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FPM In-company learning

Physician and Scientist Induction Programme

This induction programme has been developed for physicians and scientists who have moved from clinical practice and research backgrounds to working in the pharmaceutical industry. It aims to aid the transition by providing an overview of the drug development lifecycle from discovery to approval with an international perspective.

Theoretical knowledge and insights are combined with real-life examples, group work, case studies, and exercises throughout to encourage interaction.

Participants on this programme will benefit by:

establishing a common level understanding of drug development, across all functions, which can be built upon at a later stage with further training or professional qualifications
building wide-ranging foundational knowledge, for example from pre- and non-clinical development, to designing clinical trials, to regulatory approval processes, and principles of commercialization
developing understanding that will improve ability to ask the right questions.
identifying areas of interest for further development
allows cross-functional colleagues to collaborate in workshops simulating real-life pharma situations, e.g. designing a TPP

The programme is delivered by a team of pharmaceutical physicians and experts in the field.

In this section

Who is it for?

This introduction to pharmaceutical medicine is for physicians, pharmacists and scientists who have recently joined industry.

Examples of the topics covered

The programme can be customised depending on company needs, which can be discussed with our experts in meetings prior to delivery. However, examples of topics included in the programme are outlined below:

Clinical research and discovery

Pharmacology

Clinical development

Medical affairs

Regulatory affairs

Healthcare marketplace

Course materials

Participants are provided with soft copies of the materials at least a week prior to delivery of the programme. The course materials are intended for use during delivery, and as reference material in the future. As such, the materials may be distributed to participants as soft or hard copies at the start of the programme.

Further study

For participants looking to undertake further self-study, there is the option of sitting the Certificate in Pharmaceutical Medicine (CPM), a multiple-choice examination, held once a year in September .

Gaining the CPM allows participants to mark their commitment to the specialty and consolidate their understanding of the core theories of pharmaceutical medicine. For those eligible, it is the first step towards achieving a full Diploma in Pharmaceutical Medicine (DPM)

Achieving the CPM will help participants to:

build their professional reputation
demonstrate knowledge and expertise in pharmaceutical medicine
improve professional skills.

FPM qualifications are formally accredited and internationally recognised. The post-nominals CPM and DPM can be used by those who meet the standard and pass the exams.

Delivery options and pricing

The programme is proposed as an intensive five-day format if delivered in-person, with contact time of around six hours per day. However, the programme may be paced over a longer period, scheduled to suit the needs of the business and availability of the experts if an online or hybrid model is preferred.

The content outlined can also be customised depending on company needs, which can be discussed with our experts in meetings prior to delivery.

Next steps

To find out more about the programme and discuss suitability for your organisation, contact the training team at FPM training@fpm.org.uk.

Testimonials from past client Biogen

Biogen logo

“I enjoyed the training very much. It is a comprehensive training on novel therapy development across the world from early identification of new entity to post-marketing activities. All R&D staff, no matter if you're pre-clinical or clinical, new to the industry or experienced in focused areas, can find the content useful and closely related to your work and responsibilities. I wish I had had this training earlier in my career path.”

“The POD course is an uniquely informative series which have been an essential introduction for physicians in the pharma industry. The course is very well run and workshop highly relevant. I would recommend this to all who wants an solid topical introduction to clinical development.”

“From clinical development to marketing, the second half of the course dealt with aspects of drug development that I had not experienced. It was an eye opening whirlwind tour through the post R2D landscape, which I relished. In particular, the marketing authorization and marketing strategy are things I have not even thought about in my drug development journey. I especially enjoyed the post approval exercises. Using Biogen case studies is a brilliant touch, one in which garnered extra sense of relevance. Furthermore, by following a single case from clinical trials to post marketing authorization and life cycle management really instilled a sense of ownership in the project and a sense of comradery among the same teammates who follow the project through various stages of clinical development and life cycle management. All in all, it was a great course. I learned a lot and had the wonderful opportunity to make friends with whom I normally may never talk. I look forward to applying the skills I learned in my RDPL role. Thank you.”