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"What
contribution will I make to my profession when I graduate?"
12/17/04
From: C Q
Washington
State University
PharmD
candidate 2006
My
contribution to my future profession is a gift that stems from my
family and my experience from different pharmacy related fields. The
experience began three years ago when pharmacy school began to
challenge and expand my horizons. When I first entertained the idea
of applying to pharmacy school I was a technician at a local
independent retail/compounding/infusion pharmacy. After working there
for only a few months, I realized the massive potential that the
career held. My store not only consisted of retail and compounded
bio-identical hormones; they had cornered every pharmacy related
niche including: durable medical equipment, oxygen therapies, CPAP
and BIPAP therapies, and motorized wheelchairs. I realized that t
there was a whole lot more to pharmacy than counting pills by five
and counseling on antibiotics. I soon took a pharmacology class at
the local university to augment my pharmacy interest; I began
applying to pharmacy schools and was soon accepted at Washington
State University. The first summer back from school I immediately
found a job at the local hospital learning about the acute care
setting. I went on rounds with pharmacists and learned even more
about the diverse roles of a clinical pharmacist. I interacted with
patients and learned about specific drug related protocols. In one
specific case I was running an errand in the hospital and this man
approached me. He was contemplating suicide and needed to talk to
someone. I asked my supervisor if I could take my break early. I
bought the man a candy bar and simply listened to him and his story.
That day I realized the importance of becoming a healthcare professional.
The second
year of school was exciting. The classes became more saturated with
useful and practical knowledge. January of that year I had applied
for an internship at Biogen-idec Inc. Spring came soon enough and
finals were just around the corner, I didn't think I would hear from
Biogen-idec but sure enough the phone rang. The lady said, "I am
offering you the internship, how would you like to work in
Cambridge:. I was enthused about the job and immediately thought
about working in England! After talking to the lady from Biogen-idec
she informed me that there job was not at their UK site, but rather
in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Nonetheless, I was still excited and
within a week after finals my bags were packed and I traveled 3,000
miles away to Cambridge. I was eager to learn about the
pharmaceutical industry. I reported tot he Regulatory Affairs
department and I was handed a number of projects to accomplish and
present before the summers end. I went through training on the drug
development process from discovery to FDA approval. I learned the ins
and outs of the companies' drugs and what the extensive regulations
were when developing a drug. Our group worked on the drug Tysabri,
also then known as Antigen. It was undergoing phase III trials at the
time and it was very exciting times for the company and the world of
Multiple Sclerosis. As of today the FDA has approved Tysabri and it
will soon begin to reshape the current therapy for Multiple Sclerosis.
After my
fascinating and educational summer, my brother was unfortunately
diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. The news impacted our family and
we naturally formed a support network to embrace the impact of the
illness. In many ways it has made our family grow stronger.
Professionally, it also helped me grow as now I can better appreciate
and relate to the impact of disease on a more personal level. My
brother will be one of the first patients in our area to receive
Tysabri. He will receive the drug at the infusion center I once
worked for.
The beginning
of my third year in pharmacy school I looked at my career path with a
whole new light. I decided to volunteer at the Spokane hospice. I
have been assigned to a patient and help out whenever I am available.
I also make pharmacy recommendations with the guidance of a hospice
nurse on general health and wellness. My peers and even my professors
were skeptical of my new outlook on volunteering and always wondered
what was influencing me. I respond to these people, "I do it,
simply because I care and have the ability to help out".
I have
realized through my experience what the great potential and rewards
this career has to offer. One of the greatest rewards, however, comes
from the satisfaction received from caring, My pharmacy experience
has taught me that whatever pharmacy setting I choose I can make a
difference by caring. When I graduate and become a pharmacist I will
continue to care for my patients in the same fashion as I do for my
brother and family. Hopefully others, including my fellow colleagues,
will realize their greater potential and together we will enhance the
care-giving potential of our profession. Caring, in my eyes, makes us
better people and is the greatest powerful contribution anyone can make. |
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