At the recently concluded 2024 Research Pharmacy Summit, Dr. Sapna Amin, Manager of Investigational Pharmacy Services at MD Anderson Cancer Center, was honored as the inaugural recipient of the RPS Award for Excellence and Innovation. Her remarkable contributions to the field of research pharmacy have significantly shaped best practices and inspired future leaders.

In this special three-part blog series, we explore Dr. Amin’s impactful work and approach to leadership, innovation, and collaboration, along with her vision for the future and the impact she’s made across the Investigational Drug Service (IDS) community. Each blog post in this series will focus on a different facet of her experience:

• • Be Inspired: Lessons in Leadership and Innovation
  • Drive Innovation: Shaping Research Pharmacy for the Future
  • Collaboration on All Levels: Building a Strong Research Pharmacy Community

Let’s dive into the first part of this series, where Dr. Amin shares her inspiring leadership journey and how small, thoughtful steps, mentorship, and big-picture thinking have shaped her career.

Q: What inspired you to become an innovator in this field?

Dr. Amin: When I started pharmacy school, research wasn’t a primary focus. In fact, I didn’t even have a rotation in investigational drugs at the time. My first job out of school was in medical and drug information, and my very first project involved writing a CME on how to conduct clinical research. That sparked my interest, and each opportunity after that allowed me to take small steps toward advancing the field.

What I’ve realized is that innovation doesn’t start with a grand vision of becoming a leader—it starts with recognizing a need and taking incremental steps toward solving it. Over time, those small steps lead to larger changes that drive progress. Each opportunity allowed me to advance the field while keeping the bigger picture in mind. Innovation wasn’t something I set out to do — it was something that grew out of identifying gaps and finding ways to address them.

Q: What advice do you have for early-career residents?

Dr. Amin: My biggest piece of advice for early-career residents is to observe, learn, and find a mentor. A good mentor doesn’t have to be someone in your immediate organization—it can be someone from outside who can offer a fresh perspective. The key is to learn from the experiences and leadership styles of those around you. You’ll encounter leaders whose styles resonate with you, and others who don’t, but both offer valuable learning experiences.

Additionally, I encourage young professionals to think about where they want to be in five to ten years. Look at the paths others have taken, but don’t feel like you have to follow the same one. Carefully craft your own journey, identifying your values and aligning them with your goals. Having a strong support system and mentor is crucial to navigating this path.

Q: How does the culture at MD Anderson facilitate innovation and impact?

Dr. Amin: At MD Anderson, we are laser-focused on patient safety and becoming a high-reliability organization. This means we don’t just react to challenges—we take a step back, analyze situations, and ask, “How can we do this better?” By fostering a culture of transparency and accountability, we remove the fear of blame and create an environment where everyone feels empowered to contribute to change.

One of the most effective aspects of our culture is that change comes from the bottom up, not top down. Our best ideas often come from our technicians and pharmacists, who are on the front lines and understand where improvements are needed. As leaders, our role is to shepherd those ideas and drive meaningful change in a way that engages the entire team. When people believe in what they’re doing and feel invested in the process, innovation happens organically.

Dr. Amin’s story shows that innovation doesn’t start with grand ambitions but with the willingness to take small, thoughtful steps. Her focus on mentorship and her commitment to empowering others is a lesson in leadership that every early-career professional can learn from. Dr. Amin’s advice is a reminder that every career path is unique, and finding your own ‘North Star’ is key to success.

As you reflect on your own journey, consider how mentorship and learning from others can help guide you forward.

Sapna Amin, PharmD, BCOP

Manager, Investigational Pharmacy Service
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Dr. Sapna Amin is a distinguished leader in research pharmacy, recognized for her significant contributions to advancing investigational drug services (IDS) nationwide. Through her work, she has played a vital role in shaping best practices that have strengthened IDS pharmacy policies and procedures, including her contributions to the NCCN and HOPA Best Practice Standards—cornerstone guidelines in the field of research pharmacy. Notably, Dr. Amin recently co-authored a publication in the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy focused on IDS metrics, further solidifying her expertise.

With an impressive portfolio of presentations, Dr. Amin shares valuable insights on standardization, policies, procedures, and best practices. Her advocacy for IDS extends beyond presentations; she actively champions awareness, as seen in her participation in an FDA-hosted forum advocating for investigational drug labeling standards. Her peers describe her as a tireless advocate for IDS and its critical role in advancing clinical research.

As a senior consultant for ASHP and Co-Chair of the HOPA IDS Special Interest Group, Dr. Amin exemplifies collaboration by uniting stakeholders to address key challenges in research pharmacy. Her innovative approach to problem-solving is evident in her ability to tackle complex challenges with novel ideas. Her achievements include developing secure transportation processes for research drugs to off-site clinics, integrating electronic systems for enhanced efficiency, and leading initiatives to improve billing compliance and reduce errors.