My name is Kristina and I am a Class of 2022 MBiotech Biopharma graduate. I completed my undergraduate degree in Biomedical Sciences with a minor in Psychology at Toronto Metropolitan University. During this time, I gained research experience in microbiology studying E. coli pathogenesis. After attending the IMI open house during my last year, I was excited to apply to the MBiotech program which would ultimately give me the opportunity to improve lives through science. I completed my internship as a Drug Reimbursement Analyst at PIVINA Consulting Inc, where I gained foundational knowledge of the healthcare reimbursement landscape and key stakeholders within Canada. After my internship, I stayed with PIVINA as a Reimbursement Associate. I worked across various therapeutic areas, including oncology, respiratory, mental health, neurology, and nephrology. Throughout this experience, I developed a passion for making innovative medicine accessible to patients. This passion eventually led me to transition to the pharmaceutical industry. At Bayer, in my current role as Market Access Associate on the Specialty Medicine team, I work on supporting HTA, public payer, and private payer submissions in ophthalmology and oncology. Outside of my role, I am interested in finding ways to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace.
How did your experience in the MBiotech program contribute to your career success?
The MBiotech program opened up my eyes to the opportunities that exist in the pharmaceutical industry and helped me gain experience in problem-solving through real world case projects. This, coupled with my internship in market access, helped lead me to where I am today.
What are some of the key skills and knowledge you acquired during the MBiotech program that are still valuable to you today?
The MBiotech program helped me develop leadership skills, cultivate new ways of collaborating, learn how to think critically, and understand how to create a value story. Through my internship at PIVINA, I gained project management, communication, and technical skills that are still valuable to me in my current role. I also grew my professional circle by networking with clients, which has helped in my career development.
What advice would you give to current MBiotech students or recent graduates who are entering the job market?
You are entering the industry as science communicators, ambassadors for healthcare, and mentors for future generations! You will see that being surrounded by the MBiotech community is special and it will continue to inspire you after graduation. Be open to challenges and opportunities that will help you grow not only as a professional, but as a human.
Are there any memorable or transformative experiences from your time in the MBiotech program that you would like to share?
The friendships I made during the program were the icing on the cake and are very much a part of my life today. My memorable experiences were the dinners we shared as a class and our graduation day.
Any major accomplishment/achievement/award you would like to share with us?
I was privileged to represent my cohort as Class Representative and Valedictorian for the Biopharma Class of 2022.
