Many postdoctoral fellows face a time of great transition as they move into careers as independent researchers. Building close networks and learning about the wide range of career options available in academia and beyond can take time.
But thanks to the UBC Faculty of Medicine’s Career Day, postdoctoral fellows and senior graduate students are given an opportunity to start these discussions early and meet with experts from a variety of fields and sectors.
In 2012, former UBC postgraduate student, Dr. Wendy Boivin attended Career Day. She is now working as a Medical Science Liaison (MSL) at Boehringer Ingelheim. This year, she attended Career Day once again – but this time, as a guest speaker.
We sat down with Dr. Boivin to find out how the Faculty of Medicine’s Career Day helped her on her journey to becoming a Medical Science Liaison.
Wendy Boivin
Current Position
Medical Science Liaison, Cardiovascular in Medical Affairs at Boehringer Ingelheim
How long have worked at your current position?
4.5 months
What are some of your main responsibilities as a medical science liaison?
I communicate new data and collect scientific insights from expert clinicians pertaining to the oral anticoagulant, dabigatran and the antidote in development, idarucizumab. Other components of the job include facilitation of education events and drug safety communication.
Tell me the story of how Career Day helped you land your current role.
I attended the Faculty of Medicine Career Day as a post-graduate in 2012. Wanting to transition away from the bench, but unsure of what type of career I wanted to pursue, Career Day was a great opportunity to speak to experts in several career areas that I was interested in. It helped me narrow down my career options.
Who did you speak with and what was their advice to you?
I spoke with Kenneth To about his role as a medical science liaison (MSL) and found the session quite helpful in understanding the responsibilities and day-to-day activities of an MSL. It was a unique opportunity to have an in-depth career discussion about the MSL role, as the job requires a lot of travel and it is hard to get facetime with n MSL when you have just graduated. Given I am now an MSL, it definitely helped me narrow down my career path.
What was it like to return to the Faculty of Medicine’s Career Day as a guest speaker?
Mentoring is something that I enjoy doing and have continued to do throughout my schooling and career. It is nice to give back, particularly as I was a graduate of the UBC Faculty of Medicine.
What were you hoping to bring to the Career Day event as a speaker?
My aim was to provide advice to students and postdocs on transitioning from academia to industry. Returning as a speaker shortly after leaving academia helped me understand the student/postdoc perspective and provide relevant insight to job seekers.
Why are networking events, like Career Day, so important for postdoctoral fellows?
As more and more positions are being filled through referrals and personal connections, it is important to get out there and meet professionals in the industries that you are interested in. It also allows you to get a better understanding of career options and gain valuable advice from individuals that have been successful in their careers.
Finally, for those who didn’t get the chance to attend, what’s your one piece of advice of them?
Transitioning out of academia and/or away from the bench can be challenging at first, but also very rewarding. Be patient, work hard and good things will come!
Career Day is organized annually by the Faculty of Medicine Postdoctoral Professional Development Team. Learn more about this year’s Career Day here.