Student Testimonial: Navin Bora
Online Medical Physiology and Pharmacology Master’s Degree Graduate
“This degree is really going to put me where I want to go.”
How a Lawyer Uses His Medical Pharmacology Degree to Win Patent Cases
Navin Bora isn’t in healthcare. He’s a lawyer. Yet, just six weeks after graduation, he says his online master’s degree in medical physiology and pharmacology from UF has already made a difference in a “hypercompetitive legal market.”
Bora previously worked in pharma but lacked the credentials and credibility for the role he wanted. Here, he shares how his University of Florida master’s degree is connecting him to greater professional opportunities in the pharmaceutical field.
Why Would a Lawyer Need a Medical Physiology and Pharmacology Degree?
Most students who complete this degree pursue careers in medicine, science, education or research. But Bora’s following a different path.
“I’m currently a patent counsel at a small, privately held battery company,” Bora explained. “[I’m] overseeing intellectual property-related work.”
Bora holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering and later became a patent prosecution attorney. But he needed something more to stand out in a competitive field.
A Pharmacology Degree That Sets Bora Apart in Patent Law
An advanced degree changed everything for Bora.
“An MS degree has already helped me differentiate myself from competitor attorneys, and I’m very happy with the outcome,” he said. “People are looking at me. This graduate credential is a career-saver.”
Now, Bora plans to aim his career toward high-stakes pharmacology-related patent disputes or securing therapeutic drug-related patents.
“It’s almost a requirement to have a master’s or doctorate in the pharmaceutical sciences for prosecutors,” Bora said. “When I move back into that industry, I’ll be able to work at the firm level. Not to get the patent, but to enforce the patent on behalf of the drug company.”
Understanding the Science Wins Court Cases
Bora must be prepared and informed when dealing with scientists during litigation. Those experts may not understand the legal side, but they do know the science. He must also understand it to win against them in court.
“Senior lawyers who are perhaps in their mid-60s and have 30 years of practice experience aren’t immune to questioning by the scientists in-house at these top pharma companies,” he said.
Why Choose UF’s Online Medical Physiology and Pharmacology Program?
UF’s combination of prestige, low cost, convenience and flexibility won Bora over.
“I was very relieved to see a top-tier school like Florida offer a program at an accessible cost,” Bora said. “I think the amount of material provided for the tuition is excellent. It’s one of the best values in the country.”
An Online Format for Bora’s Busy Life
While completing UF’s program, Bora moved around the U.S. four times, settling in Atlanta, where he currently lives. That would have been challenging in a campus-based program — and an in-person lab component would’ve made it nearly impossible.
“To do graduate-level lab work would probably require a thesis, and that would have made it very difficult to keep a full-time job,” Bora explained.
Balancing Work and Graduate School
Current and future career impact were always Bora’s priorities while he earned his degree.
“The experience was all the more meaningful because I completed the program while working full-time as a practicing attorney,” he said. “Balancing demanding coursework with legal practice demanded careful time management.”
But Bora found a rhythm that worked.
“I found that consistent study habits and a willingness to engage with the curriculum made the program manageable,” he said. “In fact, the flexibility of pacing allowed me to take ownership of my learning while maintaining my career.”
The program also boosted Bora’s confidence.
“Beyond content mastery, the program gave me confidence in engaging with scientific experts, whether they be inventors, in-house researchers or expert witnesses in litigation,” he explained.
Top Medical Pharmacology Courses for a Legal Career
Bora’s career is not a typical one for a medical physiology and pharmacology graduate. We asked him which courses stood out as particularly helpful for a student in law rather than medicine:
“Cell Signaling & Therapeutics and Advanced Medical Pharmacology were particularly involved, as were the physiology courses,” Bora recalled. “The combination of both positions me well to handle therapeutic drug industry-related patent and legal work.”
Advice for Future Medical Physiology and Pharmacology Students
What advice would Bora give future students about the program?
“It’s truly rigorous,” he said. “Students must set aside uninterrupted study time as though they were on-site in Gainesville. They must absolutely conduct themselves and plan for this program as though it will be far more involved and demanding than what they experienced at the undergraduate level.”
Study Tips: Use Quizlet
Bora recommends a handy online study tool for anyone entering the program.
“Take advantage of Quizlet,” he said. “You could use it full-time for a year — that’s how much material there is. I was really blown away. It’s an advantage because of the [amount of] questions and the depth of the questions. They’re very precise.”
Transform Your Career With UF’s Online Medical Physiology and Pharmacology Degree
A medical physiology and pharmacology degree isn’t just for doctors or researchers, as Bora’s journey shows. Whether you’re in law, business, policy or another field that intersects with healthcare, this degree gives you the scientific credibility to compete at the highest level.
UF’s program combines the prestige of a top-tier university with the flexibility to earn your degree while building your career.
Ready to see where it can take you? Start your application.
