Author: [AUTHOR] Published on 7/1/2026 12:00:00 AM
Veronique Michaud, PhD, President, Galenus Rx, Orlando, Florida
What does being the 2026 Malle Jurima-Romet Mid-Career Leadership Award Recipient mean to you?
The Malle Jurima-Romet Mid-Career Leadership Award is deeply meaningful to me; it reflects a journey shaped by mentorship, teamwork, and trust. I began my training with very limited research experience and was fortunate to be welcomed into environments that emphasized scientific rigor, ethical responsibility, and patient-centered research. This award reminds me that leadership is not an individual achievement; it is the result of collective effort, shared curiosity, and a commitment to lifting others as we grow. To receive an award associated with leaders known for their compassion, outstanding scientific contributions, passion, and humility is humbling and energizing.
Who has inspired you in your career?
I have not been inspired by just one individual, but by the many people I have been fortunate to learn from throughout my career. I am deeply grateful to mentors such as Drs. Turgeon, Wainberg, Flockhart, and Desta, as well as the colleagues I have worked alongside. Their commitment to scientific integrity, mentorship, and patient-centered work has shaped not only my professional path but also my definition of success.
More recently, my work at GalenusRx has been a powerful tool of inspiration – from the production and development teams to the clinical team. Working with people who share a genuine passion for making a difference in patients' lives and witnessing their dedication, perseverance, and trust in our collective mission continues to inspire me every day. I am truly grateful to be surrounded by individuals whose work is guided by purpose, compassion, and a shared commitment to improving patient care.
What professional accomplishment are you most proud of?
I am most proud of building and contributing to products and programs that translate complex pharmacology into meaningful clinical impact. As a pharmacist by training, patient safety has always been central to my work, and whether through knowledge transfer/mentorship, developing patient-centered programs, or working across disciplines, my proudest moments are when science directly improves care by reducing medication-related harm and strengthening the medication safety journey.
A particularly meaningful accomplishment has been building multidisciplinary teams across engineering, product, research, clinical, data, HR, and compliance, all aligned around a shared vision. Earning their trust, fostering collaboration, and seeing diverse expertise align toward a common mission has been incredibly rewarding. Working alongside motivated individuals who are committed to making a real difference in patients' lives is something I am especially proud of.
Ultimately, the greatest reward comes from patients and family members who share how our work has positively changed their medication journey. Knowing that our efforts help individuals feel safer, better supported, and more confident in their care is what motivates me every day.
What is your favorite Society memory?
While being awarded the Malle Jurima-Romet Mid-Career Leadership Award is a core Society memory, my favorite Society moments are those of genuine connection brought about by thoughtful discussions after presentations and meaningful conversations that extend well beyond the session rooms. ASCPT has always felt like a place where science and community truly go hand in hand.
What stands out most to me is the space the Society creates for students and early career scientists. I vividly remember my very first poster presentation and how honored I felt to present my work to researchers and mentors I deeply respect. I was grateful for their time and questions, and the subsequent thoughtful discussions. That experience left a lasting impression and reinforced my sense of belonging in the scientific community.
How do you keep focused and motivated?
Reconnecting to my purpose is how I stay focused and motivated.
Ultimately, it comes back to patients. They deserve the safest and most effective care possible. Remembering why the work matters, improving patient outcomes, developing better clinical decision support systems to assist clinicians, and supporting the next generation are all goals that keep me grounded, especially during challenging times. As pharmacists and researchers, we are in a unique position to prevent medication-related problems and support both clinicians and patients through technology that is firmly grounded in science. Knowing that our work can make care safer and more personalized is a powerful and constant source of motivation for me.
What has been the greatest challenge in your career?
The greatest challenge in my career has been balancing scientific ambition with the complexities of reality. Navigating translational gaps, resource limitations, and the challenges of interdisciplinary collaboration within a highly siloed healthcare ecosystem, as well as bridging science and technology to ensure that complex pharmacologic research is transformed into intuitive, scalable, and clinically accessible solutions, are constant challenges. While research and development are where creativity flourishes, bringing innovation to life and into clinical practice requires navigating many additional layers, like platform infrastructure and technical constraints, and legal, security, compliance, and regulatory considerations.
Moving from a research concept to real-world implementation is rarely linear, requiring patience, persistence, and a willingness to address challenges one step at a time. The challenges I have experienced throughout my career have reinforced the importance of continuous learning and, most importantly, building and trusting multidisciplinary teams. Surrounding myself with talented individuals I can rely on and empowering them through delegation and collaboration has been essential to turning scientific ideas into practical solutions that ultimately benefit patients.
Dr. Michaud has been a member of ASCPT since 2004.
