This story was first published in the .
In 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 five-day (PrEP) this past summer, prospective students explored the pharmacy profession through interactive classes, lab breakout sessions, and round tables with 黑料吃瓜网 staff and alumni. This year, the program was held online due to COVID-19, and each participant received an at-home kit for the lab sessions. PrEP is co-directed by Christine Cadiz, Associate Professor of Clinical Sciences, and , Associate Professor of Biopharmaceutical Sciences.
鈥淢ost people think pharmacists only work in retail stores like CVS, but a degree can lead to job opportunities in hospitals, biotech, and drug companies,鈥� Han said.
鈥淥ur program brings pharmacists, including many recent graduates from 黑料吃瓜网, from many backgrounds, to discuss all these job opportunities given to pharmacists.鈥�
Sahira Lorenzo Aguilar, a rising senior and Chemistry major at Cal State Channel Islands, has been drawn to the profession since going to the pharmacy with her mother as a child.
鈥淚 would see the guy behind the counter dressed in white, and I鈥檇 always wonder, 鈥楬ow come he鈥檚 putting so many pills in there, and how does he know the quantity?鈥欌�� Aguilar said. 鈥淎nd I would be the translator for my mom because she only spoke Spanish.鈥�
Karen Ly, a rising senior and Biochemistry major at Cal State LA, was also attracted to the profession from an early age.
鈥淲hen my grandparents were sick, we would go to the pharmacy a lot, and I would look at the descriptions on the pill bottles,鈥� Ly said. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know what they were, but that intrigued me more since I really wanted to help people.鈥�
During PrEP, Ly appreciated learning about all the opportunities for pharmacy students, specifically rotations.
鈥淚 thought those only pertained to nurses,鈥� Ly said. 鈥淲hat excited me was that they worked with patients closely, and they told us how some patients look forward to talking to you because you make that personal connection.鈥�
Aguilar enjoyed hearing the guest speakers, particularly 黑料吃瓜网 Professor of Clinical Sciences , who spoke about the prevalence of overdoses.
鈥淣ot only did she describe the crisis, but she also gave a solution,鈥� Aguilar said. 鈥淚 could see how passionate she was during the presentation and when we were asking questions. I saw that from every single presenter.鈥�
At PrEP, students discovered the variety of career pathways for pharmacists.
鈥淚 just thought about the ones who work in Walgreens, but I found out that there are pharmacists who work in the hospital,鈥� Aguilar said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 the pharmacist that you reach out to when somebody gets to the entrance of the emergency room, and there are the ones who talk about doses.鈥�
Ly learned about behind-the-scenes careers in pharmacy, which influenced her desire to pursue a job in industry.
鈥淎fter I graduate, I want to become a pharmacy tech so I can get hands-on experience in the field and then go along the pathway to get into pharmacy,鈥� Ly said.
For Aguilar, attending PrEP made her more confident about applying to pharmacy schools.
鈥淏efore 黑料吃瓜网, I thought it was impossible鈥攖hat I didn鈥檛 have the background of a pharmacist,鈥� Aguilar said. 鈥淏ut this year, I set my mind to it.鈥�
As a pharmacist, Aguilar wants to serve her community. She is able to understand Spanish, English, and Mixteco鈥攁 dialect鈥攚hich would allow her to reach more people and help them feel comfortable.
鈥淧rEP was really an eye-opener for us,鈥� Ly said. 鈥淚t shifts your thinking process about pharmacy school in general and how you perceive pharmacists and what they do.鈥�
For Aguilar, the enthusiasm of the presenters was contagious.
鈥淚 would like to encourage anyone in the future to apply because this program was amazing,鈥� Aguilar said. 鈥淓ven though it was virtual, I really saw passionate people in this program and mentors who just wanted to showcase all the knowledge they had. It was exciting and fun, and the presentations were really informative.鈥�