On February 16, 2022, College of pharmacy students and alumni participated in a career counseling session: “A Pharmacist in Cell & Gene Therapy: Homecoming, Far from Home or No Way Home”.
The session was delivered by Ahmed Zakaria Gad, a pharmacist by training and a PhD candidate in the Center for Cell and Gene Therapy at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas. The session covered Ahmed’s career trajectory including his work from undergraduate to his current research in CAR T cell therapy for cancer in the broader field of translational biology and molecular medicine. He presented on how research in the field of oncology translates into treatment modalities, and their clinical applications with emphasis on the need for pharmacy professionals to navigate this field. He discussed the challenges faced in the production, distribution and management of new cancer treatments including CAR T cells, and the innovative ways that pharmaceutical companies are addressing them.
Ahmed commented: “The pharmacy profession is continuously evolving, and pharmacists should be an integral part of addressing these challenges with the potential future roles of pharmacists compounding those treatment modalities in-hospital”
A key message from Ahmed’s discussion was that students can think outside of the box and be open to unconventional pharmacy career paths by seeking out the needed knowledge to pursue their interests including research. He also highlighted the versatility of the pharmacy profession and the career options open to pharmacy students.