William Sargent has over 30 years in the pharmaceutical industry, preceded by 10 years as an independent researcher in academia.

He is well versed in the therapeutic development emerging from local universities, having served as member of the Chicago Innovation Mentors (CIM) program since 2013. Previously, he held senior positions at Pfizer, Hoechst-Roussell Pharmaceuticals, Lorex Pharmaceuticals, Searle, and Pharmacia. As President and General Manager of Lorex, he oversaw FDA approval for direct-to-consumer advertising for the lead product Ambien®. At Pfizer, he led the International launch of Sutent® for renal cell carcinoma and gastrointestinal stromal cancer as Senior Medical Director and Team Leader for the anti-angiogenic portfolio.

Bill received a PhD in physiology from the University of Tennessee Center for the Health Sciences where he served as faculty in Physiology and Biophysics for approximately 10 years.

Pharmaceutical Strategy (HCAK-931-0)
The healthcare industry is not only highly regulated but also has multiple stakeholders. From policymakers such as FDA to payers, from providers to insurers, from physician researchers to patient advocacy groups, there is a rich variety of partners that calls for collaborative approaches and behaviors. This means that pharmaceutical leaders must not only acquire drug development expertise, but also become highly skilled in navigating the regulatory framework and managing multi-stakeholder networks. This course will provide contextual guidance and help leaders broaden their personal repertoire and toolbox to succeed with developing a comprehensive pharmaceutical strategy. The objective of this Pharmaceutical Strategy course is to build on the existing Healthcare Strategy to equip participants with a deep knowledge around drug commercialization so they can thrive in what is a hyper-complex healthcare, scientific and socioeconomic environment. A basic understanding of the health care industry is suggested but not required. Please note: STRT-443 Healthcare Strategy OR STRT-444 Healthcare Economics are STRONGLY recommended prerequisites for the class .