Howard University Amgen Pharmaceutical Fellowship 2026 Guide

Howard University and Amgen Partnership Overview

The Howard University College of Pharmacy (HUCOP) and Amgen launched their groundbreaking pharmaceutical industry fellowship partnership in 2022, creating one of the most distinctive post-doctoral training programs in the biopharmaceutical sector. This collaboration embodies Howard University’s ambition to excel as a leading institution in teaching, research, leadership, and service on both local and global stages. The partnership stands at the intersection of academic excellence and industry innovation, offering PharmD graduates a direct pathway into senior pharmaceutical roles.

Amgen, founded in Thousand Oaks, California, on April 8, 1980, as Applied Molecular Genetics Inc., has grown into one of the world’s leading independent biotechnology companies. The company focuses on serious diseases and areas of high unmet medical need, leveraging cutting-edge science, technology, and human genetics to identify transformative therapies. For fellowship candidates, this means training within an organization that values science-based decision-making, intense competition, ethical conduct, and collaborative teamwork — values that directly shape the fellowship experience.

The Howard University Pharmaceutical Industry Fellowship Program (HUPIF) was first envisioned in 2012 with a specific emphasis on “taking the limits off” fellows while guiding them from “success to significance.” The program prioritizes candidates who represent America and the global community, seeking individuals with proven track records of excellence, exceptional communication skills, receptiveness to mentorship, and innate leadership potential primed for C-suite consideration. This focus on leadership development distinguishes the program from many competing fellowships that emphasize technical competency alone. If you’re exploring other partnership-driven pharmacy programs, our Emory molecular pharmacology guide covers a complementary research-focused pathway.

Global Medical Affairs Fellowship Track

The Global Medical Affairs (GMA) fellowship represents one of the most sought-after tracks within the Howard University Amgen program, currently recruiting two fellows for positions in Inflammation and Obesity therapeutic areas. Under the leadership of Dr. Ponda Motsepe-Ditshego, Vice President of Global Public Health, and Dr. Jean-Pierre Llanos Ackert, Associate Vice President and Global Medical Inflammation TA Head, fellows receive direct exposure to medical strategy at the highest organizational levels.

The GMA fellowship provides a comprehensive blend of clinical, strategic, and operational experiences across a structured two-year rotation. Fellows complete approximately 12 months in Scientific Communications, 6 months in Medical Strategy, and 6 months in another area of interest. This rotation structure ensures graduates develop both depth in their primary area and breadth across the Medical Affairs function. Fellows are assigned to specific products or programs within Amgen’s Inflammation and Obesity therapeutic areas, working with designated preceptors and experienced Medical Affairs professionals.

During the fellowship, participants collaborate with Global and US medical teams, including medical leads, Scientific Communications team members, Field Medical staff, and Medical External Events Engagement professionals. This cross-functional exposure teaches fellows to navigate complex matrix environments — a critical skill for pharmaceutical industry careers. The program explicitly focuses on developing strategic thinking, project execution, scientific expertise, and business acumen, with quarterly evaluations tracking progress and development throughout the fellowship. Dr. Vicki Loh, Director of Global Scientific Communications, leads the Inflammation track, while Dr. Najma Saleem, Medical Director of Global Medical, heads the Obesity track.

Current and recent GMA fellows come from prestigious pharmacy schools across the country. Stevens Alfred, PharmD, MBA, RPh, a second-year fellow from Temple University, describes working on product launches and collaborating with MSLs and cross-functional teams. First-year fellows Yasmin Johnson from Mercer University and Emmanuel Ogunsola from Florida A&M represent the program’s commitment to recruiting from diverse institutions, including other HBCUs and historically strong pharmacy programs.

Global Regulatory Affairs and Strategy Fellowship Track

The Global Regulatory Affairs and Strategy (GRAAS) fellowship offers fellows a front-row seat to the regulatory strategies that shape global drug development. Led by Senior Vice President Mark Taisey and supported by Vice Presidents Jackie Kline (Oncology), Laura Bloss (Inflammation & Rare Disease), and Leah Christl (Biosimilars and General Medicine), this track provides unparalleled access to regulatory decision-making at a top biotechnology company.

GRAAS fellows gain hands-on experience spanning the full spectrum of global regulatory strategy, from early-stage development planning to late-stage filings and post-market activities. Key areas of emphasis include Investigational New Drug (IND) applications, Biologics License Applications (BLAs), Marketing Applications, and direct interactions with regulatory agencies including the FDA, European Medicines Agency, and authorities in Japan and China. Fellows also rotate through Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC) Regulatory Affairs, gaining exposure to quality requirements and lifecycle management of pharmaceutical and biologic products.

The fellowship structure immerses fellows in Global Regulatory Team (GRT) meetings, cross-functional team meetings, regulatory staff meetings, and regular preceptor sessions. Brian Abbott, Executive Director of Oncology Regulatory Affairs, and Vanessa Shurn, Senior Director of Oncology Regulatory Affairs, serve as fellowship preceptors, providing direct mentorship and guidance. Fellows participate in frequent group meetings with Amgen-Rutgers fellows, creating a broader professional network across fellowship programs. For students comparing regulatory career tracks across institutions, our Georgia Tech graduate programs guide offers another perspective on STEM-focused career development.

Second-year fellow Olamide Adebogun from the University of Illinois Chicago describes collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams on submissions and interactions with regulatory authorities, developing skills necessary to impact strategy within various spans of the drug development phase. Fellow Shylon Pierre Francis from the University of Louisiana Monroe highlights gaining experience in global regulatory frameworks and supporting health authority submissions. First-year fellows Nana Owusu-Boakye from Texas A&M and Angel Shen from the University of British Columbia demonstrate the program’s reach across North American pharmacy schools.

Global Patient Safety Fellowship Track

The Global Patient Safety (GPS) fellowship specializes in pharmacovigilance — the patient-centric science of collecting, detecting, monitoring, preventing, and communicating side effects of pharmaceutical products. Currently recruiting one fellow, this track operates under the leadership of Dr. Michelle Geller, Vice President of Global Patient Safety, with sponsorship from Amit Bhandari, Executive Director and General Medicine Therapeutic Area Head.

Fellows in the GPS track develop core pharmacovigilance competencies through direct engagement with safety science at every level. The training covers processing individual adverse event reports, signal detection in both clinical trials and post-marketing settings, benefit-risk assessment, risk management plans, periodic aggregate safety reports, combination product safety, product information management, and interactions with global regulatory authorities. This comprehensive scope ensures graduates emerge as well-rounded pharmacovigilance professionals.

Dr. Sarah McGill, Global Safety Director, serves as the fellowship preceptor, while Dr. Roman Piskarev, Global Safety Medical Director, provides additional mentorship. Fellows work closely with Global Safety Officers (GSOs), Global Pharmacovigilance Scientists (GPvS), and cross-functional stakeholders to navigate the complex matrix environment that characterizes modern pharmaceutical safety operations. Second-year fellow Fanny Kusi from Temple University emphasizes building on foundational pharmacovigilance knowledge while gaining hands-on experience in signal detection and safety strategy development. First-year fellow Mohamed A. Elkaeid, also from Temple University, continues the program’s tradition of recruiting strong pharmacovigilance candidates.

Fellowship Curriculum and Rotation Structure

All three fellowship tracks at Howard University share a common structural framework designed to maximize learning and professional development over the two-year program duration. The fellowships are structured as academic and industry training programs where fellows are remote-based, spending time at both Howard University and Amgen concurrently. This dual-institution approach provides the academic rigor of a top-ranked pharmacy school combined with the practical, real-world training of a leading biotechnology company.

The Global Medical Affairs track follows a clearly defined rotation schedule: approximately 12 months in Scientific Communications, 6 months in Medical Strategy, and 6 months in an area of interest chosen by the fellow. This structure balances deep specialization with broad exposure, ensuring fellows develop the versatility needed for medical affairs leadership. The GRAAS track similarly rotates fellows through multiple regulatory functions, with emphasis on both programmatic and project-based initiatives spanning early development through post-market activities.

Across all tracks, fellows benefit from a structured development program that includes quarterly progress evaluations, formal and informal engagement with senior leadership, regular preceptor meetings, and collaborative cross-functional team participation. The program explicitly tailors experiences to align with each fellow’s career goals and areas for development, making it a highly personalized training experience. Fellows contribute to and lead meaningful projects, becoming integral members of their respective cross-functional teams rather than passive observers.

The academic component at Howard University ensures fellows maintain their clinical and scholarly credentials while building industry expertise. HUCOP’s status as the singular college of pharmacy in the nation’s capital, with a legacy dating to 1868, provides fellows with access to a rich academic network and the prestige of a top-ranked pharmacy program. The inter-professional experiences gained at Howard complement the industry training at Amgen, creating graduates who are equally comfortable in academic, clinical, and corporate environments.

Career Outcomes and Alumni Success Stories

The Howard University Amgen fellowship program has produced a growing roster of successful alumni who have secured impactful positions within Amgen and across the broader pharmaceutical industry. These career outcomes demonstrate the program’s effectiveness in preparing fellows for senior roles in the biopharmaceutical sector, validating its emphasis on leadership development alongside technical competency.

Notable alumni include William Nampaso, PharmD, who serves as Global Safety Manager in Rare Disease at Amgen’s Global Patient Safety division, graduating from the 2023-2025 cohort. Ericka A. Lassair, PharmD, RPh, PMP, advanced to US Regulatory Manager for Inflammation within Global Regulatory Affairs after completing the 2022-2024 fellowship. Jessica Nwabuoku, PharmD, now works as Global Regulatory Manager for Obesity in Global Regulatory Affairs and Strategy, also from the 2023-2025 cohort. DessyAnn Julien, PharmD, became a Regulatory Labeling Manager for Gen Med/Inflammation in Global Regulatory Affairs (2022-2024), and Gabriel Lake, PharmD, was appointed Scientific Communications Manager for Cardiovascular in Global Medical Affairs (2022-2024).

These career trajectories illustrate a consistent pattern: fellows complete the program and transition into manager-level positions within Amgen’s core functions. The diversity of roles — spanning safety, regulatory, labeling, and communications — reflects the breadth of training the fellowship provides. For prospective applicants, this track record offers concrete evidence that the fellowship delivers on its promise of preparing graduates for leadership positions within the biopharmaceutical industry. For another perspective on healthcare career pathways, our Vanderbilt graduate programs guide explores engineering-adjacent health technology roles.

Application Process and Eligibility Requirements

The Howard University Amgen pharmaceutical fellowship employs a rolling admissions process, meaning candidates are evaluated as applications are received rather than after a single deadline. This approach benefits strong candidates who apply early, as positions may be filled before the applicant pool closes. Interviews are conducted virtually, making the process accessible to candidates across the country and internationally.

To be eligible, candidates must have graduated from an accredited college or university with a PharmD degree, or must complete their degree by July 1st of the fellowship start term. The program does not require prior industry experience, but the selection criteria emphasize qualities beyond academic performance. HUCOP specifically seeks candidates who demonstrate excellence, superior written and verbal communication skills, openness to mentorship, and leadership potential with the capacity for C-suite progression. This focus on leadership readiness means applicants should be prepared to articulate their career vision and demonstrate how the fellowship aligns with their long-term goals.

Applications are submitted through the HUCOP Post-doctoral Fellowship Application Portal. Prospective candidates should prepare a comprehensive application package that typically includes a curriculum vitae, letter of intent, transcripts, and professional references. Given the program’s emphasis on communication skills, the letter of intent is particularly important and should clearly convey the applicant’s motivation, relevant experiences, and alignment with Amgen’s mission of serving patients through innovative therapies. The fellowship direction falls under Dr. Earl Ettienne, BSc. Pharm., MBA, LP.D, RPh, who serves as Fellowship Director and Assistant Dean of Graduate Programs & Industrial Partnerships at Howard University College of Pharmacy.

Candidates applying for specific tracks should research the therapeutic areas and functions associated with each fellowship. For the GMA track, familiarity with inflammation and obesity treatment landscapes strengthens an application. GRAAS applicants benefit from demonstrating awareness of regulatory processes and current FDA guidance. GPS candidates should show interest in pharmacovigilance principles and patient safety science. Across all tracks, the program values diversity and actively recruits fellows who represent the breadth of the American and global pharmacy community.

Howard University College of Pharmacy Legacy

Howard University College of Pharmacy stands as a historic pillar of pharmaceutical education in the United States, with a legacy dating to 1868. As the singular college of pharmacy in the nation’s capital, HUCOP has consistently produced leaders who make their mark on the global stage in pharmacy practice, research, industry, and public health. The college’s distinction as a top-ranked program by U.S. News & World Report underscores its unwavering commitment to excellence across all domains of pharmaceutical education and research.

The HUCOP approach to fellowship education reflects broader institutional values rooted in Howard University’s mission as a premier historically Black university. The college focuses on delivering contemporary pharmacy education while paving new paths through scholarship, research, and professional growth. This dual commitment to tradition and innovation shapes the fellowship program’s character, producing graduates who combine deep scientific knowledge with the cultural competency and leadership skills needed to drive health equity in the pharmaceutical industry.

The pharmaceutical industry fellowship program at HUCOP has expanded steadily since its inception in 2012, with the Amgen partnership representing one of the most significant recent additions. By partnering with a company as prominent as Amgen, HUCOP has created pathways for PharmD graduates to enter leadership tracks at one of the world’s leading biotechnology companies. The partnership emphasizes creation of new knowledge through cutting-edge research, strong dedication to community service, and ongoing commitment to professional growth — values that align with both institutions’ missions. The success of alumni in securing senior positions at Amgen validates this partnership model and establishes HUCOP as a leader in pharmaceutical industry fellowship education. For students evaluating HBCU programs alongside other options, the National Center for Education Statistics provides comparative institutional data.

Why Choose the Howard University Amgen Fellowship

Several factors distinguish the Howard University Amgen pharmaceutical fellowship from competing programs in the marketplace. First, the Amgen brand carries significant weight in the biopharmaceutical industry. As one of the world’s leading independent biotechnology companies, Amgen provides fellows with access to innovative therapies across multiple therapeutic areas, exposure to global regulatory landscapes, and networking opportunities with senior pharmaceutical leaders. Training at Amgen means learning within an organization that has brought transformative therapies to millions of patients worldwide.

Second, the Howard University affiliation provides a unique academic foundation. As a top-ranked pharmacy program, HUCOP brings academic prestige, research infrastructure, and a network of pharmacy professionals that extends the fellow’s career connections far beyond Amgen. The HBCU mission adds a dimension of health equity awareness and cultural competency that is increasingly valued in the pharmaceutical industry as companies expand diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Third, the program’s structure addresses a common concern among fellowship applicants: career trajectory certainty. With documented alumni outcomes showing consistent placement in manager-level roles at Amgen, applicants can enter the program with clear expectations about post-fellowship career possibilities. The rolling admissions process also reduces application stress, and the virtual interview format eliminates geographic barriers to participation. The mentorship model — featuring multiple preceptors, senior leaders, and peer fellows — creates a support system that extends well beyond the two-year program duration.

Fourth, the program’s three distinct tracks allow candidates to align their fellowship experience with their specific career interests. Whether drawn to the clinical and strategic dimensions of medical affairs, the regulatory complexity of drug development oversight, or the scientific rigor of pharmacovigilance, candidates can find a pathway that matches their professional goals. This specialization within a single institution creates opportunities for cross-track collaboration and learning that broader, less structured programs cannot replicate.

Comparing Pharmaceutical Fellowship Programs

When evaluating the Howard University Amgen fellowship against other pharmaceutical industry fellowship programs, prospective applicants should consider several dimensions. The program competes with established fellowships at institutions such as Rutgers University, the University of the Sciences (now merged with Saint Joseph’s University), and various direct pharmaceutical company programs that recruit independently of academic partners.

The Howard University Amgen program distinguishes itself through its HBCU heritage, which creates a unique fellowship culture centered on leadership development, health equity, and community impact. While many fellowship programs focus primarily on technical skill development, the HUCOP program explicitly prepares fellows for C-suite trajectories — a vision that shapes curriculum design, mentorship matching, and project selection throughout the two-year experience.

For PharmD graduates committed to pharmaceutical industry careers in medical affairs, regulatory affairs, or patient safety, the Howard University Amgen fellowship offers a compelling combination of academic prestige, industry access, structural flexibility, and proven career outcomes. The program’s continued growth since 2022, expanding fellowship positions across all three tracks, signals strong institutional commitment from both Amgen and Howard University to develop the next generation of pharmaceutical industry leaders.