Title: Director of Clinical Supplies
Company: DiaMedica Therapeutics Inc.
Location: Alexandria, Virginia, United States
John Edward O’Brien, PharmD, MHL, director of clinical supplies at DiaMedica Therapeutics Inc., has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Healthcare Professionals for dedication, achievements, and leadership in health care supply and operations.
With nearly a decade and a half of experience, Mr. O’Brien has built a successful career in health care, specializing in clinical supplies and pharmacy operations. He currently serves as the director of clinical supplies at DiaMedica Therapeutics Inc., a position he has held since 2023. His previous roles include senior manager of clinical supply and logistics at BeiGene from 2020 to 2023, manager of clinical supply and logistics at BeiGene from 2018 to 2020, and associate manager of materials and logistics at Gilead Sciences from 2015 to 2018. He was also a fellow at Pfizer from 2013 to 2015, an adjunct faculty at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences during the same period and a pharmacy intern at CVS/Caremark from 2011 to 2013. He is a member of the Global Clinical Supplies Group and the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), and he is involved with the Interfaith Hospitality Network. He laid a solid educational foundation for his accomplishments, earning a Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Rhode Island in 2013, completing a post-doctorate fellowship with Pfizer and MCPHS University, and earning a Master of Science in healthcare leadership from Brown University in 2022.
Dr. O’Brien takes great pride in his tenure at BeiGene, where he gained recognition as an expert in sourcing competitor drugs. His expertise lies in acquiring costly drugs from rival pharmaceutical companies for comparative trials, optimizing cost efficiency, and streamlining procurement for global usage. He became the go-to person for navigating the complexities of acquiring and utilizing competitor drugs within their clinical trials. He attributes his success to his inquisitive nature and penchant for seeking knowledge through asking pertinent questions. He recognizes that his curiosity and technical acumen have significantly enhanced operational scalability.
In the coming years, Dr. O’Brien aims to develop a successful commercial candidate, engage in negotiations with his team, and advance to an upper management position. In the long term, he plans to leverage his experience to either oversee the success of promising molecules at a larger company or provide consulting services to others. Currently, his team is working on a new drug targeting acute ischemic stroke with potential applications for preeclampsia. If the clinical trial proves successful, it could lead to the company being acquired, providing a significant payout. In that case, he would move into consulting or a similar role. If the trial is not successful, he plans to transition to a director role in a similar situation, equipped with the knowledge of what to look for. When advising aspiring professionals, he emphasizes the importance of approaching work with genuine curiosity and a fresh perspective. He believes that being a reliable team member and continuously learning from others is key to long-term success. He encourages newcomers to understand existing practices, question them, and gradually make improvements.
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