Crafting the future of Life Sciences: a conversation with Cheryl Dalgado

What has inspired you to pursue a career in life sciences? 

— During my undergraduate studies at McGill University, I discovered the world of microbiology & immunology. I was fascinated with disease causing bacteria and viruses, and their impact on society. It wasn’t until my graduate work at University of Guelph that I realised the impact I could have on patients. I spent 4 years studying bacteria that caused chronic kidney infections. I realised I wanted to do more to help patients. My first job in the workforce was with Baxter Healthcare (Alliston, Ontario). One of the first mentors in my career reminded me of the importance of Good Manufacturing Practices, and how my actions in the pharmaceutical industry can impact patients. While I started my career in Manufacturing, I quickly moved to quality control & compliance roles, where I could apply my background in microbiology. My desire to solve problems and lead teams (all in the spirit of patient safety) brings me great satisfaction. 

What was your vision when you decided to join ALTEN? 

— I have 25 years of pharmaceutical experience in sterility assurance, quality control, compliance, batch release, and project management. I was inspired by the opportunity to use my experience to provide technical direction to consultants working in the ALTEN team. Throughout my career, I have always enjoyed sharing my knowledge. I want to provide guidance and leadership to people who are starting out in their career, or people who want to learn how the industry works. I was also motivated by the opportunity to reconnect with my large network of colleagues. Many of my former colleagues are now clients! 

What are you looking to achieve in the life sciences industry through your current Project Director role? 

— ALTEN offers managed services, which is a concept a lot of our clients are not familiar with. As a Project Director, I’m excited to share ALTEN’s way of working with prospective clients, and more importantly, how I can support consultants from a technical standpoint should they choose to pursue ALTEN’s services. Often, clients overlook that when they transition to managed services, the Project Director will personally work with ALTEN’s Business Managers and Recruiters to identify the right talent for the role. Once the project begins, ALTEN’s full management system is deployed for our client’s benefit. My role is to continue supporting the consultants in their work to ensure deliverables are achieved and to stay in contact with our clients to ensure they are satisfied with the support they are receiving. 

This management system is what differentiates ALTEN from other consulting companies and I am excited to be a part of this new way of working. 

What are some challenges that you are facing in this industry, and how are you navigating them? 

— Pharmaceutical companies must comply with various regulations, from clinical trial requirements to manufacturing and distribution standards. Keeping up with these standards can be a challenge for many companies. 

They are faced with resource constraints and in some cases, an inexperienced workforce. These difficulties provide us with the opportunity to work with such clients. ALTEN consultants can support client business needs without impacting constraints on full time employee headcount.