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Horizon Therapeutics Medical Affairs and Scientific Communications Fellowship Program

Horizon Therapeutics, in partnership with the Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, College of Pharmacy offers a one-year postdoctoral fellowship in Medical Affairs with a focus on Scientific Communications. The fellow will play an active role in communicating with health care practitioners and consumers. The fellow will learn how to create and develop standard response documents and other communication materials, as well as play an active role in the medical information contact center including responding to unsolicited scientific inquiries. Furthermore, the fellow will participate in medical review of promotional materials, publication planning, health economics and outcomes research, and data analysis. Additionally, the fellow will receive an appointment at Rosalind Franklin as an adjunct faculty member and participate in both didactic teaching and experiential course work with pharmacy students. This dual-setting fellowship is organized to provide experiences leading to advanced professional skills in medical affairs and scientific communications for pharmacists.

Objective

The Medical Affairs Fellowship is a one-year program, during which the fellow spends the majority of their time gaining experience and understanding of the various functions of a medical affairs department within the pharmaceutical industry, with opportunities to teach in an academic setting.

Brochure: Postdoctoral Global Medical Affairs Fellowship Program

The Fellowship Program will focus on the following functional areas at Horizon:

  • Medical Information and Promotional Review Committee (PRC)
    • Gain in-depth knowledge of Horizon’s medicines, as well as a thorough understanding of the clinical and medical environments in which Horizon’s products are used
    • Develop the necessary skills to serve as an information liaison with external clinicians and other Horizon colleagues
    • Maintain current and accurate reference materials for medical affairs staff
    • Learn how to develop and update standard and individual response letters as needed and ensure responses to inquiries are provided in an accurate, balanced, and timely manner in accordance with all Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and regulatory guidelines
    • Conduct interpretive literature searches and become adept at locating resources to address specific questions on Horizon’s medicines
    • Oversee the weekly departmental newsletter
    • Gain understanding of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidance regarding prescription drug communications
    • Review created content from the medical perspective under the guidance of a preceptor
  • Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR)
    • Gain HEOR exposure and skills through practical experiences (e.g., assisting in project management)
    • Learn how to generate real-world evidence to support strategic business objectives across the life cycle of Horizon’s portfolio
  • Global Medical Publications
    • Gain an understanding of publication planning and its impact on the overall business
    • Identify data gaps within an assigned therapeutic area and ultimately lead the development of an abstract and poster for presentation at a medical conference to address the gaps

The fellowship program also focuses on having the fellow acquire teaching skills in an institutional setting. This includes:

  • Developing effective teaching skills via application of pedagogical theory. The fellow will participate in the College’s Teaching Certificate Program
  • Developing methods utilized to educate and evaluate students as well as most effective teaching/learning strategies
  • Building a lecture on an assigned DI topic to be presented to student pharmacists
  • Facilitate a recitation exercise using small/large group teaching methodologies
  • Assess student’s drug information knowledge and skills using grading rubrics, exams, questions, etc.
  • Apply skills obtained in the program to educate students on their Introductory and Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences

Eligibility Requirements

  • Completion of a Doctor of Pharmacy degree (PharmD) at an ACPE-accredited institution prior to fellowship commencement
  • Completed application
  • Interest in scientific writing and literature evaluation
  • Completion of a Drug Information or Medical Information/Medical Affairs rotation highly desirable
  • Experience in a Drug Information and/or Medical Information/Medical Affairs setting preferred

Application Requirements for First-Round Virtual Interview

  • Curriculum vitae (CV)
  • Letter of intent
  • Unofficial graduate transcripts

Additional Application Requirements for On-Site Interview if Offered

  • Two letters of professional recommendation
  • Official graduate transcripts

Contact Information

Please email all documents to fellowship@horizontherapeutics.com with subject line: Your Name – Fellowship Application