By: Aymon Choudhury, PharmD Candidate c/o 2027 APPE questions: How did your APPE rotations shape you, both professionally and personally? APPE rotations helped my transformation from a student into a clinician by shifting my focus from textbook theory to real-world clinical decision-making and interprofessional collaboration. Though I had baseline knowledge from previous classes, I learned…

By: Aymon Choudhury, PharmD Candidate c/o 2027 Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) includes three clinical conditions: unstable angina, non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), and ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). These conditions are a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, requiring rapid diagnosis, timely intervention with reperfusion, guideline-directed drug therapy, coordinated transitions of care between healthcare…

By: Maimuna Maula, PharmD Candidate c/o 2026    Your sixth year of pharmacy is unlike any other. Although you are still technically a student, you no longer have routine classes. Instead, this is a year meant for you to explore pharmacy beyond the classroom before you graduate and commit to one specific area. I had…

Featuring: Reian Daniels, PharmD Candidate c/o 2026 By: Rebecca Sabzanov, PharmD Candidate c/o 2026 Reian Daniels is a sixth-year pharmacy students at St. John’s University, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. During her time at St. John’s, Reian has served as the President-Elect and currently serves as the President of the Student College of Clinical…

By: Archana Murugan, PharmD Candidate c/o 2029 Introduction Antidepressants are a class of medications commonly prescribed to help with an individual’s mood or behavior, specifically targeting the serotonin levels in the body. Existentialism, transcendentalism, and deconstruction represent prominent movements in metaphysics and can be used to explain the effects of antidepressants on an individual’s perception.…

By: Aymon Choudhury, PharmD Candidate c/o 2027 Name: Sulaiman Alam Title: Clinical Pharmacist Question: Tell us about your current role at NYU Langone Health. What does a typical day-to-day look like for you? Answer: In my current role as a clinical pharmacist at NYU Langone Health, I primarily staff the Emergency Department (ED) and various…

By: Armanda Dervishi, PharmD Candidate c/o 2027 Introduction Compounding has always been an important part of pharmacy practice. Patients often need medications that aren’t available commercially – whether it’s a dye-free suspension for a child, a topical cream, or hormone replacement therapy. However, in recent years, compounding has received more attention than ever before. In…

By: Amanda Nakhul, Biomedical Sciences c/o 2027 Pharmacies such as CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid are known for being convenient, affordable, and accessible to most communities. Unfortunately, on May 5th, 2025, Rite Aid officially filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for the second time in less than two years. As stated by the United States…

By: Alba Dona, PharmD Candidate c/o 2027 Over the past few years, technology has transformed almost every aspect of medicine. Tools such as electronic health records, artificial intelligence, e-prescribing, and telehealth platforms have changed the way patients interact with providers and access treatment. Patients can communicate with providers over the phone or by video call,…

By: Rosa Kang PharmD Candidate c/o 2027 Dr. Aaron Muth, Ph.D., is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. He has been teaching medicinal chemistry at St. John’s University as Assistant Professor since 2016 and Associate Professor since 2022. In 2024, he was  appointed the Director of the Master of Science in…

By: Farzana Alam, PharmD Candidate c/o 2025, Anthony Autera, PharmD Candidate c/o 2025, Maha Saad, PharmD Background Drug pricing metrics are crucial in pharmacoeconomic analyses as they influence cost-effectiveness and budget impact studies. Selection of the most appropriate metric depends on the context of the analysis, the drug distribution channel, and payer perspective. The primary…

By Jennalynn Fung, PharmD Candidate c/o 2025 Introduction I’m a final year pharmacy student completing my Advanced Pharmacy Practice Rotations. I completed one of my ambulatory care pharmacy rotations at Crow/Northern Cheyenne Hospital in Crow Agency, Montana, which serves Native Americans. I had previously worked as a JRCOSTEP in summer of 2021 at the same…

By: Jennalynn Fung, PharmD candidate c/o 2025 Dr. Hyunah Cho, Ph.D., an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, was awarded a $745,000 R16 Sure-First grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS). Her research is focused on developing nano-based optical imaging agents as prospective tools for brain imaging. If applied clinically,…

By: Rosa Kang PharmD Candidate c/o 2027 Summer is a time of endless possibilities. During this time, St. John’s University offers a program for its students who are interested in pursuing research: The Summer Research Program! Here are just a few of the many experiences from the professors and students who are participating in this…

Featuring: Simkho Shimonov, PharmD Candidate c/o 2025 By: Rebecca Sabzanov, PharmD Candidate c/o 2026 Simkho Shimonov, a dedicated and diligent PharmD candidate at St. John’s University, is set to graduate in 2025. With an extensive background in both retail and hospital pharmacy, he has amassed a broad understanding of the field. Recently, Simkho further diversified…

By: Ashley Medina, PharmD Candidate c/o 2025 Embarking on the professional years of St. John’s Pharmacy curriculum allows the aspiring professional to gain knowledge and exposure to various disease states and available treatments, as well as pipeline treatment options. These courses are some of the most rigorous and challenging, yet exciting, essential courses for the…

By: Carolina Vargas, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024, Zoha Khalid, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024, and Nashfa Zaman, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 Graduating from pharmacy school is a monumental achievement, marking the culmination of years of hard work and dedication. However, this milestone comes with financial burdens that aspiring pharmacists must be prepared for. This article will…

Featuring: Nadim Ahmed, President and CEO, Cullinan Oncology By: Sairah Skeikh, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 Nadim Ahmed is the President and Chief Executive Officer at Cullinan Oncology. He has always had an interest in oncology and the opportunity to help cancer patients and their families, which is demonstrated in his extensive prior experience working in…

Featuring: Frances Alexis Dela Cruz, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 By: Celestine Van Sertima, PharmD Candidate c/o 2027 Frances Alexis Dela Cruz is a driven and dedicated PharmD candidate at St. John’s University who is anticipated to graduate in 2024. With a focus on pharmacy studies, Frances exhibits a passion for the pharmaceutical field and is…

By: Jennalynn Fung, PharmD Candidate c/o 2025 Drug shortages are not new; however, their frequency has significantly increased over the years. Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease doctor and professor at the University of California, San Francisco, stated, “[i]t’s something that I’ve seen from time to time since I started practice about 20 years ago,…

Featuring: Erica Kohen, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 By: Isabelle Lim, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 Erica Kohen is a sixth-year pharmacy student at St. John’s University, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. During her time at St. John’s, Erica served as the Secretary and President-Elect and is currently serving as President of the Student College of…

By: Ashley Medina, PharmD Candidate c/o 2025 After decades of trial and error, science is ready to offer preventative measures against the respiratory syncytial virus, better known as RSV. Utilizing RSV vaccination tools that have become available will allow for a healthy, fun, and safe transition from winter to spring, often when RSV cases rise.…

By: Omar Elhoriny, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 and Nancy Yousry, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 The therapeutic space of solid organ transplantation holds great relevance to practicing pharmacists and yet is rarely a topic of discussion in didactic teaching. The field of renal transplant therapeutics has made remarkable strides over the years, offering new hope to…

Featuring: Janelle Derbis, PharmD By: Serina Lin, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 Janelle Derbis is a PharmD graduate of Drake University, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, located in Des Moines, Iowa. She is currently the Director of Regulatory Affairs at Merck & Co., Inc. She has prior extensive experience in the U.S. Food and Drug…

Featuring: Fawad Piracha, PharmD, MBA, IgCP By: Holly Nguyen, PharmD Candidate ℅ 2024 Fawad Piracha is a ‘16 alumnus of the St. John’s University PharmD program and has since had a storied career. Dr. Piracha is the second of four family members who  graduated from St. John’s University’s College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (read…

By: Sarah Adly, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 Applying to advanced professional pharmacy experience (APPE) rotations can be a daunting experience. After all, this is the last opportunity most pharmacy students have to deeply  explore their interests. But not to worry! As someone who was in your shoes a year ago, I will let you in…

Featuring: Nicole Cernaro, PharmD, PGY-2 Pediatric Pharmacy Resident By: Urooj K. Malik, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 Nicole Cernaro is a PGY-2 Pediatric Pharmacy Resident at St. Peter’s University Hospital located in New Brunswick, New Jersey. She recently completed her PGY-1 pharmacy residency from St. Peter’s University Hospital as well. Nicole earned her Doctorate in Pharmacy…

Featuring: Urooj K. Malik, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 By: Isabelle Lim, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 Urooj is a sixth-year pharmacy student at St. John’s University. Throughout her time at St. John’s Urooj has held positions in organizations like the American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists, Phi Lambda Sigma, International Society of Pharmacoeconomics & Outcomes, Lambda Kappa…

Congratulations to the sixth-year pharmacy students for graduating and to the rest of the student body for completing another year of pharmacy school! I am humbled and honored to announce my new position as the Editor-in-Chief of the Rho Chi Post for the upcoming year. It is with the continued dedication of the Editorial Team…

Featuring: Krishna Tamakuwala, PharmDBy: Justin Budz, PharmD Krishna Tamakuwala is a recent graduate from the St. John’s University Doctor of Pharmacy program, class of 2023. Krishna always knew she wanted to go into the medical field. Besides her passion for the sciences, Krishna also enjoyed cooking. She found it interesting how certain aspects of pharmacy…

Featuring: Isabella Chow, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024By: Isabelle Lim, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 Isabella Chow is a sixth-year pharmacy student at St. John’s University. She was involved in various organizations on campus, including PLS, Rho Chi, LKS, Crafts Club, and VSA. She held leadership positions in multiple pharmacy organizations, including IPhO Director of Communications, DIA…

On behalf of the Rho Chi Post, we are excited to announce our Inaugural LEADS Initiative Edition of the Rho Chi Post Newsletter. The LEADS Initiative is a pilot program, in collaboration with the Rho Chi Honor Society – Beta Delta Chapter, looking to promote the professional development of younger pharmacy students by pairing them…

The LEADS Initiative is a pilot program developed in 2022 as a collaborative project between the Rho Chi Post Newsletter and the Rho Chi Honor Society – Beta Delta Chapter. The goal of the LEADS Initiative is to provide an academic mentorship program for pharmacy students to promote scholastic excellence, ethics, service, leadership, and an…

My name is Christian Porcu and I am a fifth-year Pharmacy Major with a Minor in Social Justice Theory. I am part of many organizations both on and off campus, but the most notable are Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity and the Scouts of America. I am a proud Eagle Scout with Troop 19 and just…

My name is John Ortiz and I’m currently a P2 pharmacy student. Over the summer I was an orientation leader and currently serve as a content-focused copy editor for the Rho Chi Post, the service chair for PARE, and a career peer for Career Services. I also work at an independent pharmacy. Currently, I’m interested…

Featuring: Vassilia Plakas, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 and Frances Alexis Dela Cruz, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024By: Isabelle Lim, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 *Meet Vassilia (Lia) Plakas Lia is a fifth-year pharmacy student and the current President of the Rho Chi Honor Society – Beta Delta Chapter. Lia decided to pursue pharmacy as a result of…

My name is Debika Kundu and I am currently a P3 student pharmacist. On campus, I serve as the President of the American Pharmacists Association – Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP) and a LEADS mentor for the Rho Chi Honor Society. I also work as an intern pharmacist at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Irving Medical…

My name is Jeilyn Nunez and I am a pharmacy major in my P2 year. Currently, I am working at New York Presbyterian Weil Cornell and Walgreens as a pharmacy intern. I am still looking forward to expanding on my experiences and academic career as a life-long learner. I am 21 years old, and I…

Featuring: Justin Budz, PharmD Candidate c/o 2023By: Isabelle Lim, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 Justin is a sixth-year pharmacy student and the current Editor-in-Chief of the Rho Chi Post. Justin views pharmacy as a healthy medium between science and healthcare. Studying pharmacy provided him with the opportunity to learn more about the biological processes behind medications…

Featuring: Kamran Khan, PharmD Candidate c/o 2023By: Justin Budz, PharmD Candidate c/o 2023 Kamran Khan is a sixth-year pharmacy student at St. John’s University. Growing up, Kamran had a lot of family members in healthcare, instilling an interest in medicine from an early age. While at St. John’s, Kamran got to experience many different career…

Featuring: Justin Budz, PharmD Candidate c/o 2023By: Isabelle Lim, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 Justin Budz is a sixth-year pharmacy student at St. John’s University. While at St. John’s, Justin participated in multiple organizations, which ultimately led him to discover the career path he wanted to pursue. Most notably, Justin served as the Development and Outreach…

Featuring: Amanda Murray, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 and Laura Cranston, B.S.PharmBy: Ashley Dao, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 Alumni Insider’s View (AIV) is an annual program held in Washington D.C. that provides students from St. John’s University with the opportunity to explore nontraditional career pathways in pharmacy. Students are able to network with pharmacists that hold…

Featuring: Christina Swiger, PharmD Candidate c/o 2023By: Justin Budz, PharmD Candidate c/o 2023 Christina Swiger is a sixth-year pharmacy student at St. John’s University. Christina was inspired to pursue a career in healthcare by her mother who is a store manager at a community pharmacy. Growing up, Christina was able to aid in the care…

Featuring: Colleen Bond, PharmD, BCPSBy: Justin Budz, PharmD Candidate c/o 2023 At a young age, Dr. Colleen Bond was involved in the care of a close relative, gaining early exposure to the healthcare team dynamic. The one question that no one was able to clearly answer was how medications were able to work in the…

Featuring: Ali Baig, PharmD Candidate c/o 2023By: Helen Li, PharmD Candidate c/o 2023 Ali Baig is a sixth-year pharmacy student at St. John’s University. During his time at St. John’s, Ali cultivated skillsets in business management, starting with his own car detailing business and eventually opening his own franchise of Edible Arrangements. Ali’s interests in…

Featuring: Khushbu Doshi, PharmD Candidate c/o 2023By: Justin Budz, PharmD Candidate c/o 2023 Khushbu Doshi is a sixth-year pharmacy student at St. John’s University. During her time at St. John’s, Khushbu has served on the boards of a variety of campus organizations and has had invaluable internships and APPE rotations pertaining to the pharmaceutical industry.…

Featuring: Nicole Maisch, BS, PharmDBy: Justin Budz, PharmD Candidate c/o 2023 Growing up with close relatives in healthcare, Dr. Nicole Maisch was inspired to pursue a career in pharmacy practice. Dr. Maisch graduated from Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences with her PharmD and then completed a PGY1 residency at the University of Massachusetts…

By: Tiffany Dominic, PharmD Candidate c/o 2022               As student pharmacists, there is no doubt that we have been hearing the words “pharmacy informatics” more frequently. However, a big concern remains. Many pharmacy students are not exactly sure what informatics is or only have a general understanding of the topic. Well, look no further and…

By: Anjali Rana PharmD. Candidate c/o 2025              While too much of any food or substance is not good, sodium-rich diets are especially harmful to the body causing increases in blood pressure and fluid retention. Sodium is found in majority of the foods consumed. People should be cautious of processed goods and restaurant meals which…

By: Sami Barakat, PharmD. and Natalia Jucha, PharmD. Candidate c/o 2022              Since the publication of the Institute of Medicine report To Err is Human: Building a Safer Health System, there has been a growing movement to improve patient safety. The report revealed that more than 7000 deaths occur annually due to medication errors.1 It…