Author: [AUTHOR] Published on 5/1/2025 12:00:00 AM
Matthijs W. van Hoogdalem, PharmD, PhD, Senior Scientist, Johnson & Johnson, Spring House, Pennsylvania
What does being an Editor-in-Training for Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (CPT) mean to you?
It is a privilege to be a part of shaping a journal that plays such a key role in our field. Working alongside the skilled and supportive editors of CPT has already helped me learn and grow immensely. I look forward to continually refining my editorial skills and contributing meaningfully to the journal's ongoing success.
What has been the greatest challenge in your career?
I have found that expertise in clinical pharmacology can only take you so far without effective communication and that being able to translate complex findings into language that professionals from diverse backgrounds can readily understand is equally important. This communication gap can derail even the most promising initiatives if left unaddressed. In my experience, academic programs often emphasize deep scientific experience, but the workplace is where we truly learn and refine the interpersonal skills that drive shared success.
Who has inspired you in your career?
The person who continues to inspire me and who got me into clinical pharmacology in the first place was my own father and fellow clinical pharmacologist, Ewoud Jan. In my last year of high school, he encouraged me and my friend to explore the urinary excretion profile of acetylsalicylic acid for a science project, which led me to ingest 1 g of aspirin. I obtained interpretable results, did not suffer gastrointestinal bleeding, and had great fun (all three to my surprise). As a side note, I attended my first ASCPT conference together with my father; an experience that I realized only a few people get to have.
What was your childhood dream job?
My sisters and I used to play the 1997 video game The Pink Panther: Hokus Pokus Pink. In one of Pink's adventures to the Dead Sea, he encounters an archaeologist searching for her first major discovery. The idea of uncovering hidden treasures in enigmatic countries was thrilling, and during my dinosaur-obsessed phase, it solidified my childhood dream to pursue a career in archaeology. Although clinical pharmacology and archaeology are very different paths, I think both require a willingness to dig deep when necessary.
What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
In the workplace, I am often seen in a sport coat with pleated pants, but during my teenage years, I sported long hair and baggy skater outfits while skateboarding. It is a wild transformation from kickflips to conference calls!
Dr. van Hoogdalem has been a member of ASCPT since 2017.
