This summer, I had the opportunity to intern at Amgen, one of the world’s leading biopharmaceutical companies. My role as a Global Quality Compliance Intern was both challenging and rewarding, offering me an inside look of managing risk in biotech. This was a remote internship experience, but this is not a drawback, as working with a global team is pivotal towards driving success in global quality compliance. For the week near the 4th of July, Amgen did a company-wide shutdown, and during this time I traveled to Honduras. Due to hurricane Beryl causing travel delays, I stayed in Honduras for an extra week and a half than intended, something I would not have been able to do if my internship was not remote. I did get to visit the South San Francisco offices which was nice to get the in person component to a virtual internship.
One of the most fascinating parts of my experience was working on vendor risk assessments. For those unfamiliar, vendor risk assessments involve evaluating vendors and suppliers to ensure they meet specific standards for quality, compliance, and reliability. In a biotech company like Amgen, where the stakes are high and regulatory compliance is rightfully intense, these assessments are crucial.
By identifying and managing potential risks associated with vendors, Amgen not only protects its operations but also ensures that its life-saving medicines reach patients without delay. Getting to read about the scopes of services for each vendor was very insightful to learn about the different contributions that need to be made to successfully implement, test, manufacture, and distribute Amgen’s products.
Being part of Amgen during such a transformative period was an experience I will always cherish. It gave me a unique perspective on the biotech industry and a deeper appreciation for the importance of quality and compliance in everything we do. I am grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow in such a dynamic environment.
Unfortunately, given the highly regulated nature of the industry, I cannot show any more pictures, so here is a picture of my view during my stay in Honduras!
In the meantime, I’ll keep my fingers crossed that I can one day return to Amgen—perhaps for another “risky business” adventure!
