Susanna Carmichael

Therapeutic Specialist, Boehringer Ingelheim (Medican Sales)

Hi, my name is Susanna Carmichael and I am a medical sales representative working in the therapeutic areas of Diabetes, Heart Failure and Chronic Kidney Disease on Vancouver Island. How did I get into this fascinating yet sometimes controversial field of work? Here is my story. Science has always been my focus and passion, especially Health Science. When I was 15 years old, my family moved to Stockholm, Sweden where I chose a science path at a Swedish high school. After graduating high school, I started at the University of Waterloo in the Science department where I focused my studies on microbiology and immunology. I also took marketing classes from the Business school Wilfred Laurier University. 

After graduating, I worked as a laboratory technician in a Microbiology laboratory at the College of New Caledonia in Prince George. I found laboratory work isolating and wanted to focus more on people, so I furthered my education to get my instructor diploma. I taught Biology and Chemistry at the same college. The Science and Business combination always intrigued me and a family move to Vancouver opened up a career path in the pharmaceutical industry. I began my career within Women’s Health for Novartis Pharmaceuticals.  I then had the opportunity to work within their ophthalmology field which allowed me to work with Ophthalmologists (Retinal Specialists), who were treating macular degeneration.  

When my daughter Sofie, now a Brentwood alum, was an infant we made the move to Vancouver Island where we have lived in Mill Bay for 17 years. I also have a son Luka who is a current Grade 9 Brentwood student. I am presently working as a Therapeutic Specialist for a German pharmaceutical company, Boehringer Ingelheim, which is one of the largest privately owned pharmaceutical companies globally.

https://www.boehringer-ingelheim.com/