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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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…

By: Natalia Jucha PharmD Candidate c/o 2022              Due to the overuse and misuse of these medications, antibiotics are no longer as effective against their intended pathogens.1 In 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) released its AWaRE Classification Database which stands for “Access, Watch and Reserve”.2 Clinicians use this database as a guide to appropriately…

By: Aiša Mrkulić , PharmD Candidate c/o 2022              In fulfilling our vow to uphold the Oath of a Pharmacist, we must regard, “the welfare of humanity and relief of suffering” as our top priority. Voluntary are the promises which accompany this oath, promises with wellness at their forefront. ² It is not without reason…

By: William Obilisundar, PharmD Candidate c/o 2023, Binghamton University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences              One of the most interesting events hosted by the Binghamton University School of Pharmacy during the 2019-2020 academic year was a seminar entitled, “Mental Health Awareness: A Focus on Suicide & Stigma,” presented by Dr. Carolyn M. Tyler, Ph.D.,…

By: Evan Cheung, PharmD (c/o 2020)             On March 11th, 2020, a research article was published in the Lancet journal that informed the public about a hypothesized issue regarding the use of ibuprofen in COVID-19 patients.1 Because of the information found in this article, patients and medical professions are wary of utilizing nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs…

By: Aiśa  Mrkulic, PharmD. Candidate c/o 2022 Thrive NYC’s Adult Mental Health First Aid Training Program has taken Johnnies by storm! Three sign-ups and a wait-list later, I managed to secure my spot as an attendee. Students of various majors, who belonged to any one of a wide range of student-led organizations, flooded into Marillac…

By: Yao Jiang, PharmD (St. John’s University c/o 2019)            “Do you want to do a residency?” a senior pharmacy student asked me as I strolled past their booth on Pharmacy Organization Day during my first year of pharmacy school. I stopped for a minute, but everything they said about post graduate training and clinical…

By: Evanthia Siozios, PharmD Candidate c/o 2020            A diagnosis of epilepsy requires either two unprovoked seizures or one unprovoked seizure with the possibility of having more.1 These seizures are not usually caused by factors such as alcohol withdrawal or hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Missing doses of seizure medication is the most common cause of…

By: Michelle Lavrichenko, PharmD Candidate c/o 2020            What does it mean to be a pharmacist? A pharmacist is a qualified health care professional who reviews, prepares, and dispenses medications; but what is the definition of the term qualified as it pertains to pharmacy practice? In order to obtain a license to practice pharmacy, one must pass the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination…

By: Yeonah Suk, PharmD Candidate c/o 2020 Of all the industrialized countries in the world, the United States (US) still ranks number one in having the highest rate of maternal mortality. Data from the World Health Organization demonstrates that overused procedures including early labor induction, restricting food and drink, as well as mandating bed rest…

By: Shivani Shah, PharmD Candidate c/o 2021 Medication therapy management (MTM) is a service provided by pharmacists to eligible patients who participate in a Medicare drug plan, namely part D. The geriatric population, which is included among the aforementioned eligible patients, is prone to taking numerous medications as they tend to have multiple disease states…

By: Shireen Farzadeh, PharmD Candidate c/o 2019 – Collaborative Drug Therapy Management (CDTM) began as a three year demonstration project in 2012. It was extended and passed as a bill in September 2015 by the New York State Assembly and Senate and signed into law by the Governor Andrew Cuomo. The CDTM authority was initially…

By: Shivani Shah, PharmD Candidate c/o 2021 – Pharmacists are the primary drug experts in the medical field. Medication reconciliation, patient counseling, and creating drug therapy regimens are important components of health care which are the pharmacist’s responsibility. Many pharmacists are commonly seen behind the counter at your local CVS or Walgreens, glued to a…

By: Katharine Russo, PharmD Candidate c/o 2021 – Flight tickets, check. Passports, check. Luggage, check.   Month supply of Metformin, uh oh. Two months separate many from the beginning of summer and the slew of travel plans already being made. Pharmacists are often your overlooked travel specialists during the summer months. Stop by your local pharmacy…

By: Yao Jiang, PharmD Candidate c/o 2019 – While each flu season comes and goes, the 2017-2018 flu season caught health care professionals by surprise.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this season’s flu activity was the most widespread since the 2009 influenza pandemic caused by the influenza A (H1N1) virus,…

By: Shivani Shah, PharmD Candidate c/o 2021 and Jagannath Muzumdar, PhD Associate Professor Pharmacy – Pharmacy Administration and Public Health – INTRODUCTION The Center for the Advancement of Pharmacy Education (CAPE), in its most recent pharmacy education outcomes report, has called attention to the lack of personal and professional development of pharmacy students. In what…

By: Gabriel Ilyayev, PharmD Candidate c/o 2018 – My grandpa is a type 2 diabetic. My father is a type 2 diabetic. I’ve seen the injections, the side effects, the limitations that they’re forced to accept because of their condition. You know what I say to that? This must be stopped. My aunt, Stella Ilyayeva,…

By: Gabrielle Flavoni, PharmD Candidate c/o 2018 – Pharmacists have always been deemed one of the most accessible health care providers in the community, especially to those who cannot often travel long distances. Over the years, many retail pharmacies began offering delivery services for prescription medications, specifically for the elderly and disabled. However, delivery services…

By: Zachary Reale, PharmD Candidate c/o 2018 – Every April, pharmacists and pharmacy students from all across New York State gather in Albany for Pharmacy Lobby Day. The event, organized by the Pharmacists Society of the State of New York (PSSNY), is held in collaboration with many other New York State pharmacy associations including the…

By: Katherine Russo, PharmD Candidate c/o 2021 – “Treat the whole patient and not the whole in the patient”  – Unknown From the new temporal scanner thermometers in your local pediatrician’s office, to needle-free diabetes care at home, to medication dispensing boxes in hospitals, the ever-evolving world of technology is no stranger to the healthcare…

By: Sal Monaco, PharmD Candidate c/o 2018 – In recent years, the state of California has remained at the forefront of innovative pharmacy practice by recognizing of the importance of pharmacists in healthcare. The state recently took action which puts them another step ahead and strengthens the support pharmacists in the state receive. On September…

By: Zachary Piracha, Pharm.D Candidate 2017 – The following account is a case report I was involved with during my rotation at the FDA. On 06/21/16, the Consumer Complaint Coordinator division of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) received a report from a consumer that had discovered an online seller of dietary supplements, and purchased…

By: Victoria Chirico, PharmD Candidate c/o 2018 – From I-STOP surveillance to vaccine administration, many changes have been made in the world of pharmacy, with more to come. Whether these changes are for the better or worse, they define the roles of a pharmacist in our world today. As the role of a pharmacist is…

By: Sherin Pathickal, PharmD Candidate c/o 2016, Rahul Patel, PharmD Candidate c/o 2017, and Sierra Swaby, PharmD Candidate c/o 2020 – The pharmacy profession is changing within the healthcare system by making pharmaceutical care one of its main responsibilities. Pharmaceutical care does not adhere to the way that pharmacists have traditionally practiced, but instead requires…

By: Tasnima Nabi, Co-Copy Editor [Content-focused] – Dear Readers, When I received Volume 1, Issue 1 of the Rho Chi Post in my inbox during my sophomore year, I knew that I wanted to contribute in every way possible. The Rho Chi Post has been the best experience throughout my education at St. John’s University.…

By: Ajla Dupljak, President-Elect, Rho Chi Beta Delta Chapter – Greetings! My name is Ajla Dupljak and it is with great honor and privilege that I write to you all as your new President-elect for the 2016-2017 Rho Chi Society Beta Delta Chapter. First and foremost I would like to congratulate all those who were…

By: Svetlana Akbasheva, Staff Editor – This March, both the International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists (IACP) and American Pharmacists Association (APhA) updated their official positions regarding the pharmacist provision of drugs for lethal injections as part of executions.1,2 The IACP stated that “while the pharmacy profession recognizes an individual practitioner’s right to determine whether to…

By: Sean Caltabiano, Ramya Mathew & Praneeta Nagraj – Timeline Overview 5th Year: Start thinking about recommendations Your preceptors on rotations and faculty you have worked with are great people to ask for letters of recommendation July–October (or sooner): Research Start thinking about areas that you would be interested in pursuing (e.g., Regulatory Affairs, Medical…

By: Hayeon Na, PharmD, Co-Copy Editor [Content-focused] – Going through the PharmD curriculum and working as a student pharmacist, I often wished that I could somehow connect my brain to all the wonderful pharmacy resources I had at home or in my bag. I don’t doubt that you’ve also had a variation of this idea…

The Overmedication of Foster Care Children By: Andrew Leong, Staff Writer – There are over 510,000 children in foster care nationwide.1 They face tremendous emotional stress, affecting their behavior and mental health. To treat their symptoms, many are prescribed psychotropic medications. A study published in the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics found that…

Greetings! My name is Michael Bosco and I am President-Elect for the 2015-2016 Rho Chi Society Beta Delta Chapter. I wanted to take a moment to address my fellow Rho Chi members and professionals, and share my goals to advance the Rho Chi Society’s ideals of academic excellence and fellowship here at St. John’s University.…

By: Katharine Cimmino, Co-Copy Editor [Content-Focused] – Dear Readers, Working on the Rho Chi Post has been an amazing opportunity. Entering a science heavy program, I truly thought I would be putting my love for reading and writing on the back burner. The Rho Chi Post has allowed me to combine my passion for reading…

By: Tasnima Nabi, Copy Editor [Content-Focused] – Social media is a powerful platform, allowing for the quick and easy exchange of ideas. Although the Internet has facilitated universal access, for many, it can be difficult to find reliable information. By combining the power of the Internet with his dedication to the pharmacy profession, Eric Christianson,…

By: Melissa Roy Co-Copy Editor [Graphics focused] — Many people do not realize the opportunities that are available to pharmacists. Joanne Bollhofer-White has taken the path less traveled by entering into the Air Force. Her position in the military has allowed her to travel all over the country while serving her country. The Air Force…

By: Melissa Roy Co-Copy Editor [Graphics focused] – Our dedicated preceptor Kimberly Defronzo, RPh, MS, MBA is currently a Consumer Safety Officer at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). She attended the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy for her Bachelors of Pharmacy. She then went to St. John’s University College of Pharmacy and Health…

By: Valentina DiGangi,PharmD Candidate c/o 2017, Brandon Hu, PharmD Candidate c/o 2018, Sang Hyo Kim, Staff Editor, Samantha Lau, PharmD Candidate c/o 2018, and Seowoo Yoon, PharmD Candidate c/o 2018 – What does a clinician do when there is limited access to a particular drug, such as morphine? Should they treat a patient who is…

By Davidta Brown, Senior Staff Editor – The idea of granting pharmacists the right to prescribe, as well as to counsel and dispense, has long been a source of controversy among healthcare professionals. A study out of the University of Alberta in Canada, published online in mid-April, provided some much needed concrete data for an…

By: Sang Hyub Kim, DPM Candidate c/o 2018, New York College of Podiatric Medicine – I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2009. For the past five years, I have literally taken tons of immunosuppressant medications, ranging from corticosteroids (prednisone), to chemotherapeutics (6-Mercaptopurine) in an effort to suppress the inflammation in my colon. Currently, I…

By: Bharat Kirthivasan, Co-Copy Editor (Content-focused) – It’s graduation season and some students are moving from academics to professional life. Others are taking a step in that direction. I myself am wrapping up my Ph.D. and working full time in the pharmaceutical industry as a formulation scientist. During my Ph.D., I’ve served as a Teaching…

By: Ada Seldin, Staff Editor – CVS, the largest chain pharmacy in the United States, has announced that it will stop selling cigarettes and other tobacco products in its 7,600 retail stores on October 1, 2014. As such, CVS will be the first chain pharmacy in the U.S to remove tobacco products from its shelves.In…