Navigating the Intersections: Dr Omar Mahmoud’s Journey into Computational Chemistry and Software Development

Briefly introduce yourself (The person and your academic qualifications so far)

My Name is Omar Mahmoud. I’m a graduate of the University of Modern Sciences and Arts (MSA), Egypt, class of 2018. I possess a Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm) and a Pharmaceutical Sciences degree from Greenwich University.

I also hope to specialise in Computational Chemistry. I am currently trying to secure a scholarship from abroad.

I am a self-taught software developer, mainly through online courses offered by Coursera, Udemy and YouTube videos. I also have online specialisations in Data Analysis and Programming.

Where are you currently working, and what does your job entail?

I currently work as an Inpatient Pharmacist at a University Teaching Hospital in Egypt. My work entails dispensing prescribed medications after reviewing cases, doses, and possible interactions, in addition to counselling on safe drug use.

On the other hand, I am working on my project, MediHelp App, an all-in-one medical app that aims to help pharmacists get accurate and to-the-point information at their fingertips.

I am the sole developer of the MediHelp app and other private websites.

Why did you decide to delve into software development and coding, yet you already had a successful career as a pharmacist?

I like the Pharmaceutical field, and during my undergraduate years, I loved the subjects of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Drug Design. The more I delve into these subjects, the more I love them. I started programming to enable me to venture into Computational Chemistry and Drug Design. Once I started, I fell in love with coding.

My graduation project was in Homology Modelling -an aspect of Computational Chemistry- and I knew I wanted to continue doing this after graduation. I wanted to learn programming as a strong foundation for my future studies in Computational Chemistry. As a result, I started learning programming through an online course on Python on Coursera offered by Michigan University. I liked the freedom and space to create provided by programming, which drew me to computational chemistry at first. I learned more about software development and ended up with an app that combined my two passions. The MediHelp App was an attempt to use what I learned from software and pharmacology to address an issue and apply myself in both fields.

What made you decide to undertake both Bachelor of Pharmacy and Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Sciences degrees?

It was a joint program between MSA University and Greenwich University. They provided a curriculum that awards both certificates at the end of a five-year plan. 

Looking at your work history, you have managed to work as a food inspector. How did you end up in this area? What is the link between the pharmacy profession and that of food inspectorate?

NFSA is the National Food Safety Authority in Egypt that was formed recently and was looking for capable candidates, so I thought it might be a good career shift or move to explore the science of Food and Safety. I did the job for two years, which was fine, but my passion has always been in the pharmaceutical field.

My position wasn’t technical; it was more administrative than practical. I used to inspect the finished imported or exported products. Other departments were responsible for quality assurance, limit tests, and impurities, so minimal data and experience were transferred from my pharmaceutical background to that post.

As a pharmacist, you have successfully developed your software application. What challenges did you face when you started coding, and how did you overcome them?

It was initially hard to grasp the concepts of programming, coding, and algorithms, but the more challenging it was, the more determined I was to understand and get better at it. Practice also helped me understand what I was doing.

Are there more software applications you have worked on or partnered with others to develop?

As the sole developer of The MediHelp app, publishing my products takes me more time. However, there might be a non-medical app soon. After a year or so, I may release a new medical app. All these are still concepts for now. 

Can we expect more software applications from you soon since you have fallen in love with coding?

The app has numerous features. For example, it has drug monographs with information about medicine (MOA, Dose, Dose modifications, Kinetics, Use during pregnancy and breastfeeding, Patient counselling, Drug & Food Interactions and more).

It has an AI model that is primed to answer medical questions. It has an OTC section for minor ailments that aids community pharmacists. It has quizzes for practice and a Cosmo medical section for cosmetic products such as (Nuxe, Avene, La Roche, etc.).

The app also has a section for clinical pharmacists to help with diagnostic scores & algorithms, Clinical cases with their diagnoses and more. It has a dose calculator, Drug Interaction checker, IV Preparation, Lab test ranges and more. The easiest way to know about the app is to explore it yourself!

I recommend Harvard Computer Science 101 as a start in the tech world; then Python as a first language is perfect as it is a high-level language (which means more readable syntax). Explore the Michigan Python specialisations by a team of doctors, and the one with Dr. Chuck is an excellent resource to start.

I’m very busy with MediHelp and its updates and data entry, but I plan to release more apps. 

Briefly explain what computational chemistry is and what opportunities exist for a pharmacist in this field. What universities do you know of that offer this course?

Computational Chemistry is a branch of Chemistry that uses computer simulation to solve complex chemical problems. It exploits methods of theoretical chemistry, incorporated into efficient computer programs, to calculate the structures, the interactions, and the properties of molecules.

Pharmacists are needed in this area as Pharmaceutical Chemistry experts. This is a step of the drug discovery and development process; computers and programs are now testing and screening for lead compounds, which are also targeted for binding and structures and explored through this technology.

Universities in the UK, USA, and the rest of Europe often offer these courses on computational chemistry and drug discovery and development.

 If you secure a scholarship to study this course abroad, do you intend to practice overseas, or do you hope to put this knowledge into practice in your country?

I wish to return to my country and put that knowledge into good use in pharmaceutical manufacturing and academia to get more pharmacists interested in Drug Discovery and the use of computers and AI in the field.

What can be done by African countries to improve computational chemistry and drug design?

African countries can improve Computational Chemistry and Drug Design by fostering collaborations between academia, industry, and government, investing in specialised training programs for researchers, providing access to state-of-the-art computational resources, incentivising research in these fields through grants and funding opportunities, and promoting knowledge sharing and networking events. Additionally, establishing partnerships with international institutions and leveraging open-access databases and software can accelerate progress. Building a supportive ecosystem that encourages innovation and research excellence will be vital to advancing computational chemistry and drug design capabilities in Africa.

Your country offers both B Pharm and Pharm D; However, Pharm D is relatively new in your country. Would you be aware of why they introduced a Pharm D? Have you worked with PharmD graduates at your workplace? 

 It is a part of Egypt Vision 2030 to modernise education and scientific research. BPharm may be phased out and replaced by PharmD, but they are both valid and offered until now.

PharmD offers more training and a clinical-focused approach to pharmacy, so its introduction may be for its benefit. PharmD graduates are recent, or perhaps last year’s graduates, so I haven’t worked with any.

However, before PharmD, there was a clinical program called Bachelor of Clinical Pharmacy: it is more of a regular Bachelor of BPharm but focuses on clinical pharmacy; they do ward rounds and prepare intravenous medicine. They also have more contact and say inpatient treatment.

 A few universities now offer a Bachelor of Clinical Pharmacy.

In Egypt, in the law regarding pharmacy practice, are there scopes of PharmD and B Pharm and further studies?

M Pharm is considered a postgraduate study. For instance, there is an M.Pharm that majors in Clinical Pharmacy.

There are also diplomas in various fields of Pharmacy, which are considered postgraduate studies.

PharmD is relatively new in Egypt, and to be honest, that was after my years in academia, so I don’t know much about it.

They will make a program if there is enough interest and need for a program and qualified professors, but that depends on each university.

Do B Pharm, Pharm D, and Bachelor of Clinical Pharmacy share one professional body? For instance, in the UK, they have the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.

There is the Egyptian Pharmacist Syndicate for Pharmacists in Egypt, while the Egyptian Drug Authority is the sole regulatory authority. 

What advice would you give any young pharmacist passionate about Drug Design and Computational Chemistry?

For a young pharmacist passionate about Drug Design and Computational Chemistry, start by building a solid educational foundation in Chemistry and Pharmacology. Explore online resources, seek mentorship, and consider internships or research opportunities in labs. Learn programming languages like Python and stay updated on advancements through literature and conferences. Network with professionals, collaborate across disciplines and embrace challenges as part of the learning journey.