Maryia Astapenka

Biography

Maryia Astapenka, PharmD, is Director of Compliance and co-founder of SOKOL GxP Services, specializing in regulatory compliance, quality management, clinical pharmacy, business operations, and strategic leadership within the life sciences industry. She supports pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and cell therapy organizations through work spanning quality systems, compliance programs, quality management system development, corrective and preventive action management, internal audits, document control, operational processes, and process improvement. Maryia began her professional and academic journey in Belarus, earning a bachelor’s degree in Management and Culturology from the Belarusian State University of Culture and Arts. After moving to the United States, she changed career direction and entered healthcare. She earned a Doctor of Pharmacy in the Advanced Clinical Practice Track from Temple University School of Pharmacy, graduating summa cum laude and earning Dean’s List recognition and membership in the Rho Chi Society, the academic honor society in pharmacy. She subsequently completed a PGY1 pharmacy residency at St. Mary Medical Center and a Teaching and Learning Certificate through the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy. Her clinical pharmacy experience included caring for patients with hematologic malignancies and those undergoing bone marrow transplantation and cell therapy. She also contributed to clinical research, medication-use evaluation, professional education, and interdisciplinary work focused on patient safety and therapeutic outcomes. Her scholarly activities included research on vasopressor dosing in patients with septic shock, an evaluation of pharmacist-managed warfarin therapy, and co-authorship of a professional review addressing updates to heart failure treatment guidance. Building on this clinical foundation, Maryia moved into compliance, business leadership, and entrepreneurship. At SOKOL GxP Services, her responsibilities encompass regulatory compliance, quality management, organizational development, business operations, and strategic initiatives. Her work brings together an understanding of patient care, scientific integrity, risk management, and the systems required to maintain quality across regulated life sciences organizations. Beyond her professional responsibilities, Maryia is engaged with the Belarusian-American community and supports initiatives related to democracy, human rights, and cultural preservation in Belarus. Her progression across countries and disciplines reflects a sustained commitment to adaptability, continuous learning, integrity, and creating meaningful opportunities for others.