PharmD alum champions women and underserved communities in industry role

Taban Saifi (1T6 PharmD) grew up watching two of her aunts, a physician and a pharmacist, in Iran care for women who were refugees from Afghanistan and had little access to health care. Their leadership and commitment to caring for this underserved population inspired Saifi to pursue her own career in pharmacy and support other women in health care leadership.

“That exposure to health care and women’s health from my early days factored into my own decision to pursue a health care profession and my interest in women in leadership,” says Saifi, currently associate medical director at Gilead Sciences. “A lot of responsibility falls on women’s laps, and we can feel like we’re alone. Within the workforce, I want to help women access resources to feel supported and valued in their personal and professional commitments.”

Knowing that she wanted to pursue a career in pharmacy, Saifi earned her Bachelor of Science at the University of Toronto. The degree included an internship in the manufacturing department of a pharmaceutical company – an experience that opened her eyes to the opportunities and impact of a career within industry. She then earned a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, and though she enjoys providing direct patient care, she always wanted to return to industry.

Saifi completed the one-year industrial residency through the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy and began working full-time in the pharmaceutical industry, joining Gilead Sciences in 2021. In her current role, she works within the HIV therapeutic area and is involved in developing research protocols and publications, providing balanced and accurate scientific information for staff, health care professionals, and patients.

“I work with a population that is often forgotten by much of society. It’s both humbling and motivating to hear directly from patient organizations about what they need in therapeutics and care,” she says. “I also work with a lot of passionate individuals who want to make a difference in patients’ lives, and that makes me very grateful to be doing this kind of work.”

Saifi recognized for leadership early in pharmacy career

Saifi says that her pharmacy training at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy provided her with an understanding of the health care system and drug development process that has been invaluable in her role at Gilead. To complement her clinical education, she also completed a Master of Business Administration (MBA) while working full-time and starting a family.

“I want to be able to provide value to the company beyond my function, and the business training really complements my clinical and research skills,” says Saifi. “An MBA also teaches you about how to be an effective leader, which I thought would be helpful as I progress on my leadership journey.”

Saifi continues to follow in the footsteps of her aunts to advance care and opportunities for women and other underserved groups. On top of her work to help people with HIV, she previously worked part-time at a pharmacy that serves a primarily Iranian community in Toronto as part of her commitment to direct patient care.

“I understand the struggles, challenges, and the decisions that had to be made at certain points in my career, and I know how important it is to have someone who can share their experience. I want to be that person for students.”

She leads a group called Women at Gilead, which supports women’s mental health and professional development in the workforce. She has also mentored pharmacy students through the PharmaSEE Mentorship Program and as part of the Faculty’s Business Plan Competition.

Saifi has already been recognized as a pharmacy leader, having received the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy’s Emerging Leader in Pharmacy Award in November 2025. She says that the work she does – clinical care, mentorship and volunteering – all reflect her desire to give back the kind of support she received.

“I understand the struggles, challenges, and the decisions that had to be made at certain points in my career, and I know how important it is to have someone who can share their experience. I want to be that person for students,” she says.

“I’m still in touch with the mentors that I had when I was a student – it’s not a relationship that ends with graduation. I really value those relationships, and that’s something I want to do for the next generation.”