In this latest piece from our Professional Identity and Medicines Development series, Verónica Del Carmen Nateras delves into the transformative power of purpose in shaping personal fulfillment and professional impact. From the evolving nature of identity to the alignment of organizational goals with individual values, she explores how purpose fuels innovation, engagement, and meaningful contributions to both patients and society. Drawing on thought-provoking research and timeless philosophies, this essay is an invitation to reflect on how purpose can inspire excellence at every level of the medical affairs landscape.

Verónica Nateras Durante, MD is a medical doctor with a post-degree in Clinical Pharmacology and a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience leading diverse groups, with a deep understanding of the pharmaceutical industry and the value it brings to society and people’s lives. A passionate people leader who has a record of accomplishments in building strong teams and a strong background in R&D and Medical Affairs. During the last 15 years, she has held various positions at local, regional, and global level. She has worked in Mexico and other Latin American countries such as Chile & Brazil big pharma companies like J&J, Novartis and currently Pfizer. She has always been characterized by a passion for promoting young talents in medicine and other health-related sciences. She has a fervent commitment to society and a keen interest in digital transformation, coaching and leadership development which she pursues through continuous education and certification.

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

We have all heard about the importance of purpose for both organizations and individuals. As work evolves and hybrid models become the norm, purpose has taken on renewed significance. Being purpose-driven and cultivating a strong professional identity in medicines development is essential for improving outcomes for both patients and society. 1

Purpose is also a powerful driver for companies. A study published by Harvard Business Review found that organizations with a clearly articulated and widely understood purpose experienced better growth compared to those that lacked or failed to leverage their purpose. 1

Purpose delivers significant benefits for the work experience as well. A study by Northwestern University found that employees in organizations with a stronger sense of purpose reported their work as more meaningful. Similarly, research from the University of Sussex revealed that when leaders demonstrated a clear purpose—expressed through vision, stakeholder commitment, and strong morals—employees were both happier and more productive. 1

To provide additional context, here are some theoretical frameworks on identity and purpose:

  • Identity: Identity is “the process by which a person seeks to integrate various statuses, roles, and experiences into a coherent image of self.” 1
  • Personal Identity: This refers to the unique, numerical identity of a person over time. 1,2, 3
  • Professional Identity: A professional identity is an individual’s perspective of who they are as a professional within their area of expertise. It includes a set of beliefs, attitudes, and understandings about one’s professional role. 4

The Identity Continuum: Identity is not fixed or permanent. It has been argued that sensations and ideas suggest identity is a fluid and evolving concept. Daniel Shapiro identifies one perspective that rejects the notion of a “permanent identity,” 8 instead describing “thoughts without a thinker”—a consciousness shaped by drifting emotions and thoughts, but without an enduring essence. This perspective aligns with the Buddhist concept of anatta (non-self), which views identity as a “continuously evolving flow of awareness.” 9 Similarly, Malcolm David Eckel states that identity changes at every moment and is “a constant process of becoming,” a “fluid and ever-changing self.”10

In a professional context, identity is the alignment of roles, responsibilities, values, and ethical standards within a specific field. In business, professional identity reflects an individual’s self-concept, shaped by attributes, values, and experiences. A strong professional identity often emerges from an organizational philosophy that manifests in a distinct corporate culture or “corporate personality.” 10

Purpose is the belief that your life matters and that your actions make a difference. It provides a sense of being guided by meaningful values and goals. Purpose can manifest in various aspects of life, including family, parenting, career, religion, activism, artistic pursuits, or other contributions to the community.

The Japanese concept of Ikigai embodies this idea, meaning “a reason for being” or “a reason to wake up in the morning.” Ikigai encourages individuals to align four elements: doing what you love, doing what you’re good at, meeting the world’s needs, and receiving rewards for your efforts.

We are most engaged in our work when the organization’s mission and goals resonate with our own values and when we feel we can contribute to the bigger picture. To achieve this, it’s essential to keep the bigger picture in mind and ensure that our actions align with what matters most—whether as a leader within a company or as an individual contributor.

As the saying goes, “We are the choices we make.” Or as Aristotle suggested, “We are what we repeatedly do.” Purpose should inform and drive all these choices and actions. We will find the greatest happiness and fulfillment when our decisions and actions align with a clear and meaningful sense of purpose. 1

References

  1. The Power Of Purpose And Why It Matters Now, Tracy Brower, PhD
  2. Personal Identity (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)
  3. Identity (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)
  4. “Personal Identity – Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy”. www.iep.utm.edu. Archived from the
  5. The Power of purpose by Jill Donahue
  6.  Goltz, Heather Honoré; Smith, Matthew Lee (2014-11-01). “Forming and Developing Your Professional Identity Easy as PI”. Health Promotion Practice. 15 (6): 785–789. doi:10.1177/1524839914541279. ISSN 1524-8399. PMID 25015568. S2CID 206740294.
  7. Slay, Holly S; Smith, Delmonize A (2011-01-01). “Professional identity construction: Using narrative to understand the negotiation of professional and stigmatized cultural identities”. Human Relations. 64 (1): 85–107. doi:10.1177/0018726710384290. ISSN 0018-7267. S2CID 145166228.
  8. Herman, William E. (2011), “Identity Formation”, in Goldstein, Sam; Naglieri, Jack A. (eds.), Encyclopedia of Child Behavior and Development, Boston, MA: Springer US, pp. 779–781, doi:10.1007/978-0-387-79061-9_1443, ISBN 978-0-387-79061-9, retrieved 2020-12-12
  9. Williams, B. A. O. (1956). “Personal Identity and Individuation”. Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society. 57: 229–252. doi:10.1093/aristotelian/57.1.229. ISSN 0066-7374. JSTOR 4544578.
  10. Olson, Eric T. (2019). “Personal Identity”. In Zalta, Edward N. (ed.). The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Fall 2019 ed.). Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  11. The Philosophy of Ikigai: 3 Examples About Finding Purpose, 17 Nov 2020 by Jeffrey Gaines Ph.D.

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