“Concordia showed me what I can do with a chemistry degree and the directions my career could go.”
While pandemic lockdowns sent most workers home, Fabian Zaccardo and his team at the Professional Compounding Centers of America (PCCA) were busier than ever, providing crucial ingredients to pharmacists preparing their own products.
“Because we’re in the pharmaceutical industry, we’ve really never shut down. We’ve been considered an essential business from day one,” Zaccardo, chief operating officer (COO) at the Houston, Texas-based company, says.
“When COVID hit, hand sanitizers were one of the biggest needs. We as a company were able to adapt and get the necessary materials to make it to pharmacies not only in the U.S., but Canada as well,” he says.
Although he’s been working in Texas for almost 20 years, Zaccardo was born and raised in Montreal and began his career in pharmaceuticals by studying chemistry at Concordia.
On helping locally during the pandemic
“Internally, we started manufacturing our own hand sanitizer, and started distributing to the Houston Fire Department. They were in dire need as the central department out there working and they had no hand sanitizer.
“It’s rewarding when you can have an immediate impact in a situation like this.”
Average day on the job
“I’m responsible for not only the operations supply chain, but also the quality control. The key to being a COO is building the right team. Then they are taking care of the day-to-day while I focus more on the strategy, ensuring that we're in compliance with all the regulations.”
Concordia’s influence
“Concordia showed me what I can do with a chemistry degree and the directions my career could go.
“The professors guided me, and helped me out, including me on some projects they were working on. I was even published along with one of the professors.”
Career advice for the next generation
“Don’t put your blinders on about what knowledge of chemistry can do for you. Chemistry is everywhere. You can do a lot more than just work in a lab.”
Applying his degree
“My chemistry degree has helped me in my pharmaceutical career, both operationally, and talking with different customers, pharmacists and doctors every day.”