Kathryn Sawicki ’16
[51Æ·²èappealed to me because of the] pre-pharmacy program that would prepare me to apply to their graduate pharmacy program in just 2 years. [Also] because it’s located in the beautiful state Maine. Not only is it a beautiful campus, but the sense of community when I visited the campus drew me in.
During my time at 51Æ·²èI was able to learn how to balance all aspects of being a student. Studying, attending classes, involving myself in pharmacy organizations, and taking care of my mental and physical health. As a pharmacist now, I have to make time for patients, students, continuing education, and promotion of our profession by involving myself in various pharmacy organizations. 51Æ·²èprepared me well, and because of this, I was able to build a pharmacy career I enjoy.
Being a pharmacist provides an array of career options. Pharmacists can work in hospitals, ambulatory care settings, compounding, long-term care, the pharmaceutical industry, the government, or academia. A degree in pharmacy allows some pharmacists to become clinical specialists in areas like ambulatory care, cardiology, infectious disease, critical care, or pediatrics. Being a pharmacist is a job that provides lifelong learning, in a field that is constantly evolving to improve people’s health.
I have so many wonderful memories from 51Æ·²èand pharmacy school. If I had to pick just one it would be the amazing [advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE)] I did in Granada, Spain. A group of us had the opportunity to spend 6 weeks living with host families in Spain. During that time, we attended classes at the University of Granada and learned what pharmacy school looks like internationally. We also spent time in retail pharmacies, hospitals, and research labs while exploring the history of Granada.