​
​Issue: 122 | Subscribers: 13,839+
​​
Hey Fellow Misfit PharmDs! 👋

I love seeing an enthusiastic response from so many of you who are keen to learn more about non-traditional roles that pay more than a pharmacist. Now the next question I’m getting from many of you is, “This a cool overview of non-trad roles. Now tell us more what each is like!”

Ok, coming right up! 🚀
For the next few weeks my newsletter will break down different industries, and how your fellow PharmDs transitioned into those roles. My hope is that you learn the basics of different industries and principles of success that transcend industry.

Starting with….drum roll please 🥁🥁🥁 Market Access.

I have a confession: Until last week, if you’d asked me what market access was, I would have given you a blank stare and probably mumbled something about “ummmmm, accessing markets?!”

And yet here I was, interviewing Dr. Albert Mei, who’s absolutely crushing it in this field. What I learned made me realize how many of us are missing out on this incredible career path simply because we don’t know it exists.

So let’s break this interview I had with him down like we’re explaining it to a 7th grader (which, honestly, is exactly what I needed myself)

What Even IS Market Access? 🤔

Think about how prescription drugs work in the real world. For any medication to actually help a patient, three big things need to happen:

1. A doctor needs to prescribe it
2. Someone needs to pay for it (a payer such as an insurance company)
3. The patient needs to physically get their hands on it

Market access pros focus on those last two parts – making sure patients can actually get (and afford) their medications. They’re like the architects who build bridges between pharmaceutical companies, insurance companies, and patients.

“But Jamie, that sounds super vague…”

Let me make it concrete. Here’s what market access folks actually do:

• Tell the story of why a drug is worth covering (to payers)
• Figure out how to price medications so they’re not only profitable but accessible too
• Create strategies to get medications to patients faster
• Solve problems when insurance companies say “no”

The Day-to-Day Life in Market Access 💼

You’re probably wondering “Okay, but what do you actually DO all day?” (I was!)

Here’s what I learned from Dr. Mei – it’s a mix of:

• Lots of meetings (but interesting ones, where you’re solving real problems)
• Creating resources that help explain a drug’s value
• Data analysis (putting those PharmD analytical skills to work!)
• Strategy development
• Working with teams across the company
• Navigating regulatory and legislative changes

The cool part? You’re using your PharmD brain in a totally different way. Instead of checking drug interactions, you’re looking at big-picture problems and finding creative solutions.

Why This Role is Perfect for PharmDs 🎯

Here’s what makes us uniquely qualified:

• We understand both clinical AND business aspects
• We can translate complex medical info into plain English
• We’re trained to think systematically about healthcare
• We already know how insurance and healthcare systems work

Plus (and this is the part that made me sit up straight) – market access roles typically range from $180-250K+ annually, not counting bonuses and other perks.

Breaking Into Market Access: It’s About Who You Are, Not Quick Hacks

When I asked him about “tricks” to break into market access, he shared a story that perfectly illustrates what real career transformation looks like.

Back in his first year of pharmacy school, at a student organization barbecue, he mentioned to some other first-years that he was “kind of interested in managed care.” He admits he didn’t even really know what it meant - he just knew it had something to do with the business side of healthcare. That small mention led to an upperclassman introducing him to a third-year student who became one of his key mentors throughout pharmacy school.

Here’s what Dr. Mei did differently:

1. He had a general direction (“I’m interested in the business side of healthcare”) even before he knew exactly what role he wanted
2. He talked about his interests openly, even when he wasn’t an expert: “I don’t really know much about it, but I understand it has this business component”
3. He focused on building genuine relationships rather than just collecting contacts

As Dr. Mei put it: “The networking you really want is when the person you’re trying to network with reaches out to you, out of the blue, of their own interest and time, just to ask ‘How are you doing?’”

This hit home for me because so many of us focus on quick fixes - the perfect resume template, memorizing industry buzzwords, or collecting LinkedIn connections. But Dr. Mei shows us it’s about becoming someone who genuinely engages with others and builds relationships that last.

The key? He wasn’t afraid to say “I’m interested in this, but I don’t know much about it yet.” That authenticity and genuine curiosity opened more doors than any polished elevator pitch could have.

Your career transformation isn’t about tricks - it’s about becoming someone who consistently shows up, shares their interests (even when they’re just beginning), and builds real connections in their chosen field.

*And I think it’s worth stating the obvious that this applied for any industry..not just market access.

Networking the Dr. Mei Way 🤝

One of the most refreshing things about talking with Dr. Mei was his approach to networking. Forget the cringey “Can I pick your brain?” messages. Here’s how he built his network:

1. Express Genuine Interest - He was curious about managed care before he even knew market access existed. And that the two are closely related. - He asked questions because he actually wanted to learn, not just to get something
2. Share Your Story First Remember his barbecue story? He didn’t go asking for jobs. He simply shared his interests, which led to meaningful connections. The key? He wasn’t afraid to say “I’m interested in this, but I don’t know much about it yet.”
3. Build Long-Term Relationships Dr. Mei mentioned that some of his early mentors are still his friends today. Why? Because he focused on genuine connections, not transactions.

Pro Tip: Notice how Dr. Mei didn’t wait until he “needed” a network to start building one. He was curious and connecting way before he made his career move.

Start Building Your Sales Muscles Now 💪

When I asked him about the single most valuable investment in his career development, his answer surprised me: sales experience.

“I took the leap and went into sales where I thought I’d be terrible,” he shared. “Turns out I was actually pretty okay at it. And to this day, I still think I’m pretty good.”

You can start developing these skills right where you are. Here’s how:

1. Reframe Your Current Role
   - Every time you explain a medication to a patient, you’re practicing translation skills
   - When you convince a doctor’s office to fix a prescription, you’re negotiating
   - Each time you help someone understand their insurance, you’re learning payer dynamics
2. Understand What Sales Really Is Dr. Mei discovered that sales isn’t about being “slimy” or using “used car salesman tactics.” Instead, he found it to be about:
   - Learning how to tell compelling stories
   - Understanding what brings value to others
   - Building genuine relationships
   - Becoming someone people enjoy being around
3. See The Bigger Picture In Dr. Mei’s current market access role, he noted that many of his colleagues came from sales backgrounds. Why? Because they learned how to:
   - Tell the story of why a drug is valuable
   - Understand different stakeholder perspectives
   - Navigate complex healthcare decisions
   - Build relationships across the industry

Pro Tip: Notice how Dr. Mei started with a simple mindset shift - looking at his daily pharmacy tasks through a sales lens - before transitioning into formal sales roles. You can do the same.

“It’s super fun,” he emphasized. “It’s different, and it forced me to learn a skill that I still use today.”

Remember: Your PharmD gives you deep healthcare knowledge. Adding sales skills to that foundation doesn’t diminish your clinical expertise - it amplifies your ability to create value in the healthcare system. It may feel scary, but these real-world skills will be what separates you as an ideal candidate in roles like this.

The Long Game 🎯

Dr. Mei is still a new(ish) grad. And yet with asking lots of questions and eagerly learning from anyone who will teach him he’s already built a really cool career for himself. Success wasn’t overnight…but it also wasn’t really that long. “It took seven years to get here. Seven years of actively thinking about it.” This isn’t meant to discourage you – it’s meant to liberate you.

You don’t have to figure it all out today. You don’t need the perfect plan. What you need is to start thinking differently about your role in healthcare.

Start small:

• Read one healthcare business article each week
• Practice explaining complex topics simply
• Connect with 3 new person in the field each week

The path to market access is about becoming someone who thinks strategically about healthcare problems.

When Dr. Mei interviews candidates now, he’s not just looking at their experience. He’s looking for people who:

• Can think systemically about healthcare
• Are genuinely curious about business problems
• Have the courage to challenge conventional thinking
• Are willing to learn and grow

Your PharmD already proves you can master complex information. Now it’s time to apply that same dedication to understanding the business of healthcare.

This article was based on my interview with Dr. Mei for informational purposes only. Our aim was to teach about an industry most PharmDs don’t know about, and not to represent any specific company.

​

With grit and gratitude,
​Jamie

P.S. Next week, we’re diving into another hidden PharmD career path. Reply to this email with roles you’d like me to investigate!

P.P.S. Big thanks to Dr. Albert Mei for pulling back the curtain on this fascinating career path. Follow him on LinkedIn for more insights into the market access world! 🙌

​
Final PS- 🚀 My flagship PharmD HQ cohort 1 closed earlier this month with 50 PharmDs loving the content and giving in 5/5 stars. If you are bummed you missed it an eager to get in on the next launch, register your interest here. PharmD HQ is your springboard to understand all the non-trad opportunities out there plus what is the best one for you. See you on the inside! 👋🏻

​