Pharmacy student selected for prestigious AMCP-Gilead program
For Tamia Glover, a fourth-year PharmD student at UNT Health Fort Worth’s College
of Pharmacy and Health Professions, being selected for the AMCP-Gilead Student Pharmacy
Program was an opportunity to gain firsthand insight into the many ways pharmacists
can influence patient care beyond traditional practice settings. The highly competitive
national program, offered through the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy in partnership
with LEO and Gilead Sciences, provides selected student pharmacists with an immersive
experience at Gilead's headquarters in Foster City, California, where they learn about
medical affairs, market access, regulatory affairs, clinical development and managed
care pharmacy. Glover's selection reflects her outstanding accomplishments and commitment
to exploring the evolving role of pharmacists in healthcare.
Faculty mentor Dr. Rafia Rasu, who worked with Glover on an outcomes research project, said her success comes as no surprise.
"As her mentor for the outcomes research project, I was impressed by her confidence in navigating new challenges and unfamiliar situations,” Rasu said.
Following her participation in the program, Glover reflected on the experience, what she learned and how it reaffirmed her professional goals.
Looking back on the experience, what was the most memorable or impactful part of participating in the program?
One of the most impactful parts of this experience was being able to see firsthand how many different career paths pharmacists can pursue within the pharmaceutical industry. Being at Gilead's headquarters and learning from professionals across different functional areas really brought everything full circle for me.
Glover says that what stood out most was realizing that, although everyone had different responsibilities, they were all working toward a common goal: improving patients' lives. It reminded me that our impact as pharmacists extends far beyond the traditional roles we often associate with the profession. Sometimes, the biggest impact we can have on a patient happens long before a medication ever reaches their hands.
What did you learn that surprised you most about the pharmaceutical industry?
What surprised me most was just how interconnected everything is. Before gaining exposure to the industry, I understood the individual roles of medical affairs, market access, clinical development, and regulatory affairs, but seeing how those functions work together gave me a completely different perspective.
A medication can demonstrate incredible clinical outcomes, but if patients cannot access it, we still have work to do. That really resonated with me because of my experiences in managed care. It reinforced that innovation doesn't stop at developing a medication. We also must think about how scientific evidence is communicated, how healthcare decisions are made, and ultimately how we ensure patients can benefit from those advancements.
How did the experience influence your career goals or perspective on opportunities available to pharmacists?
This experience further solidified my passion for pursuing a career in the pharmaceutical
industry, particularly within medical affairs and medical strategy.
Through my experiences at Elevance Health (Anthem) and CVS Health/Aetna, I've gained valuable insight into the managed care side of healthcare, particularly how coverage decisions and access considerations can directly impact patients. My industry rotation at Bristol Myers Squibb provided another perspective, allowing me to explore how scientific evidence is translated into medical strategy to help address unmet patient needs.
The Gilead program helped bring those experiences together, reinforcing how interconnected these areas are and how pharmacists can make an impact at different stages of a medication's journey.
More importantly, it reminded me that I don't have to limit myself to one traditional definition of what a pharmacist should be. I want to build a career where I can combine my clinical knowledge, creativity, and passion for patient advocacy to help bridge the gap between scientific innovation and meaningful patient outcomes.
What role did your education and experiences at UNT Health play in preparing you for this opportunity?
My pharmacy education has provided me with a strong clinical foundation, but I believe some of my most valuable learning experiences have come from stepping outside the classroom and intentionally seeking opportunities that align with my professional interests.
Through leadership, research, internships, and experiential rotations, I've been able to explore different areas of pharmacy, develop meaningful connections, and gain a better understanding of the impact pharmacists can have beyond traditional practice settings.
I'm especially grateful for faculty members such as Dr. Emanuel George and Dr. Annesha White, who have offered mentorship, guidance, and encouragement throughout my journey, as well as Dr. Rasu, who has supported my growth through research opportunities. Having individuals who are willing to invest in my development and encourage me to pursue my goals has been incredibly meaningful.
Ultimately, I believe it's the combination of my education, professional experiences, personal initiative and the relationships I've built along the way that prepared me to make the most of this opportunity.
What advice would you give other pharmacy students interested in competitive national programs or industry careers?
My biggest advice would be to remain curious, be intentional and don't count yourself out before you've even given yourself a chance.
I think sometimes, as students, we feel like we have to have everything figured out before pursuing an opportunity. But I've learned that growth often happens when we're willing to step outside our comfort zones.
Get involved, ask questions, build genuine relationships, and seek out experiences that challenge you. You never know which conversation, mentor, or opportunity might completely change the trajectory of your career.
Most importantly, remember that you bring something valuable to the table. Your experiences, perspective, and story matter. Don't be afraid to take up space in rooms you once only dreamed of being in.
How have you applied or how do you plan to apply what you learned during your final year of pharmacy school and beyond?
As I continue my final year of pharmacy school and pursue postdoctoral fellowship opportunities, I've become much more intentional about connecting what I'm learning to the bigger picture of patient care.
The program reinforced the importance of approaching healthcare challenges from multiple perspectives, not only asking whether a treatment works but also considering how that evidence translates into real-world decisions and patient access.
Moving forward, I hope to take those lessons into a career in Medical Affairs, where I can help bridge the gap between scientific innovation and meaningful patient outcomes.
I also want to continue sharing these experiences with other pharmacy students, particularly those who may not realize how many opportunities exist beyond traditional pharmacy practice. If my journey can encourage even one student to explore something new or pursue an opportunity they once thought was out of reach, that would mean so much to me.
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As Glover completes her final year of pharmacy school and pursues postdoctoral fellowship opportunities, the experience has strengthened her commitment to a career that combines clinical knowledge, scientific strategy and patient advocacy. Her selection for the AMCP-Gilead Student Pharmacy Program highlights both her achievements and the growing impact UNT Health College of Pharmacy students are making on a national stage.