Biopharma Research

Maida
Taylor

Bench vs Bedside: Arrowsmith Revisited

In 1925, Sinclair Lewis published Arrowsmith (a novel for which he later won a Pulitzer Prize), the story of a young medical researcher.  Martin Arrowsmith, the protagonist, served as a role model for scores of medical students intent on devoting their lives to medical science.  The portra...


Maida
Taylor

Public Health or Corporate Wealth?

I am sitting in an auditorium at Georgetown University attending a symposium on the influence of the pharmaceutical industry on scientific publications and continuing medical education.  This is a decidedly hostile crowd.  The crusaders are all here, including Arnold Relman, MD, professor ...


Marielena
Mata

Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness…in industry

This is a special week for me. In a couple of days, I will celebrate 20 years in this country and take my citizenship oath. Yep, I will become a US Citizen and promise to defend the Constitution. I will attain the last piece of the American Dream and what a dream it has been! I came to this count...


Marielena
Mata

The few, the proud, the Smurfettes of Science

It happened again.  Here I was at a scientific gathering in Bethesda to discuss my favorite topic.  The brightest names in the field were present, ready to share their knowledge, wisdom and innovations.  As I looked around the room, it was clear that I was in the minority. Here I was,...


Marielena
Mata

Who’s the Boss?

This blog is dedicated to that most influential person in the life of any professional; one’s direct supervisor.   Let me start by saying that my boss, who I will call the “Big Boss,” is absolutely the most wonderful boss EVER! (Hey, you never know when Big Boss will decide to G...


Maida
Taylor

Why you did not get that job - Part II

I just came across a piece on healthecareers talking about the personal flaws that turn hiring managers against a particular candidate.  https://www.healthecareers.com/article/top-5-personal-reasons-you-didnt-land-the-job/170890


Maida
Taylor

Playing Well with Others: Can an MD find happiness in the Pharmaceutical Industry?

In 1961, the medical sociologist Anselm Strauss published his seminal study, “The Boys in White,” about how the treatment of medical students affects their characters and behaviors. In 1956 and 1957, at the University of Kansas Medical School, the authors “lived, ate, and, figuratively spea...


Marielena
Mata

The story of Smurfette

As I sit here trying to figure out what to say, I keep asking myself: Who am I? There are so many ways to define myself.  The demographic answer would be Hispanic female in her late 30s (very late), professional, married with 3 children.  I’m sure the census would be happy with that answ...


Marielena
Mata

Careers in Pharma: the Smurfette perspective

Just recently, I have started to read some blogs (Yes, I know, I’m a little behind the times) about random science topics and in particular about women scientists in academia (I didn’t find any written by women in Industry).  I have also been thinking of how I would like to do a blog. ...


Marielena
Mata

Teamwork Part 2: Seven Blind Mice and Matrix Organizations

One of my favorite children’s books is “Seven Blind Mice.”  This book retells the ancient Indian tale of seven blind men who try to decide what an elephant is like based on examining one part of it. In this book, it is seven blind mice that examine the elephant; six of them draw incorrect...