Summer Intern Spotlights: Akachukwu Chukwuma and Dennis Means

The #PhathomPhamily was pleased to welcome Akachukwu Chukwuma and Dennis Means , third and fourth-year PharmD candidates at Howard University, for a summer internship at Phathom. They have provided fresh insights and perspectives to our Medical Affairs team and have sharpened their own skills and knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry.??

Towards the end of the summer, Akachukwu and Dennis shared a bit about their experiences, plans for the future and favorite #PHATMemories.?

Could you tell us a bit about your background, including what you're studying or studied and where??

Akachukwu: I was born and raised in Nigeria, and then lived in California when my family immigrated to the US. I completed my undergraduate studies at Los Angeles Harbor College, where I earned two associate degrees in Math & Natural Sciences and Health & Fitness. Currently, I am a third-year Doctor of Pharmacy Candidate at Howard University College of Pharmacy.?

Dennis: I am a fourth year Doctor of Pharmacy Candidate at Howard University College of Pharmacy (HUCOP) and I am originally from Detroit, MI. I plan on pursuing a career in Medical Affairs upon graduation. Over the course of my pharmacy career, I have held several leadership roles within HUCOP such as Student Director of the Medical Reserve Corp, Professional Chair, and Community Service Chair. I also have two years of experience as a pharmacy intern at Cleveland Clinic.?

Tell us about your summer internship. What team did you work with and what was your role??

Akachukwu: I worked with the medical/clinical affairs team as a medical affairs intern under Rinu J. .?

Dennis: I worked with Karen Zylberman in Medical Affairs. My role specially is in Medical Information helping Karen establish topic conventions. The process involves developing coding standards that will fulfill a need for a well-maintained standard terminology to classify a wide range of Medical Information data on types of questions we receive.?

How did you learn about Phathom’s Summer Internship Program, and what attracted you to it??

Akachukwu: I was referred by an upperclassman who was a former Phathom intern from Howard University College of Pharmacy.?

Dennis: I learned about Phathom's Summer Internship Program through Howard University's College of Pharmacy's Office of Student Affairs. I was attracted to the program because I wanted industry experience beyond my two years in a hospital setting. Additionally, I worked on a project at Cleveland Clinic evaluating Mesalamine and Balsalazide in GERD patients, which sparked my interest in GI diseases. This internship seemed like the perfect opportunity to bridge my clinical pharmacy knowledge with industry experience.?

Describe a typical day in your internship role.?

Akachukwu: A typical day in my role involves attending meetings and learning about the pharmaceutical industry. I also have one-on-one introductory meetings with various people from different parts of the company to understand their role and how they contribute to the industry. After that, I work on assigned projects and deliverables.?

Dennis: I start my day by responding to any emails I may have missed from the previous day. Throughout the day, I typically have 3 or 4 meetings scheduled. I finish my day working on projects assigned by Karen.?

What skills have you developed or improved during your internship??

Akachukwu: I have improved both my communication and presentation skills throughout the course of my internship.??

Dennis: During my internship, I have developed several skills, including creating topic conventions, critiquing journals, writing insights from MSLs, and crafting concise journal reviews for standard response letters.?

In what ways does this internship support your future career ambitions??

Akachukwu: This internship has given me a better understanding of the pharmaceutical industry, equipping me with the experience I need in various roles available to a PharmD student like me.?

Dennis: I aim to pursue a career in Medical Affairs and Drug Safety. This internship provided exposure to various roles within medical affairs and firsthand experience observing seasoned leaders executing plans. It also taught me how to extract relevant information and data from journal articles to build a case for our asset's market value.?

Are there any mentors or colleagues who have particularly helped or inspired you??

Akachukwu: Yes, there are Murali Gopal, M.D. , Rinu Jacob, and Karen Zylberman, to mention a few. The CEO, Terrie Curran , was also very inspiring. The trails they have blazed are the ones I plan to follow and base my career on. The story of Phathom and the challenges they’ve overcome has inspired me.?

Dennis: Yes, Karen Zylberman, Rinu Jacob, and Murali Gopal have all been particularly helpful and inspiring mentors to me.?

What are your hobbies and interests outside of work???

Akachukwu: I like watching and playing football, the real football ??, and wrestling as well.??

Dennis: Outside of work, I enjoy working out, playing and watching sports, going to festivals, attending car shows, and engaging in climbing, hiking, and water sports.?

Do you have any advice for future interns or students looking to enter this field??

Akachukwu: This is the best place to learn about the pharmaceutical industry, so pay attention and learn everything you can possibly learn from the numerous opportunities presented at Phathom.?

Dennis: Come in with an open mind and a willingness to learn about every department you are exposed to.

What is your favorite aspect of the #PhathomPhamily??

Akachukwu: The people. Everyone is really committed to each other’s success.?

Dennis: The family aspect. Everyone is genuinely kind and willing to help me with my career.?

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