From June 24th to July 12th, Boehringer Ingelheim, the multinational pharmaceutical company, accepted 5th-year PharmD students Salma Salem and Sana Patanwala, and 2nd-year BPharm student Karina Dsouza, in their three-week internship program.
This internship allowed them to explore various career pathways by offering a comprehensive understanding of the pharmaceutical industry and the roles of the company’s functions and departments such as pharmacovigilance, regulatory and medical affairs, marketing and sales, governmental affairs, compliance and integrity, market access, and commercial quality.
The interns additionally engaged in several training sessions that allowed them to develop critical thinking, analytical, strategic, and problem-solving skills. These workshops covered conducting SWOT and PESTLE analysis, reading IQVIA data, preparing for product launches, developing omnichannel brand campaigns, practicing FMV calculations, building forecasts, and utilizing digital marketing to engage HCPs.
To provide a holistic view of the industry, they also shadowed Medical Science Liaisons (MSLs) and medical representatives on field visits, gaining firsthand experience in how medical reps interact with HCPs and how MSLs bridge the gap between research and clinical practice.
Salma Salem, commented “Being part of this internship has not only been immensely rewarding but also highly enjoyable. It provided me with invaluable insights into the pharma industry, allowing me to gain practical experience, enhance my professional skills, and network with other great interns and talented industry professionals.”
Sana Patanwala, commented “My 3-week summer internship strengthened my understanding of the workings of a pharmaceutical company. We learnt more about the departments we were introduced to in university and learnt about some new ones as well. I am excited to apply my learnings from the internship into my professional life. My experience was enhanced by the presence of my wonderful peers and the very welcoming members of Boehringer Ingelheim. It was great to have shared this experience with my old friends and make new ones along the way.”
Karina Dsouza, commented “Participating in the Summer Internship was an incredibly enriching experience. We had the chance to expand our network and gain deep insights into the pharmaceutical industry. The Boehringer Ingelheim team and my fellow interns made this journey extremely memorable and rewarding. I truly believe this was a great experience and I’m looking forward to applying the things I have learnt where I have the opportunity to do so.”