UCSD - University of California - San Diego

09/21/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/22/2026 11:58

A Passion for Helping the Youngest Patients

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September 21, 2026

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Alumnus Helen Le, PharmD '10, is making a difference in the lives of pediatric patients as a regulatory content strategist at Genentech

For Helen Le, PharmD '10, the decision to pursue pediatric pharmacy is deeply personal. Born with cerebral palsy as a result of birth complications, Le spent much of her childhood navigating the health care system as a patient. Those early experiences shaped her desire to pursue a career in health care and continue to influence how she cares for patients today.

"Pediatrics has always been my passion," Le says. "Living with cerebral palsy, I quickly learned how important health literacy was to better understand my condition and advocate for myself as a patient. As a pharmacist, I want to help and advocate for children with similar or other conditions, especially those who may not have or want to use their voice because they are too embarrassed or shy to ask for what they need or want."

Le's first rotation as a pharmacy student at UC San Diego Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences was at Rady Children's Hospital San Diego, and immediately turned that interest into a calling. She was drawn to the patience and compassion of health care providers and hospital staff, and found that working with children resonated with her on a personal level.

That experience set Le on a path that would keep young patients at the center of her career. After graduation she completed her pharmacy residency at Children's Hospital of Orange County, worked as a pediatric clinical pharmacist at UCSF Health from 2011 to 2017, and then as a staff pharmacist caring for adult and pediatric patients at UC Irvine Health until 2024. After more than a decade working as a clinical pharmacist, she was eager to continue her career growth and learn something new. This led her to make the transition to work in the pharmaceutical industry, where she could apply her clinical expertise towards developing and advancing new medicines for adults and children.

Today, Le works as a regulatory content strategist at Genentech in South San Francisco, where every day she collaborates with scientists to prepare regulatory documents for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and global health authorities to advance new treatments for patients. Her primary focus is pediatric oncology and neuroscience, as well as treatments for rare diseases, which touch so many children.

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Fast Facts about Le

Current role: Regulatory content strategist at Genentech

How UC San Diego prepared her for her current role: Interdisciplinary training, joint courses with medical students, strong foundation in pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences

Favorite memory from pharmacy school: Hanging out with classmates at La Jolla Shores and downtown San Diego

Advice for future pharmacy students: Networking and building connections are so important! The only thing people will remember is how you made them feel, so always lead with kindness, even when faced with challenging situations and people! And don't be afraid to take risks and never give up!

What she does for fun: Cooking, travel, yoga, hiking, spending time with friends and family, watching documentaries and crime shows, exploring new places to eat, shopping, going to concerts and sporting events, and interior design

Helen Le at her Commencement

"I feel like my career has come full circle," she says. "When I was working in the pharmacy, I was verifying and dispensing medications for patients. And now I am on the other side where I am working with scientists to help develop these medicines to be dispensed in the pharmacies for patients! It's very rewarding, and pretty cool actually!"

Le credits Skaggs School of Pharmacy with giving her the foundation and experiences that prepared her for a career spanning patient care and drug development. She particularly values the pharmacy school's unique focus on learning alongside medical students, which helped her develop a strong foundation in collaborative health care that she implemented right away as a resident. She is also grateful to her family for their unconditional love and support, which has been a constant source of strength throughout her journey.

Helen Le in Cinque Terre, Italy

"UC San Diego thoroughly prepared me for my career," she says. "I'm so grateful to Skaggs for opening all the doors to these opportunities that I would have never thought to have imagined! Equally importantly, I want to extend my sincere and heartfelt gratitude to my family and closest friends for their unwavering support and encouragement. I could not have accomplished all that I have without you!"

Years later, Le still looks back fondly on her time in pharmacy school. She especially treasures the friendships and connections she made along the way, which continue to support her personally and professionally.

"I am very grateful for the amazing friendships that I've made during my time at Skaggs, which was truly the best gift," she says. "Aside from helping me get through pharmacy school, some of my classmates have even helped me get interviews for jobs I've applied for and my career transition to pharma."

Read more news about: Alumni, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

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