Grad Gathering Keynote Speakers
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Chris Frew
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Pravin Jadhav, PhD
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Grad Gathering Panelists
Payal Agarwal, MS ’23 – Pharmacometrics
Payal Agarwal has an educational background in Pharmaceutical Sciences with a Ph. D in Industrial Pharmacy and two master’s degrees, one in Pharmaceutics and second in Pharmacometrics. She has 16+ years of extensive work experience in the areas of biopharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, model informed drug development, regulatory strategy and regulatory policy. Dr. Agarwal is a Biopharmaceutics Reviewer, at the Office of Pharmaceutical Quality (OPQ), CDER, FDA and currently supports NDA-Aligned teams covering the OND’s Divisions of Oncology I, II, and III, Division of Anti-infectives (DAI), and Division of Antivirals (DAV). Prior to joining FDA, she served as a tenured faculty member at Notre Dame of Maryland University (NDMU) where she was engaged in teaching Clinical Pharmacokinetics, Biopharmaceutics to the doctoral students in the school of Pharmacy. In addition, with her role as a Senior Manager of Advisory Service at Avalere Health, Dr. Agarwal offered expert regulatory insights and strategic guidance to help external stakeholders in their drug development strategy and regulatory risks, aiding them in their decision-making processes related to drug, devices and biologics. She also played a pivotal role in monitoring the regulatory policy environment and assisting clients to understand the impact of changing regulatory landscape on their drug development program.
Aziza Ahmed, MS ‘15 – Regulatory Science
Aziza Ahmed has more than 23 years of pharmaceutical industry experience with 14 years of focused APAC experience. For most of her career, she was based in Singapore but has been in the U.S. since 2022. She leads global oncology programs and teams focusing on market expansions, development programs, and pediatric indications. Her focus is CMC, product market introduction strategy, digital dexterity, GCC talent recruitment, and regulatory processes. Her last role was with Merck & Co, where she set up and led the CMC group for the APAC region for small molecules, biologics, and vaccines in 2016. She transferred to Merck, USA in August 2022, where she was the global lead for a CMC, MMD and SC collaboration project looking to streamline and accelerate New Product introductions in China further expanded to critical and complex markets. Ahmed has an MS in Regulatory Science from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, an MS in Organic Chemistry from the University of Mumbai, India, and a recent mini-MBA from International Management Education, Singapore.
Tanya Bavadekar, MS ‘24 – Pharmaceutical Sciences
Tanya Bavadekar is an associate scientist with AstraZeneca in the Early Respiratory and Immunology department, where she works as a contractor through Kelly Services. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy and Master of Business Administration in Pharma-Tech from NMIMS University in Mumbai, India, in 2023. In 2024, she completed her MS in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. Her current research focuses on bioscience and advanced imaging techniques to support drug development programs in chronic lung disorders.
Michelle Campbell, PhD ’14 – Pharmaceutical Health Services Research
Michelle Campbell is the associate director for stakeholder engagement and clinical outcomes in the Office of Neuroscience, Office of New Drugs (OND) in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. Campbell joined the FDA in 2014 and previously was a reviewer on the Clinical Outcome Assessments (COA) staff and scientific coordinator of the COA Qualification Program in OND. Campbell’s focus is on patient-focused drug development and the use of patient experience data in the regulatory setting. In Campbell’s current role, she engages in discussions and reviews considerations in using novel endpoints including using digital health technology data. Prior to joining FDA, Campbell spent more than 10 years conducting research in the academic-clinical setting, including five years in a neurology and developmental medicine department. She earned her BA in Biology from Notre Dame University of Maryland, her MS in Health Science from Towson University, and her PhD in Pharmaceutical Health Services Research from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy.
Nina Fergus, PharmD, MS ‘25 – Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics
Nina Fergus is the clinical director at Curio Wellness, where she blends her background in traditional pharmacy with a passion for advancing cannabis-based medicine. After more than 20 years in retail pharmacy, Fergus transitioned into the medical cannabis industry. In her role, she focusses on patient education, safe product selection, and evidence-based guidance for therapeutic cannabis use. She also develops and delivers staff training, consults with patients on individualized treatment plans, and leads community classes on the science of cannabinoids and integrative approaches to wellness. Fergus received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 2004 from Virginia Commonwealth University. In 2025, she earned her MS in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, where she deepened her expertise in cannabinoid pharmacology and patient-centered applications.
Alexander Gaffney, MS ‘20 – Regulatory Science
Alexander Gaffney is a regulatory and media executive responsible for founding and leading the research division of AgencyIQ, the regulatory analysis division of the media company POLITICO. As the vice president of regulatory policy and intelligence, Gaffney directs the division’s analysis of regulatory issues affecting pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, chemical, and food companies. Before joining AgencyIQ, Gaffney analyzed life sciences regulations as part of PricewaterhouseCoopers's Health Research Institute and was manager of regulatory intelligence at the Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society (RAPS), where he also served as managing editor for the company’s flagship publication, Regulatory Focus. He has an MS in Regulatory Science from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy and a Regulatory Affairs Certification in US regulation. He also serves as the co-chair of the Drug Information Association’s Regulatory Policy and Intelligence Community and is chair of RAPS' Regulatory Intelligence Conference.
Brandy Garzel, PhD ’17 – Pharmaceutical Sciences
Brandy Garzel is an R&D manager in molecular diagnostic systems at BD. She leads a team of scientists in the development of molecular PCR tests for the diagnosis of infectious diseases. Garzel received her PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy in 2017. From there, Garzel spent a year at the FDA as an ORISE fellow, before joining BD as a research scientist in 2018. She was promoted to R&D manager in 2023, where she enjoys the challenging yet rewarding nature of molecular diagnostics.
Kathleen Gondek, PhD ‘93 – Pharmacy Administration
Kathleen Gondek is currently the global head of evidence and outcomes at Takeda with more than 25 years of industry experience. She earned her PhD in Pharmacy Administration at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy in 1993. Gondek is responsible for developing and implementing data strategies, real world evidence, and patient centric outcomes to inform and strengthen the clinical development programs and access of our medicines to patients. She is currently the executive sponsor of STRIVE (Supporting Troops & Inspiring Veteran Engagement) - Takeda's U.S. Military Resource Group. She also serves as the Takeda representative for several real-world evidence consortiums, is a board member for the Arts and Business Council of Boston, and for Crescendo Pharmaceuticals. In the past, Gondek served on the Patient-Centered Outcomes and Research Institute’s Rare Disease Advisory Board, BIO, the National Pharmaceutical Council, and PhRMA working groups. She has authored more than 100 peer reviews and manuscripts.
Kim Hankey, PhD
Kim Hankey is a licensed medical technologist with a PhD in medical pathology and more than 35 years of scientific experience in contract research/clinical laboratory organizations and academics. She supports the University of Maryland Medical Center’s Transplant and Cellular Therapy program as director of the Cell Therapy Lab, where she oversees the processing and manufacturing of safe and effective hematopoietic stem cell (HSC), CAR T, and IEC products. Hankey was a key participant in the design, construction, validation, and equipping of the Fannie Angelos Cellular Therapeutic GMP cleanroom facility which was commissioned and qualified in 2018. This facility has been used for development and manufacturing projects that include CAR T cells, TCR-transduced T cells, CD34-enriched stem cell products, immortalized neonatal cardiac-derived stem cells, and islet isolation. The cardiac-derived stem cell product received FDA-approval for emergency use to treat COVID-ARDS and is patented and being used in a Phase I safety trial to treat patients with heart failure. Furthermore, she was part of a team that successfully developed the manufacturing process for two IEC products (a TCR-T cell to treat Fibrolamellar Carcinoma and a CAR T direct at three B-cell antigens, CD19, CD20, and CD22 to treat lymphoma) and authored the Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls section for two FDA-authorized clinical safety trials.
Melanie Julion, MS ‘24 – Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics
Melanie Julion is a passionate cannabis educator, author, and advocate for the holistic and traditional uses of cannabis and psychedelics. She currently manages Maryland’s cannabis workforce development program as the industry training and engagement manager for the Maryland Cannabis Administration. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Family and Child Studies with an emphasis in Family Social Services from Northern Illinois University, and in 2024, she graduated from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy with an MS in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics. In addition to advocacy work and more than 10 years of experience, Julion gained invaluable knowledge while working at a licensed medical cannabis cultivation center in Washington, D.C., which has fueled her passion for cannabis education. Combining her expertise in cannabis and training as a perinatal health professional, in 2018 Julion founded The Cannabis Doula, Inc., a 501c3 nonprofit to provide holistic doula services, evidence-based cannabis education and events centering women, families, and care providers in communities most impacted by cannabis prohibition and the war on drugs. Julion has pursued extensive training to deepen her knowledge and expertise in various areas of the cannabis industry and supports others in doing the same.
David Miller, PhD ‘93 - Pharmaceutical Health Services Research
David Miller has built a career operating at the intersection of science, medicine, and economics and is an international expert in pharmaceutical pricing, reimbursement, and access. He currently is chair and CEO of Genesis Research Group, a pharma services consultancy, and is an operating partner at GHO Capital, a private equity firm investing in life sciences companies. Miller began his career at GSK in health economics and outcomes research. He’s also held executive roles at Elan and at Biogen, where he was senior vice president of global market access. Miller earned a BS in Pharmacy at the University of Iowa, where he recently was the recipient of its Distinguished Alumni Award. He completed his PhD in Pharmaceutical Health Services Research at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, where he studied health economics and policy.
Matthew Pilsner, MS ’23 – Pharmaceutical Sciences
Matthew Pilsner is a drug product development leader with broad experience in vaccines and therapeutics across a wide range of modalities (recombinant proteins, virus-like particles, adjuvant systems, mRNA-LNPs, and antibody drug conjugates). He has end to end experience at both large pharmaceutical companies and small biotech firms ranging from preclinical, early and late-stage clinical development, and commercialization of two approved products Arexvy (first licensed RSV vaccine) and Nuvaxovid (COVID-19 vaccine). Specific areas of expertise include formulation of adjuvanted protein vaccines, product and process development, scale up/tech transfer, and CMC regulatory submissions. He studied chemical and biomolecular engineering for his undergraduate degree and graduated with an MS in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy in 2024.
Raquel Shortt-Jackson, PhD ’23 – Pharmaceutical Sciences
Raquel Shortt is co-principal investigator of the Mass Spectrometry Group at the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical and Biological Center (DEVCOM CBC). While in the PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences program at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, she applied mass spectrometry-based protein foot printing to study protein structure in 3D cancer models. At CBC, she continues to advance mass spectrometry by developing multi-omics strategies for chemical and biological threat agent characterization, with the goal of protecting both warfighters and civilians from emerging threats.
Anne Yang, MS ’25 – Pharmacometrics
Yuqing (Anne) Yang is associate director in clinical pharmacology in drug safety and pharmacometrics at Regeneron. Yang received her MS in Pharmacometrics from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy in 2025, and a PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Rutgers University – New Brunswick in 2017. Prior to joining Regeneron, Yang worked at Novartis and Johnson & Johnson. She has supported drug development of small molecules and biologics focusing on oncology and neuroscience. She also serves as a lecturer on PK-PD at Rutgers University – New Brunswick.
Tommy Lee, PharmD ’18, MS ‘21 – Regulatory Science
Tommy Lee earned his PharmD from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy in 2018 and his MS in Regulatory Science in 2021. He began his career as a specialty pharmacist for Walgreens but always planned on working in industry. He was hired as a specialty sales rep for Eli Lilly a couple of years later and went on to win multiple regional and team awards. Lee was hired as a medical science liaison in 2024 in cardiometabolic health.