From creating new vaccines/drugs
that prevent/treat diseases to addressing key health issues for people in need,
Merck is committed to improve health and well being around the world. The Merck
Fellowship for Global Health is one such initiative aimed at fulfilling the
global health needs of the underserved. Merck employees who participate in the
program are called Richard T. Clark Fellows (RTC Fellows) in honour of retired
Chairman and CEO Richard T. Clark and his philosophy of "passion, purpose
and commitment to corporate responsibility."
Launched in 2012, the program
offers Merck employees opportunities to share their skills and expertise with
people around the world. As many as 30 Fellows are selected each year; the
expertise of the applicants is matched to the needs of the partner
organizations. During the three-month assignments, the Fellows are embedded
within a non-profit organization in the field.
The Fellowship program represents
what is possible in private-public partnerships for global health. One such
fellowship program currently undergoing is at MSD Wellcome Trust
Hilleman Labs Pvt. Ltd. – India. The fellowship program which commenced on August 3rd
2015 comprises of a 4 member team from Merck US which includes:
·
Kimberly
Bishop
Global
Human Health – Tampa, FL, USA
·
Garth
Meihoff
Global
Human Health – Lake Oswego, OR, USA
·
David
Peed
Global
Human Health – Charlotte, NC, USA
·
Melissa
Wooters
Merck
Research Labs – West Point, PA, USA
The fellowship team would be at MSD
Trust Hilleman Labs Pvt. Ltd. – India for three months and would be working on various
assignments, designated to them prior to their visit. The detailed explanation
of their respective projects and their views about the fellowship program is
detailed below:
·
Kimberly
Bishop
Ms. Kimberly
Bishop is working as Retail Pharmacy Representative, Tampa, FL at Merck. She
joined Merck in 1999 as Senior Sales Representative and became Retail Pharmacy
Representative in August 2013. She is Consummate Sales Professional with 20+
years experience in identifying and capturing market opportunities to
accelerate expansion, increase revenues and improve profit
Project: Create a Set of Organizational Guidelines
to Present the Case for Vaccine Innovation
Kim’s take on the Fellowship program: “The
Merck Fellowship for Global Health is a life-changing experience that goes
beyond the scope of any individual assignment. This program allows a mutual
opportunity to exist, sharing ideas between cultures and creating innovative
product and business solutions for similar national health issues. It is an
opportunity to serve others while establishing our presence as healthcare
ambassadors. I believe that this is our moral responsibility.”
·
Garth
Meihoff
Mr. Garth J.
Meihoff is a Senior Account Executive, Merck Vaccines, Portland since 2014. He
has 13 years of vaccine and 11 years of pharmaceutical public and private sector
sales/marketing experience in broad areas including account management,
business strategy and planning, sales management, customer marketing, product
and promotion management and field sales.
Project: Conduct a Quantitative Assessment of the
Health Impact of IP Vaccines
Garth’s take on the Fellowship program:
“Working with underserved populations has always been important to me. I am honoured
and excited to represent Merck as an RTC Fellow and grateful for the
opportunity to help protect some of the poorest populations against vaccine
preventable diseases. In New Delhi, I look forward to working with Hilleman
Labs to increase access to life-saving vaccines. I am excited to apply my
skills on a global level and gain a broader perspective toward a variety of
populations. This life-changing experience will enhance my ability to better
serve those in the U.S.”
·
David
Peed
Mr. David A. Peed is a Senior Account
Executive within US Managed Markets and Policy at Merck. He has 28 years of
experience with major job responsibilities. He joined Merck in 1987 as a
Professional Hospital Representative. In 1990 he was promoted to various
internal positions within Merck administration and marketing including a role
as Promotion Manager for Mefoxin in 1992. Mr. Peed was then promoted to
Business Manager in Charlotte, NC where he managed a sales team responsible for
many key Merck products. In 1997 he moved into the managed markets group at
Merck where he was responsible for the Managed Care accounts in North and South
Carolina until finally moving to his current position as a Senior Account
Manager in Integrated Delivery Systems and Federal Accounts – this position
involves formulating and implementing strategic plans for key targeted
accounts, leading cross-functional teams to implement the plans, strategy and
ensuring profitable access for all Merck products at key integrated health
systems.
Project: Business Model Review and Operational
Strategy
David’s take on the Fellowship program:
“It is truly an honor to work for a company that provides an opportunity to
participate in a program like the Merck Fellowship for Global Health that will
have an impact on the lives of thousands in developing countries. I am
extremely excited to be part of a group that will be working with Hilleman Labs
in New Delhi, India, as they continue their work to develop high impact,
affordable vaccines for people in developing countries in an innovative and
sustainable manner. This program allows me to bridge my professional career
with my personal desire to make a positive impact on those around me. I know
the Fellowship will stretch me both personally and professionally, and I have
no doubt that it will be life-changing.”
·
Melissa
Wooter
Ms. Melissa A. BoddickerWooters is Research
Microbiologist at Merck & Co., West Point, PA. She joined Merck in October
2002 and has 18 years of rich experience. She is presently working as Lead
conducting all molecular cloning work for the Chlamydia program including
identifying vaccine candidates, designing cloning approaches, expression
evaluation and optimization of protein expression. She is also developing and
designing cloning strategies for multiple Chlamydia and GAS vaccine targets.
Project: Conduct Experiments on an ETEC Vaccine
Melissa’s take on the Fellowship program: “I’m
very excited to have been selected as an RTC Fellow. I look forward to my
assignment at the Hilleman labs in New Delhi, India. I feel privileged to work
for a company whose impact is felt globally and for being selected for this
unique opportunity. As a Fellow, I will get up each day with the opportunity to
contribute to the greater good and common purpose, an expansion of the work I
do every day at Merck. This program will
help me to be more connected to the work I’m doing and understand how our work
benefits people worldwide.”
We at Hilleman Labs are overwhelmed
with the fellowship visit and wish them all the luck in achieving their project
goals and do their part in improving global healthcare and hope each Fellow
walks away with something he or she never expected and becomes a richer person
for the experience.
