Continuing our series on Professional Identity and Medicines Development, we are pleased to feature a well-written essay by an excellent student from our 2022 cohort, Soufiane Lilih. The GMDP Academy is grateful to Soufiane for his contribution to our learning community.

Soufiane, a PharmD graduate from Utrecht University (2017), transitioned from pharmacy to the pharmaceutical industry in 2020. Currently at Amarin Corporation, he leverages skills from the ‘Medical Affairs in Medicines Development course’ to contribute to the launch of a new cardiovascular product. Previous roles at Sanofi as a medical advisor and AbbVie as a medical affairs intern have enriched his expertise. Almost a year into his journey at Amarin, he played a pivotal role in the launch of a new cardiovascular product, showcasing his commitment to advancing healthcare. He graduated from the medical affairs course with excellence and his End Program Assessment essay was one of the highest-scoring essays in the cohort.

Soufiane Lilih

Purpose is one of the most popular buzzwords in the life sciences industry of the last decades. A swift search on the internet of corporate pharmaceutical websites exposes purpose as part of their identity. This is considered key in tackling current and future challenges. Why is it so important to have a clear sense of your purpose? In the 2015 article ‘Business Case for Purpose’ of Harvard Business Review Analytic Services, business executives were surveyed about the adoption of purpose by their organizations. The level of adoption was assessed against the impact it has on business metrics, such as the ability to innovate and deliver revenue growth and transformation.  Companies with a strong sense of purpose demonstrated higher employee and customer satisfaction/loyalty, are more successful with innovation and transformation efforts, deliver more revenue growth and have greater success. 1

Besides this industrial view on the value of being purpose-driven, it is also of huge importance to have a clear sense of purpose as an individual. 2,3 Throughout one’s teen years, the choice for a certain (academic) career path is made purposefully and with aspirations about what an ‘ideal’ future looks like. The additional benefit of being purpose-minded is that this mindset can help individuals grow and transform in order to achieve their dream job or desired career path. Also, to achieve success and satisfaction in companies with a strong purpose, it is favourable to have a shared sense of purpose.3 At a certain time in life many individuals make a career switch to the life sciences industry. This can trigger a feeling of losing one’s initial purpose, e.g., treating and preventing disease in vulnerable patients. Zooming in and out to look at things from a different perspective, can help confirm the aligned sense of purpose. 2,3

Being successful in the life sciences industry – whatever defines success for each individual – is determined in the first place by the solid educational background which arises from the predeveloped sense of purpose. 4 Unfortunately, now that one can ascertain that individuals from the life sciences industry are not equally valued as healthcare professionals, having a clear sense of purpose is not enough.5  To handle this properly, a strong professional identity is essential. The formation of a firm professional identity contributes to the realization and confidence to meet high expectations in the application of knowledge and skills. 4 This results in an immense career commitment and workplace satisfaction. 4 Consequently, this will contribute to earned respect as a valuable stakeholder in ensuring the safe, effective, and innovative treatments which benefit patients and society.  The importance of having a strong professional identity is beautifully summarized in this quote of Gbenga Ogunjimi, ”The purpose of having a clear professional identity is to articulate what success looks like and how exactly to get there”. 6

The development of a professional identity can be challenging in individuals that belong to racial/ethnic minorities. 4 It is of substantial importance for leaders – as well as individuals – to realize that the full potential of an individual is reached only through the support of their identity formation.

Accordingly, establishing a good foundation with the right academic background, having a clear sense of purpose that fits one’s ambitions, and developing and transforming during one’s career to develop the right professional identity that is aligned with a strong sense of purpose – will unequivocally result in a successful career. Being aware of who you are, and what your purpose is – i.e., what you want to do – will enable you to take the right steps at the right time.

References

  1. The Business Case for Purpose, A Harvard Business Review Analytical Services Report. Harvard Business School Publishing. 2015. 
  2. Jill Donahue. Power of Purpose. IFAPP Academy. Accessed on: November 18, 2022.
  3. Chopra P, Donahue J, Williams K, Leon de A and Clapper W. The Power of Purpose and Professional Identity in Medicines Development. IFAPP Academy. February 24, 2022.
  4. Coots J, Silva H and Stonier P. EPA Information Session. October 17, 2022.
  5. Professional Identification. Wikipedia. Last edited: September 28, 2022. Accessed on November 17, 2022.
  6. Ogun Jimi. 5 Reasons You Should Define Your Professional Identity by Yourself. LinkedIn. July 12, 2016.

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