Kinjal Shah, PharmD ’21, is helping shape how pharmaceutical products reach the hands of patients—not in a laboratory or clinic, but through data-driven insights and strategic decision-making in the field of market access.
In her role as a market insights consultant, Shah supports projects from design through data collection, analysis and final delivery. “My responsibilities are to support qualitative and quantitative market research engagements across a range of pharmaceutical clients to answer their business questions,” she said.
Market access ensures patients receive the right drug at the right time and right price, Shah explained.
“Market access involves a whole range from working with payers for coverage and reimbursement, working with distributors and other healthcare providers to ensure patient access,” she added.
Shah’s interest in this sector originated during her Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) rotation at Bayer Pharmaceuticals where she was assigned to work with the marketing team, which worked closely with the market access team. The experience highlighted the strategic importance of market access pharma.
Shah credits her education at the PCOM School of Pharmacy with preparing her for success in her current role.
“PCOM provided a solid foundation for my clinical pharmacologic and healthcare knowledge,” she said.
Of particular note, Shah credits coursework taught by Dr. Brent Rollins with providing an understanding about the U.S. healthcare system, along with pharmacotherapy which she explained is helpful to comprehend treatment paradigms and fundamental disease knowledge.
For students curious about market access careers, Shah offers this advice: “Market access is very broad and there are job opportunities not just within market access specifically in pharma, but also adjacent such as managed care and with other healthcare stakeholders.”
She encourages pharmacy students to connect with professionals in the industry to help guide their career path. “Reach out to people, whether it is alumni or people on LinkedIn, and ask them about their role,” she said. “I learned so much from talking to others and learning more about their role in the industry, and it’s how I narrowed down what I wanted to pursue.”
To those considering pharmacy school, Shah emphasized the versatility a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree can offer.
“The clinical knowledge gained can be a valuable resource and skill set that is transferable to many other areas within the healthcare and life sciences space,” she said.
PCOM’s pharmacy program, she added, provided a strong foundation to explore various career paths while receiving a well-rounded education.
“With diverse experiences and faculty support, I developed the skills needed to adapt to the ever-changing field of pharmacy,” Shah said. “The program equipped me to pursue a career where I can contribute meaningfully to healthcare.”
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