When Sindoor Patel, ’21, was a middle school student, her great-grandfather was diagnosed with throat cancer.
“I accompanied him to his treatments a few times,” she recalls, “and I became fascinated with the medicines.”
Fortunately, those medicines worked for Patel’s great-grandfather, and the experience ignited a passion in her to pursue a path in oncological pharmacy. Patel is now a clinical operations oncology post-doctoral fellow at Boehringer Ingelheim, focused on the strategic and operational aspects of clinical trials.
Getting a clinical trial of my own within one year of my fellowship is something I am extremely proud of, knowing that my training has prepared me for this role.
While a student at the College of Pharmacy, Patel got her first taste of industry while working as an intern at Nephron Pharmaceuticals Corporation.
“I had the chance to look at investigational drug applications, using data from companies that had already done research and translate that information for use in generic therapies,” she says. “That made me want to be a part of clinical studies in determining if a particular therapy would work for a patient.”
Taking part in leadership roles at the College of Pharmacy helped prepare Patel for her fellowship. She was a student ambassador for the college, served as vice president for the college’s chapter for the American Pharmacy Association, and served as a mentor for first-year pharmacy students. She also took part in many community service activities, including vaccination clinics and serving as a mental health educator.
Patel always felt that the faculty and staff were supportive of her goals.
“My advisors made sure I was aware of opportunities that would help me,” she says. “Knowing that they listened to what my interests were and that they encouraged me to pursue those interests was significant.”
As a clinical trial manager, Patel relies on her experiences as a student to propel her forward.
“Getting a clinical trial of my own within one year of my fellowship is something I am extremely proud of, knowing that my training has prepared me for this role.”
Topics: Pharm.D. Program, Alumni Programs