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 how to further my expertise through staying up to date on guidelines and applying these concepts to real-life scenarios. Personally, these experiences helped me build upon the skill sets I developed in school, such as professionalism, in addition to resilience and empathy, as I navigated through diverse healthcare environments and learned to advocate for patients facing complex life challenges.
How did you manage stress and maintain a healthy work-life balance during APPE rotations?
I best managed stress and maintained a healthy balance by prioritizing time and setting firm boundaries regarding the different sectors of life. Working while fulfilling APPE rotations required a lot of planning ahead of time; therefore, to combat this, I would set up different times of the day to complete my responsibilities. I effectively managed my workload by setting firm internal deadlines for research and projects, ensuring they were completed before my weekend shifts began. I would also assign specific hours of the day where I would prepare for the next day at rotations and assign several days of the week to NAPLEX studying. Forward-planning allowed me to avoid the ‘overlap’ of responsibilities, while my commitment to evening decompression hours, whether it was seeing friends after a long rotation day or ending the day online, prevented burnout and kept my clinical judgment sharp.
What is the most valuable advice you would give P1-P3 students to help them prepare for APPE rotations?
While basic academic foundations are essential before entering any rotation and the information we learned from our previous classes does return, the most significant growth happens through active engagement on-site. Many different clinical pearls I retained came mostly from my APPE experiences. I would encourage students to approach each day with a commitment to continuous learning and to treat constructive feedback as a vital tool for long-term professional development. Furthermore, I would also advise students to remain open to the full spectrum of APPE opportunities. APPEs are a unique experience where you can explore diverse practice settings that often reveal unexpected career interests and build the versatility required of a well-rounded pharmacist. Lastly, I would offer that students view these rotations as more than a mandatory commitment to earn hours in order to fulfill the requirements of the program. Though APPEs may present as challenging at numerous points, the experiences gained each day are invaluable.
Reflection questions:
What are some resources, habits, or activities that helped you succeed during your sixth year?
One of my most effective habits during rotations was maintaining a ‘clinical brain’ in a physical notebook, which allowed me to capture real-time pearls during rounds. Physically writing down important information allowed me to reinforce knowledge retention and have rapid-access reference that I used throughout my different rotation sites. I balanced this by leveraging digital resources like Lexicomp and Pyrls for quick access to updated dosing protocols and guidelines, including summaries of treatment algorithms and key counseling parameters. Furthermore, by consistently researching patient cases and clinical topics in advance, I was able to approach preceptor discussions and team meetings with a high level of preparedness and confidence.
Looking back on your six years in the PharmD program, what is something you wish you had done differently?
Looking back on my APPE journey, there are two areas where I would have approached my development differently. First, I wish I had been quicker to embrace constructive criticism as a growth catalyst rather than viewing it as a measure of my personal competence. Early on, I sometimes fell into the trap of letting feedback sting, whereas later in my rotations, I realized that every correction from a preceptor was actually a shortcut to becoming a safer, more effective clinician. Second, I wish I had been more adventurous in selecting my rotation sites. While it is natural to gravitate toward the specialties you think you want to pursue, I missed some opportunities to explore practice settings outside my comfort zone. I’ve since realized that even if a specific field, like ambulatory care or specialty pharmacy, isn’t your final destination, the unique clinical perspectives and patient populations you encounter there provide an invaluable foundation that makes you a more versatile and well-rounded pharmacist.
What does becoming a pharmacist mean to you now compared to when you started the PharmD program?
Initially, I viewed becoming a pharmacist as a team member with the sole focus of drug expertise amongst other healthcare professionals. However, after experiencing different APPE sites and direct patient care, my perspective has evolved into seeing the role as a commitment to clinical stewardship and patient advocacy. To me, being a pharmacist now means acting as a vital bridge between complex medical guidelines and the individual needs of the patient, ensuring that therapy is not only evidence-based but also accessible and empathetic. It is no longer just about the expertise I hold, but how I will utilize that knowledge to lead within the healthcare team and empower patients to achieve their best health outcomes.
As you prepare to graduate this May, what are you most proud of?
As graduation approaches this May, I am incredibly proud of the bridge I’ve crossed from being a student to becoming a clinician. There is a unique fulfillment in knowing that I am no longer just preparing for a career, but actively practicing it. This transition was marked by a commitment to discipline; balancing the demands of APPE rotations alongside my other responsibilities was a true test of resilience, yet it provided the confidence I needed to handle the complexities of modern pharmacy. I’ve proven to myself that I have the stamina for the long-term stewardship this profession requires. Above all, I am proud to have developed the voice to stand up for my patients’ best interests. To me, graduation marks more than just the end of a long road, but rather the beginning of a career defined by clinical precision and a passion for patient care.
