"Stay curious and keep an open mind about where pharmacy can take you — it's a far broader profession than most people realize."
As we continue to celebrate American Pharmacists Month this October, it is a good time to remember that a pharmacy degree opens the door to a wide range of career paths, including the pharmaceutical industry, where Nikki Chen, 2026, now works as a global regulatory policy and strategy manager in Global Regulatory Affairs at Eli Lilly and Company. Chen shares how she got there and what she has learned along the way.
How did you originally get interested in pharmacy as a profession?
I was fascinated by the idea of being at the intersection of science and people — using deep scientific knowledge to make a direct difference in others’ lives. As the daughter of immigrants, I saw firsthand how important accessible healthcare is. For my family, I often helped translate medical appointments and navigate complex insurance documents. Pharmacy offered the perfect blend of science, service, and advocacy, and the more I learned about the profession, the more I realized the wide range of opportunities it could provide.
What is your favorite memory from pharmacy school?
One of my favorite memories from pharmacy school was attending the IPSF World Congress in Indonesia. As my first international conference, it really opened my eyes to how pharmacy is practiced in different countries and connected me with so many student pharmacists around the world that I still keep in touch with today.
What activities were you involved with in school?
I was active in many of our organizations, including SCPhA, APhA, and founding IPhO, and I was part of the Walker Leadership Scholars program. Our organizations really brought a sense of community and also helped me keep the big picture in mind, especially when some days of studying would feel really heavy.
Looking back to your time in school, is there anything you wish you had done differently?
I wish I'd worried a little less about having everything figured out. The most rewarding parts of my journey came from saying yes to opportunities I couldn't have planned for — so if anything, I'd tell my past self to stay curious and trust that the path will take shape.
Tell us more about your career -
I work in global regulatory affairs in the regulatory policy space at Eli Lilly and Company. My role focuses less on the mechanics of individual regulatory submissions to the FDA and more on the bigger picture — how regulations are shaped, interpreted, and modernized across regions to keep up with how fast our world changes. A lot of my work lives in the gap between what the rules say and what they were meant to achieve, and how we can help close that gap through more forward-looking policy. This involves working with other pharmaceutical companies, government affairs, and advocacy groups to be able to storytell and amplify voices of patients to ensure regulatory processes can streamline to meet the end goal of providing patients the medicines they need.
What is the most important lesson life has taught you?
The most important life lesson I’ve learned so far is to approach everything in life with curiosity and empathy. We can often get into our routines and miss many of the little things that can bring you joy, so making sure I’m staying curious to notice and appreciate those little things have been important to me.
What is your advice for current students and future pharmacy professionals?
Stay curious and keep an open mind about where pharmacy can take you — it's a far broader profession than most people realize. Get involved, find mentors that you connect with, and don't be afraid to pursue a path that doesn't fit the traditional mold. Some of the most rewarding careers, like regulatory policy, are ones you might never discover unless you go looking.
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
When I was growing up, I had wanted to do something that would make a broad international difference, like a diplomat, as I had seen how different countries’ relationships with one another could influence people’s daily lives. Even though pharmacy school doesn’t have a clear connection with international diplomacy, I would consider my current role to be a blend of regulatory, pharmacy, and international relations as I communicate with multiple countries’ ministries of health to harmonize regulations at a global scale to help patients get earlier access to innovative medicines.
How do you spend your time outside of work?
The arts have always been a big part of who I am, and I love making time for creative outlets outside of work whether it’s through music or crafts. I also love getting involved with organizations that celebrate and educate about Asian heritage in the community.