Continuing our series on Professional Identity and Medicines Development, we are excited to highlight an outstanding essay from our 2023 cohort of students, written by Ciara Gavin. In her essay, Ciara delves into the crucial role of Professional Identity in the field of medicines development. She discusses how a strong sense of professional identity can drive ethical behavior, foster continuous learning, and improve patient outcomes. Ciara also explores the challenges and opportunities presented by emerging technologies and the evolving expectations of healthcare communities. The Academy extends its heartfelt appreciation to Ciara for her insightful and valuable contributions to our learning community.

Ciara Gavin is a Medical Affairs Scientist working with the hospital/ anti-infective/ antiviral portfolio in Pfizer Healthcare Ireland.

Cíara moved to Medical Affairs 2 years ago having previously worked as a clinical pharmacist for 11 years working in the hospital setting.  

Ciara holds an MPharm, a certificate in clinical pharmacy, a MSc in clinical pharmacy and a certificate in project management before recently receiving her certificate in Medical Affairs in Medicines Development.

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

If we look at the definition of Professional Identity, medical students are taught (3) that:

‘Professional Identity formation refers to the possession and exhibition of the conduct of a medical professional. It’s an external representation of a medical personnel’s feelings, beliefs, experiences, and values that influence the provision of holistic patient care’ (1)

The last lecture sets out some useful context and definitions around Professional Identity, identifying it as a set of beliefs, attitudes, and understanding that mirrors the definition shared with medical professionals. Professional Identity is how we perceive ourselves as professionals, along with our sense of purpose and belonging.

Professional Identity is essential to Medicines Development and to the professional’s success in the role. A professional is a term that differentiates the person from the general public. It immediately identifies a person as someone who is not only educated and trustworthy in their field of expertise but also committed to acting with honesty, probity, and integrity.

Along with working in medical affairs, I am also a registered pharmacist and am required to maintain my codes of conduct both personally and professionally to ensure I maintain trust and confidence. This is applicable to all professions in healthcare, especially those working in Medicines Development.

We learned about the power of correct information in our lecture series and its increasing importance in modern times, especially with the growing frequency of widespread misinformation on a global scale. Social media serves as a platform for sharing information with a reach that would have previously been impossible. Historically, a throwaway comment from a medical professional might have caught the ear of one or two other people, but with the widespread reach of social media today, this reach is not geographically or timebound and could be unlimited. As such, we must consider our actions as professionals, especially in the environment of Medicines Development.

Professional Identity is a common theme throughout our journey of development within the Certification in Medicines Development program. The key differentiator of a professional is the ability to acquire and maintain competence, which is especially important in the field of Medicines Development. With constant innovation, the growth of novel components like Artificial Intelligence, developments in R&D, and the evolving expectations of our healthcare communities, we must continuously grow and develop to thrive as authoritative professionals. (5)

The reason for striving to put oneself forward as a pillar within society and for meeting the expectation of continued learning, development, and education is rooted in a shared belief among professionals. It is a belief in something greater than our individual selves—a common and shared sense of purpose. In Medicines Development, this sense of purpose is ultimately about improving patient care and ensuring that new and safe treatments are brought to patients. We can see the positive impact that medicine development has on populations at large, and sometimes, we selfishly enjoy the buzz and excitement of being at the cutting edge and involved with something much bigger than ourselves. This is the reality and honor of working as a professional in such an area.

Professional Identity and a sense of purpose are intertwined in Medicines Development. A strong Professional Identity here is connected to the understanding and sense of purpose that the work we do in Medicines Development is important and essential in advancing healthcare.

References

  1. Krishnasamy N, Hasamnis AA, Patil SS. Developing Professional Identity among undergraduate medical students in a competency-based curriculum: Educators’ perspective. J Educ Health Promot. 2022 Nov 26;11:361. doi: 10.4103/jehp.jehp_329_22. PMID: 36618475; PMCID: PMC9818684.
  2. Coots J, Silva H, Stonier P, GMDP Academy ‘End of Program Assessment’ 2023 Cohort Lecture October 2023. GMDP Academy
  3. PSI, The pharmacy regulator Ireland. Code of Conduct – Professional Principles, Standards and Ethics for Pharmacists. September 2019. Available at Code of Conduct for Pharmacists Ireland – Pharmacy – PSI (thepsi.ie) accessed November 2023
  4. Webinar notes: Module 6, Webinar 3. Reinforcing the Value of Medical Affairs in Building Trust – Dr. Pravin Chopra – September 2023
  5. GMDP Academy Lecture series 2023 in fulfillment of a ‘Certificate in Medicines Development’

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