The Road to Success

PILs presents reflections from recent grads of the PILs Protege Program™️ and their pursuit of postgraduate opportunities, including residency and fellowship training.

The PILs Program™️ pairs aspiring residents and fellows with a community, a curriculum, and coaching to guide them along the journey of achieving their desired goals.  Learn more about their journeys below. #ProductofPILs #AtEveryStage

Melissa Milfort
Mercer University College of Pharmacy
PGY1 Community Pharmacy Resident at Nova Southeastern College of Pharmacy

It was Match Day of 2019, and I was in my third year of Pharmacy school when the hashtag #ProductOfPILs began circulating across various social media platforms.  #ProductOfPILs, #PILsProtege, and #NumberOneChoice were among the many hashtags posted by fourth-year pharmacy students who recently secured a Residency post-graduate training opportunity.  Within minutes of seeing the various Match Day results, I instantly felt intrigued!  I couldn’t resist the desire to ascertain all there was to know about PILs.  So, I googled “PILs Pharmacy” and discovered the Pharmacy Initiative Leaders (PILs), Inc.  It was the organization’s major principles that resonated with me the most and cultivated a sense of hope as I approached my last year of pharmacy school.  I was then determined to become a PILs protégé.  As luck would have it, I was fortunate enough to meet the Founder of PILs, Dr. Bryan Sackey, while attending the NPhA – SNPhA annual convention in Houston, TX.  After expressing my sincere interest in becoming a PIL's protégé, I promptly ensured that all necessary steps were taken during the application process.

As I matriculated through pharmacy school, there were a myriad of professional and personal experiences that fueled my passion to work closely with under-represented populations.  By my third year, my goal to pursue a Community or Ambulatory Care residency program was solidified.  However, the path to obtaining that goal felt unnerving until I was paired with my PILs coaches, Dr. Bryan Sackey and Dr. Oluchi Emelogu.  From our very first telephone call, I knew PILs was a powerhouse organization on the brink of positively impacting the pharmacy profession.  The devotion, passion, and consistency that I felt from my PILs coaches were genuine.  As time progressed and I grew more comfortable with our telephone and Skype calls, I felt at ease revealing my fears and insecurities about the residency process.  My coaches transcended professional development as their guidance and wisdom fortified my confidence level.  I never felt alone! Even during the hustle and bustle of their busy lives, my coaches were always present and accessible with timely, constructive feedback and advice.  In retrospect, I needed PILs.  I could not have done this alone.  Their personal testimonials and insight truly shed light on what I did not know and needed to do.  I can proudly attest that the strategic plan and mentorship I received, including CV and Letter of Intent review, ASHP Midyear preparation, and mock interviews, played a crucial role in my successful match with my #NumberOneResidencyProgram!

I am forever grateful for the selflessness of my PILs coaches, Dr. Sackey and Dr. Emelogu, the newfound bond with my PILs co-protégé, Alyeshka Jusino–Acosta, and the uniform vision of the entire PILs team.

Yanet Adere
Howard University College of Pharmacy
Novo Nordisk | Medical Affairs Fellow

I spent the first three years of pharmacy school working hard to maintain a great GPA while serving the community, obtaining internships, and sharpening my leadership skills through various opportunities on and off campus. This is all great, but ultimately, there is no replacement for reaching out and learning from those who have career paths similar to the one I wanted to pursue.

One of the individuals I reached out to was George Okpamen.  His approach to coaching was challenging yet empowering.  His mission was to help me identify and solidify the true “why?” behind my decision to pursue a career in industry pharmacy and a particular functional area within the industry.  He reviewed every CV and cover letter.  He spent hours helping me practice for my interviews.  Throughout the difficult times in pharmacy school and the journey to obtaining a fellowship, he reminded me of the privilege of being among the 6% percent of African Americans pursuing a professional practice doctorate.  He ingrained in me that despite any rejections or obstacles I may face, I can attain anything I set my mind to, and to trust God’s timing.

KayOnda Bayo, my co-coach, did an incredible job of identifying skills I may have overlooked from previous work or leadership experiences that were relevant to the roles I was pursuing.  She helped me stay organized while researching companies and positions, which was tremendously helpful during midyear.  Although she was in HEOR and I was interested in Medical Affairs, she introduced me to the right people who were able to answer my questions.  She showed me the importance of having a woman coach.

It wasn’t just George and KayOnda, though.  As the saying goes, it takes a village, and with PILs, I had access to many extraordinary pharmacists who were ready to lend support and encouragement whenever I needed it.  I am especially thankful to past PILs protégés Iman Ahmed, Chelsea Sumner, Ryan Frazier, Lauren Latten, Mitchell Linton, and many more for the countless hours they spent helping me throughout the entire process.  As a newly graduated pharmacist and an incoming Novo Nordisk Medical Affairs fellow, I couldn’t be more excited to pay it forward to the next generation of PILs leaders!

Raena Rhone
University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy
Florida A&M University/Bristol Myers-Squibb | Pharmaceutical Industry Resident

In addition to completing pharmacy school rotations, preparing for postgraduate opportunities is a full-time job, and the uncertainty of where I would end up was intimidating.  However, my PILs coach helped me to come up with a game plan to achieve some of my most significant goals yet.  Dr. Chelsea Sumner and I met regularly to ensure I could bring my A-game to Midyear and be adequately prepared to secure several fellowship offers.

Together, we determined a timeline that would help me to be thoroughly prepared for Midyear.  We met regularly to review my CV, discuss strategies for finding the right letterwriters, and practice interview questions.  She even helped me to effectively and strategically network with other individuals who could help me achieve my goals.  What made my PILs coach special was how approachable she was and how she tailored her coaching to my specific goals.  Most of all, Dr. Sumner helped me to be confident when approaching fellows and industry preceptors, tackling phone and in-person interviews, and even making positive connections at Midyear receptions.  Because of her guidance and support, I was able to secure the postgraduate program of my dreams.

I hope to give back to the future of pharmacy in the same way that she gave to me, and I encourage all pharmacy students to seek out a PILs coach so that they can exceed their postgraduate goals.  

Crystal Onwu
Duquesne University School of Pharmacy
Omada Health | Post-Doctoral Medical Affairs Fellow

During my second year of pharmacy school, I realized my interest in pursuing a medical affairs fellowship in the pharmaceutical industry.  I then decided to become the co-founder of my school’s Industry Pharmacists Organization (IPhO) chapter the following year, and that was when I met Mitchell Linton.  At the time, Mitchell was IPhO’s National  Student Officer of Professional Affairs and played an integral role in the development of several student IPhO chapters throughout the country.  I found that Mitchell was very determined in ensuring that my co-founder and I were taking the necessary steps to build a strong foundation for our chapter.  I could tell that our success was his success, as well.  Shortly after, Mitchell became my mentor.

Mitchell frequently checked in with me to discuss my interests and what I wanted to gain from a fellowship in the pharmaceutical industry.  He would then advise me on how to maximize my industry APPE rotations to gain experience and work towards my goal of matching to a medical affairs fellowship.  As Midyear approached, Mitchell helped me to create a plan to ensure that I was well-prepared for the experience.  We reviewed my CV and letter of Intent, as well as strategies for navigating interview questions and, most importantly, standing confidently during Midyear.  Mitchell’s persistence and expertise, along with my determination, are what led to my success, and I could not be happier with my experience.

I am now an incoming Post-Doctoral Medical Affairs Fellow at Omada Health, and I could not be where I am today without the support of my coach and the PILs Program.  PILs not only aided me in achieving my goal of becoming a medical affairs fellow but have also provided me with the foundation for continuous success.