Rep goes to summer camp

Many pharmaceutical sales reps don't have the opportunity to see how the products they sell benefit the lives of patients. However, Ray Liu, a sales rep who promotes biologics for hemophiliac patients for Alpha Pharmaceuticals, is one rep who sees the benefits of his products up close.

Every summer, Liu volunteers his time at a hemophiliac summer camp in northern California. "I love watching the children grow up," he said. "Over the years, I have seen a lot of improvement in the daily activities of children suffering from hemophilia," said Liu.

Occasionally he sees campers make personal as well as health progress.

Several years ago, for instance, Liu volunteered to act as counselor for the teenage boys. One camper - a gang member from the inner-city - used foul language, let the air out of the camp director's tires and wouldn't listen to authority. As a result, he was threatened with expulsion from the camp.

Liu asked him to help care for another boy who not only had hemophilia, but who also had severe asthma, was confined to a wheelchair and had only 10% of his vision. The troubled camper from the inner-city thrived as a result of Liu's attention and the responsibility, and later returned to the camp as a counselor himself. That year, Liu made a positive impression on the attending physicians, as well as on the children.

Liu makes a good impression on regular clients too."There is a tight-knit community in the hemophiliac industry," he said. "I like working with these people over the years, and building long-lasting rapport."