Over the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing a series of personal stories and testimonials from Pharmacy students about their experiences studying at UBC Pharm Sci. To learn more about our program, register for the upcoming information session. The deadline to apply for our new Entry to Practice PharmD program is February 2nd, 2015.

“I thought that perhaps the best way to share my experience studying pharmacy so far would be to give a super-condensed narrative of my journey up to now, with some elaboration on critical aspects of the program and the profession of pharmacy.

The invitation for an interview came upon me as serendipitously as did graduation from my previous BSc. and the interview itself. It was the end of June before I knew it, and an acceptance letter was in my hands. Ironically, and perhaps unsurprisingly, for the first time in my post-secondary life I found that I was truly excited for course registration and for classes to start. September dawned and 1^st year commenced – to say I was fascinated would be to minimize my perception of the eminence of the Pharmacy faculty, students, staff, and the awe-inspiring building we are housed in. Although I was entering my 2^nd bachelor’s degree – none of it felt like undergrad anymore. From the experiences in the lectures, to labs and tutorials, to the sports events outside of class-time – anything pharmacy, felt professional on a higher level. The quality of instruction was phenomenal, the approachability of instructors – immediate and fulfilling, and the respect between students – limitless. My previously held notions of the role of the pharmacy profession in health care rapidly expanded as we spent hours learning physical assessment skills ranging from measuring blood pressure to identification of crepitus in a pneumonia-affected lung upon auscultation.

It wasn’t until the commencement of 2^nd year that I discovered what I regard as one of the most unique qualifiers of pharmacy – the diversity of options to pursue and structure a meaningful career. While doing your degree you can partake in clinical, academic, or ‘bench top’ research either for course credits, as a volunteer or as a paid employee. You can get involved in countless inter-professional events, workshops, and clinics to hone your skills and develop the foundations of inter-professional collaboration. Furthermore, you can team up with other healthcare students and organize informational clinics like the diabetes and heart health workshops, for the welfare of our local communities.

The extracurricular options listed are just to give you a taste of the variety in pharmacy practice. The reality is that a career in this rapidly evolving field extends beyond the typical community role we picture. The niche for drug experts is forming everywhere: hospitals; industry; policy-making; research and development; rural communities; public health forums; and the implementation of pharmacogenomics to achieve personalized drug-therapy. As the complexity of our civilization, and the ailments afflicting it grows exponentially with each passing year – I am thrilled to be in a profession sitting on the forefront of new discoveries.”

– Viktor Kalashnikov, Second Year BSc(Pharm) Student

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