Dr Simon Dando (MRCP MFPM)
Name : Dr Simon Dando (MRCP MFPM)
Employer : Pfizer Consumer Healthcare Limited
University : Royal Free and University College Medical School
Subject : MBBS (with intercalated BSc and PhD in pharmacology)
Graduated : 1998
While I was studying for my pharmacology PhD, I presented my research at various conferences and was struck by how interesting pharmaceutical medicine was. After graduating from medical school and a year as a house officer, I started professional training in general internal medicine and worked towards my MRCP. Once I’d gained the MRCP, a position came up at a pharmaceutical company and I have been working in the pharmaceutical industry ever since.
Working life
In my current role, I am responsible for supervising the provision of medical services across Europe for a range of products. I’m involved in looking at drug safety, reviewing and updating licences (all medicines need them to be sold) as new information about efficacy and safety is discovered. For example, if a drug has been used by a certain patient group and is then made more widely available, we have to review the risks and benefit involved for the new patient population and formulate a risk management plan to monitor drug safety in the new population. This would be various sorts of clinical trial or epidemiological work. We also work with the marketing department to ensure that medicines are promoted in line with the licence and clinical data. I generally work 8.30 am to 6.00 pm, and occasionally have to be available after hours mainly to deal with adverse event reports. Many roles involve frequent trips abroad. Weekend work is rare so the work/life balance is great.
Getting into pharmaceutical medicine
You need to have completed the Foundation Programme and at least two further years of training in any specialty. It’s also advantageous to have completed postgraduate medical exams such as the MRCP. Analytical skills are paramount as you will be working with large amounts of data. After joining a pharmaceutical company, you should study towards a diploma in pharmaceutical medicine. You can also complete higher medical training to gain specialist accreditation, which includes training in pharmaceutical discovery and development, pharmacovigilance and how medicines are regulated.