Ankita Mukherjee, a graduate of the GMDP Academy, offers a unique perspective on the journey of developing a professional identity (PI). In her essay, Ankita explores the deeply personal and evolving nature of PI, highlighting how an individual’s motivations, values, and experiences shape their professional self. Drawing from her own academic journey, she emphasizes that PI formation is an ongoing process influenced by personal growth, educational environments, and societal interactions. Ankita’s reflections underscore the importance of self-awareness and the constant adaptation required to thrive in the dynamic field of medicines development.

Ankita is a Nutritionist by training, and she has more than a decade of Medical Affairs experience in the diverse domains of Nutrition, Nutraceuticals & Pharmaceuticals. She is currently working with Pfizer as a Medical Manager. Ankita loves travelling and firmly believes in “Never give up, miracles happen every day”.

Discuss Professional Identity and the Sense of Purpose in Medicines Development and Their Relevance for Professionals Involved in the Field

Professional identity (PI) refers to the way we define ourselves in relation to our work, including the motives, values, beliefs, personal experiences and practices that shape our sense of professional self.    It is a complex and multifaceted concept with significant implications for both individuals as well as organizations.  It affects many aspects of life, including professional activity, sense of self-value and meaningfulness of life, self-esteem, psychological well-being, and behavior. The development of PI is a long-term exercise. It usually commences in university, when a person begins to realize their potential or inclination towards a particular profession. PI continues to develop while adding new dimensions e.g., new practice and professional socialization etc. experience to it. Thus, it can be said that PI stops developing only once a person deliberately wants to halt one’s professional realization.

There are three categories of factors (all these categories include both developing and barrier factors) or domains that affect the process of PI formation and development. These are:

Personal – Individual – Who am I?

Educational – Collective – Who am I in relation to the Profession?

    Social – Relational – Who am I in relation to others?

    PI plays a crucial role in overall healthcare system & Medical affairs including Medicine development. In the clinical setting, it has been observed that strong professional identity is effective for good patient safety, better practice & increased satisfaction associated with it, great patient outcomes, reduced stress and improved retention and recruitment of practitioners. On the other hand, a weakened professional identity may lead to increased stress, decreased self-confidence & decision-making ability, moral distress.   Having said that, PI formation is not an easy goal to achieve, requiring intentional design, guided reflection, strong role modelling, new forms of student learning assessment, new forms of program evaluation, and faculty and preceptor development. With regards to significance of Medical Affairs, the McKinsey Paper – A vision for Medical Affairs in 2025 says “Medical Affairs is the third strategic pillar of the organization alongside R&D and Commercial”. Another paper defines that Medical Affairs “is the medical specialty that protects patients’ interests by regulating pharmaceutical company activities and leads medicine adoption through the design, implementation and communication of real-world evidence targeted to the needs of regulators, payors, prescribers and patients”. Both the above short descriptions reiterate the fact that Medical Affairs involves cross collaboration of multiple interconnected functions, including Drug Development. Additionally, basic concept of PI & clarity of thoughts pertaining to Sense of Purpose are the cornerstones of the entire process to pave the way forward for optimum utilization of the resources, superlative patient outcomes & an overall smooth operation. Finally, professional identity’s influence on understanding oneself and life, seeing one’s place in it, and one’s behavior is of utmost importance.

    References

    1. https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/56314/professional-identities-within-healthcare-professions-education
    2. https://psychology4u.net/psychology/professional-identity/
    3. https://uthscsa.edu/medicine/education/ume/student-affairs/professional-formation
    4. Fitzgerald A. Nurs Forum 2020 Jul;55(3):447-472
    5. Janke KK et al. Am J Pharm Educ. 2021 Nov; 85(10): 8714
    6. Evers M, et al. McKinsey & Company – A vision for Medical Affairs in 2025. Apr 2019. Last accessed: November 2021; Available at: https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/life-sciences/our-insights/a-vision-for-medical-affairs-in-2025
    7. Jandhyala R. Front Pharmacol. 2022; 13: 842431.

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