PharmD Alum Bridges the Gap Between Science and Strategy

At Novartis, Jordan Haines leads the charge in drug development and project management.

Jordan Haines, who earned an MBA and PharmD from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS) in 2019, is a Global Program Associate Director for Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis, and true to her job title, she’s taking the world by storm.

In recognition of her leadership and early success, Novartis selected Haines to be a delegate at the One Young World Summit, an annual event that brings together young leaders from more than 190 countries. Last year's summit in Belfast, Northern Ireland, focused on critical global issues, including education, climate emergency, mental health, and the food crisis. Delegates attended workshops, panels, and speeches featuring notable figures such as former professional footballer Rio Ferdinand, Queen Rania of Jordan, Irish entertainer and activist Sir Bob Geldof, model and activist Halima Aden, and actress and United Nations ambassador Kat Graham.

“It was such a rewarding experience to attend the summit in Belfast,” Haines said. “I love to engage in this important global conversation and collaborate across industries to create positive change and push issues forward.”

This forward-thinking mindset began during Haines’ pharmacy school days. She was intrigued by the journey of medicinal products from development to the pharmacy shelf. “I was so curious about how each drug got from the lab to the clinic to the patient,” she said, reflecting on her fascination with the behind-the-scenes process of drug development and why certain medications achieved greater success than others.

This curiosity led Haines to pursue an MBA alongside her pharmacy degree, believing it would complement her scientific training and help her advance in the industry. Her career at Novartis has indeed flourished, progressing from a post-doctoral fellowship in global program management to senior manager and now to her current role as associate director, all within five years.

Haines credits MCPHS with helping her develop key professional skills such as effective communication, networking, and creative collaboration. “MCPHS is a school of healthcare professionals with real-world experience, which helps prepare you to work with colleagues across many different departments when you transition from the academic environment to a professional one,” she said.

The rigorous Honors Program at MCPHS also played a crucial role in her success. “We learned skills with a direct application in our careers, and we learned how to approach our coursework with a level of professionalism that translates well to the workplace,” she said.

At Novartis, Haines focuses on bringing new drugs to market. The goal, she said, is to get new drugs “to the patients who need them.”

“The pharmaceutical industry is a complex landscape with many stakeholders involved,” she explained. “Nothing in drug development happens in isolation.”

Haines collaborates with various teams at Novartis, including medical affairs, patient advocacy, operations, and clinical development, to ensure drugs progress smoothly through the development pipeline. Her focus is on products intended to treat severe neurological conditions.

“Working in this field is incredibly rewarding because it allows us to bring much-needed advancements to patients with life-threatening conditions,” she said. “It’s encouraging for patients to know that we are dedicated to finding innovative solutions for these difficult-to-treat diseases.”