Vitals
Jerry h. hodge school of pharmacy
Jerry h. hodge school of pharmacyReflections After 3 Decades
Former classmates Valerie Levi, PharmD, (Pharmacy ’00) and Sachin Shah, PharmD, MBA, (Pharmacy ’00) share more than an alma mater. Both pursued careers in cancer, and for more than half of a decade have worked for Daiichi Sankyo Inc. in Dallas, Texas. They now serve as regional directors of field medical affairs for lung and gastrointestinal in oncology.
Valerie Levi, PharmD
What are the greatest barriers in cancer drug research?
A: Funding and diversity are some of the greatest barriers for research. Budgets get cut, which halt additional trials and bringing the compound to market. Some patients hesitate to participate in clinical trials because they are uncertain about the process. Education and transparency can assist in overcoming these barriers.
A: Funding and diversity are some of the greatest barriers for research. Budgets get cut, which halt additional trials and bringing the compound to market. Some patients hesitate to participate in clinical trials because they are uncertain about the process. Education and transparency can assist in overcoming these barriers.
Did you expect partnerships to be such a large part of pharmacological oncology?
A: Collaboration is essential in every aspect. Each trial has numerous contributors from the sponsor study team, contract research organization operations, principal investigator, research coordinator, and most importantly, the patients. I am privileged to play a small role in patients living longer.
Jordi Ferrandiz, Rapp Art
Sachin Shah, PharmD, MBA
How central is collaboration to your career?
A: Early on, I did not anticipate how important collaboration would be to my career. Teamwork was emphasized throughout my training at TTUHSC — particularly in case-based and experiential courses. That foundation has been amplified in my current role in the pharmaceutical industry, where collaboration is a critical component of bringing innovative medicines to patients.
A: Early on, I did not anticipate how important collaboration would be to my career. Teamwork was emphasized throughout my training at TTUHSC — particularly in case-based and experiential courses. That foundation has been amplified in my current role in the pharmaceutical industry, where collaboration is a critical component of bringing innovative medicines to patients.
What interested you in TTUHSC?
A: TTUHSC was among the first to require laptops and provide course materials online, which was groundbreaking. The emphasis on experiential learning helped shape my professional foundation. What began as a pragmatic decision ultimately became a formative and deeply meaningful experience that continues to influence my career.