By: Marie Huang
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Each month, Rho Chi Post editors have the wonderful opportunity to sit down with an inspiring leader among the student pharmacists here at St. John’s University – someone who is not afraid to stand apart from the crowd and can be the change he or she wants to see in the world. This December, Jena Marion, a 5th year PharmD candidate and previous American Pharmacists Association – Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP) Regional Member-at-Large, talks about networking techniques, advocacy, and the importance of time management.
Q: You have quite the impressive run! Tell me something about the projects you are currently working on. What is your secret?
A: I have always believed that being involved in professional organizations is critical for student pharmacists as they go on to become competent and professionally-aware pharmacists; and for that reason, I have made my involvement in organizations (such as APhA-ASP, LKS, and PLS) a priority. While one’s in-class education is crucial to his or her path in becoming a pharmacist, there are so many things that simply cannot be taught in a lecture or a laboratory. Everything that I have learned from my participation, leadership positions, and experiences will come into play in the future and help make me a better pharmacist. At a recent California Pharmacists Association meeting, a pharmacy leader urged students: “Don’t let pharmacy school get in the way of your pharmacy education,” and there are few quotes that resonate with me more about my time here as a student pharmacist.
Q: You seem really close to those you network with “on the field” at fairs / conventions / meetings. One of our readers wanted to know how you find that natural connection with others. Networking itself is known to be very formal, especially since you are interacting with people who can help you professionally. How are you able to take that to a new level and develop a great friendship with the people you encounter?
A: Networking is actually one of my favorite things about pharmacy school, along with attending different meetings and conventions. I love speaking with people and hearing about their experiences in their field, as well as the paths they walked to arrive where they are today. Pharmacists and student pharmacists alike often have truly interesting and inspiring stories. And on that same note, I love sharing my experiences and some of the things that I have learned with my fellow students.
However, networking can definitely be intimidating! Try starting out by speaking about things that you aree interested in. For example, I love social media and use Facebook and Twitter to share different articles I read regarding the profession of pharmacy. When I spoke with the pharmacists representing PSSNY and LIPS at Pharmacy Organization Day last month, we spoke about how the organization could use social media to reach out to and engage student pharmacists. Following up with your contacts is also really important! Even a simple email to a student pharmacist you met at a recent conference could keep the lines of communication open from year to year. Another tip is to practice your “elevator speech” – being able to tell people you meet a little bit about yourself in 30-60 seconds will not only make you memorable, but will often prompt people to want to know more about you. Finally, practice makes perfect! Between national, regional, and campus-wide events, there are new opportunities each week to practice your people skills and make new contacts in your professional network.
Q: What are you looking to do after graduation? Would you be interested in working full-time for a professional pharmacy advocacy organization?
A: After graduation, I am hoping to complete a community pharmacy practice residency that will help me refine my patient care and communication skills, work towards becoming a preceptor, and obtain a teaching certification. Down the road, I would like to work as a pharmacist in the community setting, teach at a local university, and precept advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE) rotation students. While the thought of being involved in professional organizations full-time and getting paid to do so would be a dream come true, I also would find it hard to lose the connections that I have with my patients. One of the best things about being involved in professional organizations in college is seeing how they can grow with you as you become a new practitioner and a pharmacist. There are continuous opportunities for involvement and leadership far into the future of your career, and with the many disciplines across the field of pharmacy, there is no telling where each of us may end up in the future.
Q: It appears as you have paved the road for yourself already! According to one of our readers, the American Medical Association (AMA) is the largest association of physicians and medical students that can rightfully claim that they unite and represent a whole profession. In your opinion, is APhA playing a role similar to what the AMA plays for physicians?
A: That is a great question! I think that, first and foremost, pharmacists and student pharmacists need to realize what APhA is, and what it is not. It can advocate for the profession of pharmacy, unite the voices of pharmacists and student pharmacists across the country (and in all fields of discipline), and guide the profession as we move into the future. It can lobby for certain laws, but it cannot make laws, enforce laws, or mandate any position it supports. Once we realize that, we can look at how APhA compares to organizations like the AMA. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were nearly 270,000 pharmacists working in the US in 2008, yet APhA reports around 60,000 members. This means that only about 22% of pharmacists belong to the oldest and largest professional organization here to represent them. And in my opinion, that is where the problem lies. APhA and APhA-ASP can only operate with the membership and participation of the professionals that it represents. Membership pays for itself, and it opens so many doors to learn, educate others, network, travel, and have fun, too! APhA definitely mirrors the AMA in its mission, vision, and day-to-day activities – but it is now up to pharmacists and student pharmacists to support that.
Q: As last term’s APhA-ASP Member-at-Large of our region, I can only imagine how hectic the workload must have been. What were your duties and responsibilities? More importantly, how did you manage your time wisely during the semester? Could you offer us any specific tips?
A: My position as APhA-ASP Region 1 Member-at-Large allowed me to work closely with the Regional Delegate and the Midyear Regional Meeting Coordinator to help promote membership, Patient Care Projects, and the International Pharmaceutical Students Federation (IPSF) to student pharmacists across our region. I worked to coordinate the regional newsletter (we published three issues last year), and I had duties at the Annual Meeting (serving on the APhA-ASP Reference Committee and taking notes during the Open Policy Forum), as well as the Midyear Regional Meeting (as recording secretary at the Closing Business Session). Finally, I served as a resource to chapter officers and helped to answer questions about planning events, writing Chapter Achievement Award Reports, and promoting attendance at the various meetings throughout the year.
Although it seems like a lot of work, my day-to-day responsibilities were not too demanding, and I had the incredible support of my fellow regional officers (as well as APhA Staff) to ensure that things ran smoothly. It was truly an honor to be able to serve my region in this capacity, and was one of the most challenging, and rewarding, experiences I’ve had in my education so far.
I credit early involvement with the time management skills I learned while at St. John’s University. I became actively involved in two professional organizations during the Fall semester of my freshman year, and I learned to adjust to commuting to school and adapting to different teaching styles while learning the “ins and outs” of student leadership on campus. The truth is that school is not my number one priority 100% of the time. Each week presents different activities and challenges for me; I have to ensure that my assignments are completed and that I am on track with my studying. However, I believe that it is pertinent to maintain a balance – some days, studying takes precedence; other days, I might put schoolwork off for a day to catch up on emails and extracurricular items. And some days, still, a few hours of relaxation or a mental health day will leave me refreshed enough to return to work.
Essentially, the key is to become a well-rounded pharmacist after graduation.
Q: I am certain that many pre-professional students would find your advice useful, especially when they reach their professional years. And now for our most important question yet: Superman or Batman?
A: Batman – I am a sucker for sports cars!
Q: Thanks for sitting down with us! It has been a pleasure. Do you have any last words for our readers?
A: Yes. Pharmacy school is tough. Class schedules, labs, and examinations can be downright exhausting, especially because many of us have work and rotations in conjunction. Regardless of what organizations you involve yourself with and career path you choose to take in the future, please make sure you are passionate about what you do. There are endless possibilities for a future when you have a PharmD degree, and as Confucius said, “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”
Additional questions for Ms. Marion can be directed to [email protected].