Working with Stars: Meet Barbara Scholz, M.D., FRCS, MSc Epidemiology

Dr. Barbara Scholz is a very experienced PV Expert, driven by her passion for investigating safety issues and protecting patients. For her, the transition from clinical activities to PV was natural.

How did you get into pharmacovigilance?

As I had a fair amount of clinical experience in internal medicine, emergency medicine, and then ophthalmology, it felt like a natural decision for me to move into PV/drug safety because that's how I felt I could best use my medical knowledge and patient care experience. The defining moment was when I was with Allergan, I was initially hired as a Medical Monitor/Medical Director in Clinical Development in Neurology and Ophthalmology and at some point I had an opportunity to move to PV/drug safety. This is where everything kind of fell in place for me, with a very nice team, good training and a lot of company support for PV activities. I think I was fortunate to start in a safety department that had a strong and well-respected position in the company. This was not always the case in all the companies I later worked for.

How much experience do you have in PV and pharma overall?

I worked in PV for nearly 20 years with approximately 25 years in the pharmaceutical industry overall.

What type of PV work do you like the most in PV?

I enjoy signal detection because it feels like detective work: starting with uncertainty, following the evidence, and eventually reaching a clear recommendation that can support patient safety.

What project stands out in your memory?

I worked on an ophthalmology product, which seemed to have no safety issues and then we started receiving unexpected post-marketing retinal detachment cases. We led a well-executed plan to follow-up quickly, we had strong internal support, and we were able to manage a successful label update with limited FDA changes in a short timeline. The whole experience was memorable because of the support and resources we got internally to inform the patients and reduce the risk.

What professional value matters most to you?

Responsibility to protect patient safety. This is really what counts most for me. You have constantly to ask yourself did we do enough? Is there anything we should have done quicker for some projects? That is really our responsibility.

What would you change about the PV world if she could?

I would love reducing repetitive, boring time-consuming operational work such as spreadsheet-heavy tasks, and I would hope that automation and AI could free professionals to focus more on meaningful safety work in the future.

What were you dreaming about becoming when you were a kid?

I thought about archaeology. I would have liked that. But of course, I had a much more romantic expectation like Indiana Jones, with some adventure. But I ended up in medicine instead...

What do you like about being a consultant and working with JPCC?

As a consultant, you get to work by yourself and being independent. I do not miss the performance evaluations and this kind of stuff you have to do in corporate. As a consultant, I can work on what I want to work on.  At JPCC, when you need support, you get help very quickly. You get immediately somebody getting back to you where you might feel a little bit uncomfortable about a decision or where I don’t have so much experience. That's what I really value a lot.

What personal qualities do you want people to know about you?

I don't know what's obvious and what’s not, but I think I'm pretty detail-oriented and once I have something I really follow through with it. And one thing is when I say I’ll do something I really do it. I am also pretty respectful with people. I'm trying to behave in a nice way and I'm grateful for the help I get from others.

What do you enjoy outside work?

I volunteer as a docent at Torrey Pines State Reserve. I also participate in two garden clubs and spend a lot of time gardening at home. I also like swimming, hiking and generally being outdoors.

How would you like to be remembered professionally?

Simply as someone who was good to work with and as a nice colleague.

 See Barbara Scholz profile here.