Physicians in the pharmaceutical industry: their roles, motivations, and perspectives

•Clinicians may often be unaware of career opportunities outside of patient care.•Structures of pharmaceutical companies may vary based on therapeutic focus & size.•Career paths are diverse and adaptable to a candidate’s strengths and interests.•Physicians often occupy positions in R&D, safety, regulatory or medical affairs. Although physicians occupy a significant number of key positions in the pharmaceutical industry, practicing clinicians are often unaware of the variety of career paths within this industry, or of the structure of a pharmaceutical company. Here, we address questions that practicing clinicians frequently ask their colleagues in the pharmaceutical industry. In addition to providing an overview of the common roles occupied by physicians in pharma, we also describe the various motivations for transitioning into the industry and discuss different scenarios regarding the timing of the career change. Furthermore, we outline the characteristics and skills that enable physicians to have a successful career in pharma.