"Regardless of your experiences, you can still land a fellowship. I had little research experience going into the fellowship application process, yet I was able to convey my clinical skills in a way that shows they are transferable to the field of clinical operations.

If you are passionate about your goals in industry, it will be evident. Interviewers are not always looking for the most experienced individuals. Rather, they are seeking those who are determined and willing to learn and work hard. Be clear about your goals and how you plan to achieve them, and it will show your perseverance."