Where did you go for Pharmacy School and what helped you the most in school for the actual profession?

I went to Chicago College of Pharmacy-Midwestern University. Initially, I received my degree in Biochemistry during my undergraduate studies, then I entered the pharmacy professional program and studied for four more years and got a Doctor of Pharmacy degree. So total that was eight years.
I found rotations to be the most helpful for the actual profession. Reading actual medical records at hospitals, and real hands on experience gave me a sense of what it's really like being a pharmacist and prepared for the real world.

 

One piece of advice for pre-pharmacy students and future pharmacists?

For the pre-pharmacy students out there, enjoy school while you can. Don't be in a rush to get out into the working world. It's a whole different playing field out there. Also, make sure being a pharmacist is what you want to do for the rest of your life. If you really have the passion to help people, go for it. However, there's no need to worry about being stuck at a dead end job you don't like. There are always other aspects of pharmacy available out there and employers are always hiring.

For the future pharmacists out there, don't let work consume you. Go in there with the mind set that you are in this profession to help people. Do not let making money/profit or any other motivations cloud your judgment. The focus of the profession is on helping people. Constantly remind yourself of that.

 

Which field of pharmacy did you go into and which company do you work for?

I am a Nuclear Pharmacist working at the California Pacific Medical Center . I choose this field because it's a small field and I want to start my own business with it.

What is Nuclear Pharmacy?

It is a special area of pharmacy that involves compounding and dispensing of radioactive material for mainly diagnostic purposes. It can diagnose cancers that cannot be detected by MRI or CT scans such as cancers of the nerves that involve neurotransmitters. It is also for treatment purposes as well. I work a lot with radioactive iodine that treats hyperthyroidism. The field itself involves a lot of physics and chemistry and a special license. My company paid for me to get special licensing to practice. Many companies are willing to pay their employees for special training, and that includes pharmacists as well. Many people think that the radioactivity is harmful, but the amount of isotope I work with is so minute that it really is not that dangerous. Besides, there are many regulations to be followed and precautions taken when working with radioactive material. So it is not as hazardous as people may think.

 

What made you want to become a pharmacist?

Initially, money was the major motivation for doing pharmacy. I'm pretty sure that is why most people out there are doing pharmacy. Ultimately however, it is to make a difference and to help people, as cliché as that sounds. My satisfaction with my career is from knowing that.

What are they looking for in pharmacy school?

They are looking for people who work well with others and who can work in a team environment. Being a pharmacist, you need a lot of help within the pharmacy. There is no way a pharmacist in charge can handle everything by him or herself. Not only that, but ultimately all the responsibilities in the pharmacy are on you. So if anything goes wrong, you are to blame. So it's important to have a good relationship with the people you work with. It's also important to get involved with clubs (YAY PILLS!!^_^), and hold leadership positions. Communicating well to others is another major aspect. That is why one of the required electives for almost all pharmacy programs is communication or public speaking. A big part of being a pharmacist is to communicate to patients about the drug they are prescribed. For example how often to take it, the side effects involved, the risks, etc. So being able to articulate and convey your thoughts effectively is critical.

 

What did you find surprising when you entered the pharmacy profession?

The most surprising thing was "respect." People think that all pharmacists do is to dispense drugs that the doctors prescribe. So I thought I didn't have much say on which drugs are better suited to give to the patients, but in actuality, I do. The doctors are very open and willing to accept my ideas and my opinions. If I think a certain drug is better for the patient than the one they prescribed, they usually will take my word for it. So you "shouldn't let anybody tell you that you don't know anything" because I did go to school for four years for a reason and I do have the foundation and knowledge. At the same time, just because we are pharmacists, we don't know everything there is to know about every single drug that is out on the market. Everyday, there are always new drugs being discovered, created, and approved. This is the reason why we have books to help us learn and allow us to refer back to it whenever we need.

What was the most challenging or the most difficult when you entered the pharmacy profession?

What I find most challenging is saying "No". For example there are people out there who are addicted to drugs such as Vicodin. They would write phony scripts and sometimes get overlooked. In that situation, you just learn from it and make sure it doesn't happen again. If they do bring a false prescription again, you just have to be the bad guy and say no to them. Other times, there could be friends or even family members who would like to get drugs they did not get a prescription for. It's even harder to say no in a situation like that. Becoming a pharmacist is the need to understand the responsibility that comes with it. You need to know when to say "No" and have courage to follow through. In addition, you need to reinforce what is right and what is wrong. People are counting on you to do the right thing, and it isn't always easy.