UMSN Alum Founds Firm to Improve Pharmaceutical Safety

From Ann Arbor to London, a University of Michigan School of Nursing (UMSN) alum reflects on her journey from frontline nurse to innovator and entrepreneur.

Molly James graduated from UMSN with her bachelor’s degree in nursing in 1986, driven by the institution's prestigious reputation and her familial ties. "We were a Michigan family," she reminisced, as her uncle and older sister had attended U-M before her.

Deepening her Michigan roots after graduating, Molly worked in a variety of roles in mental health and outpatient care before she was introduced to drug safety and pharmacovigilance at 22 years old.

After years of caring for patients, Molly took the lessons she learned at the bedside and partnered with Lynda Baxter, RN to develop and launch Drug Safety Navigator (DSN) in 2013. With a mission centered on patient safety, DSN was created to address a critical gap in the pharmaceutical industry by catering to small start-up firms that lacked access to comprehensive drug safety services.

Leveraging technological advancements, DSN offered virtual pharmacovigilance solutions, ensuring regulatory compliance at a reduced cost. In just over a decade, the firm monitored the safety of hundreds of drugs and positively impacted countless patients during their care journey.

In 2022, Molly and Lynda were presented an opportunity to help grow and expand the reach of DSN worldwide by turning the reins over to London-based Clinigen, which works with 32 of the top 50 pharmaceutical companies across more than 120 countries. Following the acquisition, it now boasts more than 1,000 employees.

Now 'happily retired' and living in Asheville, North Carolina, Molly offers words of wisdom to aspiring nursing students. "Trust your knowledge, take chances, and always prioritize the patient's well-being," she advised. “Expand your lens on what a degree in nursing can do for you. We need great nurses in the hospital and clinical settings, but a UMSN degree can also unlock career opportunities across a wide array of science and medical arenas.”