New city, new state, new chapter
By Lain Ward, PharmD
When my husband and I packed up our lives in Missouri and Mississippi and headed north to New Jersey—with the support of family helping us make the transition—I knew the move would be more than a change in address. Somewhere along the drive, it hit me that this meant a new state, a new role, and an entirely new rhythm of life. Equal parts exciting and terrifying.
Today, I am based in Jersey City, NJ, as a first-year global regulatory affairs (RA) strategy fellow in the neuroscience therapeutic area at Novartis, with frequent trips into New York City woven into daily life.
Unpredictability: A nice feature
My day-to-day looks very different from what I imagined when I was a student pharmacist. The role of RA Strategy is to guide how a drug moves through development and ultimately reaches patients, while ensuring compliance with global regulatory requirements. On a practical level, this means coordinating FDA submissions, leading cross-functional meetings to align on deliverables, supporting global registration planning, and responding to information requests from health authorities. No two days look exactly the same, and that unpredictability has become one of my favorite parts of the role.
What has surprised me most about this experience is how quickly the unfamiliar becomes natural. Acronyms that once sounded like a foreign language now shape my daily conversations. Meetings that initially felt intimidating now feel like opportunities to contribute. Growth happens fast when you allow yourself to be uncomfortable.
Loving the food and braving the cold
One of my favorite parts of this transition has been discovering just how much there is to do here, especially as a self-proclaimed foodie. From hole-in-the-wall spots to cuisines I had never tried before, the food scene alone has made the adjustment feel like an adventure.
The biggest surprise? The winters. Having lived in Mississippi for the last 6 years, this level of cold was something I definitely had to learn to dress for and to plan for.
APhA is there for me
Throughout this journey, staying involved with APhA has been an anchor. No matter where I have lived or worked, APhA has provided an incredible community and a reminder of why I chose this profession in the first place. That sense of connection matters even more when everything else feels new.
Say yes to challenges
If there is one takeaway from this move, it’s this: embrace opportunities that scare you a little. Say yes to the move, the role, and the challenge that feels just beyond your comfort zone. Those moments of uncertainty often become the experiences that shape you most, as both a pharmacist and as a person.
Lain Vitale Ward, PharmD, is a regulatory affairs strategy fellow in the Rutgers Institute for Pharmaceutical Industry Fellowship program at Novartis in Jersey City, NJ, and currently serves as the new practitioner liaison to the APhA Industry/Medical Affairs Community. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring new restaurants in New York City and spending time with her husband, Lance.