What Graduates of the 2005 Class Have to Say About the Program…

“My participation in the program marked a very fundamental and critical step in my career development. Although I am still undecided about my career goals, I feel immensely informed and prepared in a way that I could never have achieved by just completing the traditional graduate work of the PhD in Neuroscience. It is unfortunate that this kind of preparation isn’t included in the traditional graduate coursework. I am grateful that the Center for Biotechnology has been able to fill this critical gap in graduate education.”

Ph.D Candidate, Department of Neurobiology & Behavior, Stony Brook University

“The program was of tremendous value. It has changed my approach towards finding a job and given me more confidence entering the interviewing process. I feel that I am much more marketable to employers because I can clearly articulate how I can be of value to their company.”

Ph.D Candidate, Mount Sinai School of Medicine

“The idea that networking is critical was very thoroughly emphasized. In addition, it helped me realize not just that I wanted to go into industry, but also what I wanted to do there - business strategy type things. It helped me define my goals and think about the line of action I must take to achieve my long-term goal.”

Ph.D. Candidate, Cellular & Molecular Pathology, Stony Brook University

“I’ve obtained a more complete understanding of how departments with seemingly separate functions integrate to achieve a company’s goals. It’s given greater context and meaning to the work I am accomplishing.”

Analytical Chemist, Forest Laboratories

“The course was very well done. The course directors took the lessons very seriously, were well-prepared and aided the students in exploring the many professional niches in industry. I wish a course like this had been available earlier in my education.”

Scientist, Cornerstone Pharmaceuticals

“The course dramatically changed my short-term career goals by providing great depth and breadth of insight into the biotech industry.”

Ph.D. Candidate, Biological Sciences, Columbia University

“The program has had a profound effect on all of us and I am looking forward to staying connected with other course participants and with our industry contacts. I strongly recommend that graduate students in biomedical engineering and similar fields take advantage of this program early in their careers.”

MS, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University

“The course has helped me identify my specific career path and equipped me with the basic rules I’ll use along that path. I’ve gained some very useful insights into the intersection of science and business.”

MS, Associate Scientist, OSI Pharmaceuticals

“The course exceeded my expectations. I found the classes covering the Business of Bioscience, the Product Development Process and Regulatory Affairs particularly useful. I now have a better sense of where my career is headed and how to get there, and that’s a great feeling!”

Ph.D, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

“The key point in the program was the hard work and effort invested in group presentations that helped foster a better understanding of how decisions are made in industry.”

MS, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University

“I met some interesting and influential people and got clear picture of how I can fit in the pharmaceutical industry. There was a substantial amount of theoretical learning and practical teamwork experience that might turn out to be even more valuable in the end.”

Ph.D., Mount Sinai School of Medicine

“I got a great overview of the process of drug development. I have learned some of the lingo of the field and have a better understanding of what it takes to bring a drug to market.”

Ph.D., Cancer Center, Mount Sinai School of Medicine

“The program enhanced my understanding of the bioscience industry, and suggested how I can leverage my skills to add value in the industry.”

MBA, Portfolio Manager/Assistant Vice-President, Fleet Boston Financial Corp.

“The program has helped tremendously. It gave valuable insights into what the bioscience industry has to offer and provided great networking opportunities.”

Ph.D., Albert Einstein College of Medicine

“While the program provided very useful knowledge about the bioscience industry, I think the networking opportunities are the most important aspects.”

Ph.D. Candidate, Biochemistry & Structural Biology, Stony Brook University

What Graduates of the 2005 Class Have to Say About the Instructors…

“Tom Ippolito’s professionalism and ability to simplify the complex concepts of process design and relate them logically to the cGMP brought interest in this potentially boring subject. Tom’s sharp as a knife, but refreshingly blunt with good advice.”

“John Haley was great in breaking down complex theories and delivering the essence in his lecture. I enjoyed digesting the science behind drug discovery programs including the discovery process of Tarceva.”

"Larry Green is the embodiment of the entrepreneurial spirit and always working...happily. I liked his practical approach to solving problems and bringing viable and clever solutions using cutting edge science."

“Patrick Connor is very animated, dedicated and "POP"ed.. that is...very Professional, very Observant and very Passionate. Patrick was very good at asking questions and provoking thought."

“Saied Tousi is an incredible speaker and held our attention the entire time. He helped us to understand the concepts by examining real life situations and possible solutions. A fountain of wisdom!”

“Having James Hayward speak about entrepreneurship could not have been more appropriate. I loved being able to hear "first hand" what was required to evaluate a market opportunity, write up a business plan and start up a company. His story was truly inspiring.”

"Marianna Savoca presents very well. Clear, audible, animated, sincere and smart. She is very responsive and picks up well on the audiences questions. Incredible speaker! Marianna not only set us in the right direction with her advice, but she also taught us how to set a table!"

“Learning about the clinical development phase of a drug from Yogita Desai of Forest Laboratories was truly remarkable. Her candid discussion of FDA interactions was eye opening.”

“Ron Guido was an exceptionally approachable speaker. Not only did he know the FDA regulations in thorough detail, but he was also very friendly and helpful to students. He stayed after class to answer additional questions and even replied to my many emails seeking assistance on navigating the complicated FDA regulatory requirements for devices and biologics. It was a gift having such an industry expert as a speaker and a bonus that he was so genuinely interested in teaching students in all capacities.”

“Barbara Sawitsky was very insightful in every topic she discussed in her lecture. We got a lot of ‘brain food” which helped sharpen our thinking about regulatory affairs in the bioscience industry. She was excellent in bridging business development ideas and regulatory affairs.”

“I was most impressed by Safi Bahcall’s successful transition from a theoretical physicist to CEO of a rising biopharmaceutical company. Dr. Bachall’s story illustrates that with the right set of skills and mindset, it is possible to venture into a seemingly uncharted career path, and be successful. The success of Synta Pharma shows how important it is to step out of the old "blockbuster drug" mind frame; thanks to Dr. Bachall for sharing his insights and invaluable experience."

“Fred Price embodies everything that I imagined of a CEO. He was very insightful, full of wisdom and energy…and straight to the point. The entire class learned an immeasurable amount from his commentary on our case studies. He spoke straight from the hip about his experiences as a CEO and the vital infrastructure for any successful biotech company. He definitely increased our analytical skills regarding management styles.”

“John Jarres and Bob Larson helped us gain insights into the areas of customer service from the opposite (the service) point of view. We always tend to think unidirectionally as in everyday life we are almost always on the customer side. Their group training approach acted as an eye opener for me - we were training to work on the same problem in a team, which definitely teaches listening and respect for the opinion of others.”

“Jon Klein provided a unique perspective on GCP, clinical trials and advertising/labeling/promotion. Klein was very resourceful and provided us with more than just knowledge, but also inspiration and enthusiasm. Being able to receive this information from the Vice-President of Operations at AGI Dermatics was a privilege.”

“Charles Ryan is top notch, very professional. He is a perfect example of how we should conduct ourselves in corporate settings. He is an intriguing and captivating speaker, has a wonderful personality and is extremely knowledgeable. He answered questions well and his enthusiasm was great. Dr. Ryan's humor definitely boosted the energy of the class to a new high level. His expertise in the legal aspect of the industry is extremely valuable and his discussions on real-life cases are most insightful. Made me feel like I was getting a privileged view on the topic.”

“Brian Buxton’s presentation was extremely stimulating. His use of sophisticated charts and analytical graphs to elucidate industry trends kept my interest from start to finish. I felt especially honored to have him as a speaker given his market assessment expertise. I definitely learned a tremendous amount from his lecture.”