Helping Hand

Family Exposure to Cancer Sets Ph.D. Student's Sights on Making Impact Through Research

An early experience with breast cancer in her family reassured Pharmaceutical Sciences Ph.D. student Bilqees Fatima, Pharm.D., M.S., that she was meant to enter the health care field.

Originally from Pakistan, Fatima is the first pharmacist in her family and the first to pursue a Ph.D. in the health care field.

"At my core, I wanted to help people on a larger scale," Fatima said. "I was not sure during my early years what profession I wanted to do."

Familial Motivation

In her teens, Fatima cared for her aunt who had late-stage breast cancer that later metastasized in her brain. This profound experience solidified her interest in science and medicine.

"I hoped and wondered if a cure could be found for my aunt," Fatima said. "Witnessing her pain and suffering not only gave me a first-hand understanding of the devastating impact of cancer but also deepened my conviction that a health care career was the right path for me."

Her passion for health care and desire to make a meaningful impact on patient outcomes were the primary reasons Fatima chose to obtain her Pharm.D. degree. In addition, the diversity and flexibility of the career paths of pharmacists also piqued her interest.

"Your interests evolve over time, which is what happened to me during my fourth-year clinical rotations," Fatima said. "I was doing patient care, but I became very aligned with making a larger impact through the research track."

From Patient Care to Research

With her career path changing in her final year of pharmacy school, Fatima decided to obtain an M.S. in Pharmaceutics to gain more in-depth research experience. Her master’s thesis, which focused on antibiotic resistance and sensitivity, was influenced by challenges in her native country.

"There was a significant rise in antibiotic-resistant infections in Pakistan as antibiotics were being developed and newer novel agents were coming into the market, but the choice of antibiotic treatment did not always follow recommended guidelines and associated with poorer outcomes," Fatima said.

Fatima received her Pharm.D. and M.S. in her home country, later being drawn to “the intersection of pharmacy, research, and public health.”

"I wanted to delve deeper into research methodologies, health economics, policy analysis, and outcomes assessment to contribute meaningfully to improving health care systems and patient outcomes on a larger scale," Fatima said.

Fatima’s previous internship experience led her to work with patient pharmacotherapy and medication-based complaints.

State-of-the-art facilities, mentorship opportunities with expert faculty and a strong network of alumni brought Fatima to UHCOP. In her UHCOP academic journey, every aspect of the program – from coursework to developing research skills with the support of a dedicated supervisor – significantly shaped Fatima’s academic and personal development.

Impact of Medication Nonadherence

Fatima’s current research with her advisor and UHCOP Pharmaceutical Health Outcomes and Policy Professor Susan Abughosh, Ph.D., centers on direct oral anticoagulants used for patients with atrial fibrillation (A-fib). Medication adherence is a priority in A-fib patients, who are considered a high-risk population. In particular, low-income patients are at elevated risk for nonadherence due to medication costs, lack of understanding about the condition, and confusion about additional medications prescribed by their health care provider.

To better understand the factors influencing their medication adherence, the researchers analyzed Texas Medicare Advantage claims data and used group-based trajectory modeling to identify opportunities for intervention to increase adherence.

With plans to graduate in May 2025, Fatima’s long-term career goals include utilizing internships to explore additional interests and conduct studies using a variety of databases. Despite the challenges and constraints of tradition, Fatima will be the first in her family to receive a Ph.D. in PHOP.

"With the rapidly evolving pharmaceutical landscape, I am particularly keen on exploring the safety and effectiveness of pharmaceutical treatments in everyday use for patients with chronic conditions, with a specific focus on oncology," Fatima said.