When People and Purpose Meet Pharma: My Chapter at Acadia

From the moment the glass doors opened, our internship experience at Acadia was nothing short of enlightening. As students from different backgrounds – some recently finishing their first year of college and others fresh from graduation – we came in curious about the life sciences industry. We left with new skills, friendships, and perspectives.

Among our cohort of 10 interns, we found community and support. We encouraged each other, celebrated milestones, and learned side by side. A highlight was seeing our colleague Leena Kang, Manufacturing intern, recognized with the Life Science Cares San Diego Scholarship for her contributions at Acadia. This was a reminder of the talent and passion within our intern cohort.

Like Leena, we all felt that sense of trust, support, and accountability. Working across different teams showed us how collaboration works in practice – and how each department plays a role in moving the company forward.

Beyond project work within our departments, the internship program created opportunities to learn and grow together. Through the Everything DiSC Foundations workshop, which explained the significance behind different workstyles, we learned the value of teams that comprise diverse approaches and perspectives. We also had the opportunity to meet Acadia CEO Catherine Owen Adams and her Chief of Staff, who shared leadership lessons that we’ll carry with us. As DiSC emphasized the need for inclusive teams, Catherine reminded us that strong leaders “turn around and pull the next person up the ladder” – a message that resonated deeply with us.

One of the most meaningful experiences was participating in a patient advocacy event with the Rett syndrome community. Watching young children with Rett syndrome take on surfing lessons, their smiles contagious despite the challenges they face, brought Acadia’s patient-centric mission to life. It reinforced for us why this work matters.

What stood out to us most during our time at Acadia was the prominent sense of community. The company may be growing, but at its heart it still feels like a close-knit team. From one-on-one chats with colleagues across departments to the daily support of our managers and buddies, we always felt welcomed and encouraged to explore new learning opportunities.

We are also grateful for Project Onramp, a program by Life Science Cares that opened the door to this internship experience. In addition to connecting us with Acadia, Project Onramp provided networking mixers and professional workshops that helped us grow as young professionals while being part of an encouraging and uplifting community.

As we reflect on this chapter, we are grateful to Acadia, Project Onramp, and everyone who shaped our experience. We leave with new skills, strong friendships and mentors, and a deeper understanding of what it means to work in a purpose-driven industry. Most of all, we’ve seen firsthand how people at Acadia combine expertise with heart. That will stay with us as we take our next steps towards future endeavors.