Continuing our series on the importance of Professional Identity in Medicines Development, here is the essay prepared by Manoj Patil, as part of the 2023 end of course assessment. In this essay, Manoj explores the concept of Professional Identity (PI) and its significance in the field of medicines development. He delves into how PI is shaped by knowledge, attitudes, values, and skills, emphasizing its continuous evolution throughout a professional’s career. Manoj discusses the role of Medical Affairs professionals in sharing real-world evidence (RWE) to support medicines development and how their professional identity is defined by this contribution. He also highlights the importance of fostering PI through collaboration, feedback, and ongoing learning within the healthcare community.

Manoj Patil joined Pfizer in 2021 as the Medical Manager for GMAIST. In this role, he supports literature database research, evaluates Health Hazard Assessments (HHA), and contributes to the benefit-risk assessments of Pfizer products. His responsibilities also include assisting with major regulatory agency submissions and Clinical Overviews (CO).

Manoj holds a postgraduate degree in pharmacology and brings over 14 years of prior industrial experience in Medical Writing and Clinical Data Management (CDM). He has previously worked with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Cognizant Technology Solutions. In his leisure time, Manoj enjoys reading books and newspapers and exploring new places with his family.

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 how an individual perceives themselves, including their knowledge, understanding, and attitude toward the role they perform in a profession. In the field of medicines development, PI is best demonstrated through a thorough understanding of the medicines development process and its scientific foundation. PI is a complex structure involving multiple facets throughout a professional’s career, including but not limited to their motivation, attitudes, values, knowledge, beliefs, and skills. Its development must be an ongoing process, continually evolving over time.

In Medical Affairs, professionals are tasked with sharing medical insights and real-world evidence (RWE) derived from real-world data (RWD). This significantly contributes to the overall medicines development process, promoting cost savings and reducing efforts. As such, their professional identity is closely tied to this approach.

The years of learning are also critical to the development of an individual’s PI, as this is when the transition into a professional identity occurs. One-to-one collaboration with senior team members and support from others within the professional community are key factors in this process, with feedback, self-confidence development, and maintenance being essential forms of support.1 Professional identities can also develop serendipitously for trainees through classroom activities such as group coaching and narrative reflective practice.2

The cultivation of individual professional identities is crucial for all healthcare professionals to ensure optimal patient care. A clear sense of PI is necessary for promoting the perceived value of the profession and for healthcare professionals to advocate for their unique contributions to patient care.3

For health and care professionals, identities are shaped in various settings and through different interactions — from formal education and training to clinical practice, patient care, mentoring, and supervision. The transition from studying to practicing is a key milestone, but professional and occupational identities are not simply acquired; they continue to evolve over time. Individuals shape their professional identity based on the perceptions and expectations of those around them, including colleagues, patients, employers, regulators, and even society at large. These encounters can either reinforce or challenge their professional identity.

Research suggests that a strong professional identity can have both positive and negative consequences for individuals and their colleagues. It has been linked to autonomy, resilience, well-being, and the ability to mitigate burnout, as well as to ethical decision-making in challenging situations and improved patient care. However, an overly rigid professional identity may result in poor teamwork and resistance to change. Distinguishing rigidly between an in-group and an out-group can lead to favoritism toward peers and even bullying of those considered different. A rigid identity may also fail to prepare individuals for changes in work patterns, practices, or professional environments.4

To develop PI, it is essential to understand the factors that influence it and how it can be shaped. This knowledge is vital for progress in the medical profession and for the benefit of patients, other healthcare professionals, and the wider community.1

It is crucial to balance the need for innovation while ensuring the affordability and accessibility of medicines for underserved patients. Medical Affairs provides critical input throughout the drug development process, from identifying promising products to post-launch marketing strategies. These efforts focus on customer-centric engagement with healthcare providers, payers, professional societies, and patient advocacy groups to address unmet needs.

References

  1. Wilson I, Cowin LS, Johnson M, Young H. PI in medical students: pedagogical challenges to medical education. Teaching and learning in medicine. 2013 Oct 1;25(4):369-73.
  2. Rees CE, Monrouxe LV. Who are you and who do you want to be? Key considerations in developing professional identities in medicine. Medical Journal of Australia. 2018 Sep 3;209(5):202-3.
  3. Nelson NR, Armistead LT, Blanchard CM, Rhoney DH. The pharmacist’s PI: Preventing, identifying, and managing medication therapy problems as the medication specialist. Journal of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy. 2021 Dec;4(12):1564-71.
  4. Academy of Medical Royal Colleges. Developing professional identity in multi-professional teams. May 2020. Available at: https://www.aomrc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Developing_professional_identity_in_multi-professional_teams_0520.pdf.

Disclaimers

  • The material in these reviews is from various public open access sources, meant for educational and informational purposes only
  • Any personal opinions expressed are those of only the author(s) and are not intended to represent the position of any organization(s)
  • No official support by any organization(s) has been provided or should be inferred