Program offers path to pharmaceutical careers
This article was written for our sponsor, NCBiotech
Kiriayani Diaz remembers wanting to be a pediatrician when she was growing up. But as high school graduation approached in early 2021, she was undecided about which career path she wanted to take, and she wondered whether attending college was even possible. "I had the grades, but not many scholarships. I had been struggling to find a way to pay for college," she says.
Now, just two years later, Diaz works as a formulation technician at Thermo Fisher Scientific, helping to produce medicines in a sterile environment. She finds the work challenging and rewarding and credits her early career success to her participation in the Manufacturing Prep Program - NC Grads2Work, a program that introduces recent high school graduates to careers in the pharmaceutical industry.
Diaz attended Pitt County Schools Early College High School and says that although she was familiar with the program, she had not applied for it, assuming it was so competitive that she wouldn’t be accepted. Additionally, she hadn’t seriously considered a career in the pharmaceutical industry, believing some of the requirements for working in the industry might be beyond her reach.
With graduation fast approaching, Diaz learned that she’d scored exceptionally well on the ACT WorkKeys assessment, also known as the National Career Readiness Certificate. Knowing her high score would improve her chances, she applied. That year, she was one of 12 applicants accepted.
Held at the Pharmaceutical Services Network at Pitt Community College, in partnership with Thermo Fisher Scientific, the program includes training in a simulated manufacturing environment. Participants are introduced to standard operating procedures within a pharmaceutical manufacturing space, requirements for maintaining a sterile/aseptic environment, proper use and care of laboratory equipment, and the critical importance of proper documentation.
Diaz says that understanding the importance of documentation was the key takeaway for her. "In pharma, there’s a saying that if it’s not documented, it didn’t happen," she says. "You may have gone through the process, but if we don’t sign the paperwork saying the process was followed, or we don’t maintain the documentation, there’s no proof the task was completed." This level of attention to detail is critical in a sector so stringently regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
"The Manufacturing Prep - NCGrads2Work program really opened my eyes," says Diaz. "I had never really given much thought to working in the pharmaceutical industry. But, learning about the various processes intrigued me and made me want to learn more."
After training, Diaz was offered the opportunity to interview for a job at Thermo Fisher Scientific. The interview took place in July 2021, and the following month, she started her position as an operator 1. In less than a year, she was promoted to operator 2, and she has since been promoted to formulation technician 2.
"At first, I had the mindset of simply wanting to get my foot in the door," she says. "But I realize I’m in a good position now because of how quickly I wanted to learn and grow."
Diaz believes the knowledge and skills she gained thus far provide a solid foundation for future career aspirations. "I hope to continue moving up, whether it’s becoming a lead, going on to a supervisor position within my department, or moving to another department," she says.
In the meantime, she’s taking advantage of the tuition reimbursement Thermo Fisher Scientific offers and has been taking classes through East Carolina University’s online bachelor program. She’s majoring in business management and expects to earn her bachelor’s degree by May 2024. "After that, I’ll have two more years to obtain a master’s degree," she says.
"I would say [Manufacturing Prep Program - NCGrads2Work] program was my saving grace," Diaz says. Asked what message she would give to high school students considering applying to the program, she says, "You never know what you could be missing. You just have to give it a shot. I wasn’t sure I would get into the program. That fear of rejection held me back. But I’m really glad I decided to go for it."
This article was written for our sponsor, NCBiotech
