A Phillip Murch (back row, second from left) rap video helped hype attendance at the 2018 APhA–ASP Region 3 Midyear Regional Meeting.
By Phillip Kevin Murch Jr.
I recall starting pharmacy school 2 years ago and being told that my social media image must be kept professional. I was afraid to post anything fun or creative out of fear of making myself or my program look bad. My creative outlet has been narrowed down, but then toward the end of my first year, an opportunity presented itself: competing in the University of Florida–Orlando Kappa Epsilon Mr. College of Pharmacy Pageant. I was very interested in competing, as the talent portion would allow me to combine my love of pharmacy with my love of music, and with much excitement, I decided to begin work on a pharmacy-themed rap.
I was nervous about some of my lyrics and asked my closest friends for opinions. I worried what my peers, faculty, and family back home would think. But with the support and encouragement of my new “pharmily,” I cast aside these fearful thoughts and submitted my performance, which was well received and eventually earned me the title of “Mr. COP.” Finally, I was able to have a creative outlet to express myself, and in time, would not only make me known as “that pharmacy rapper guy,” but also make my program proud. It was during this time that I mustered up the courage and became “Fearlessly Authentic.”
A new-found confidence
One of my dearest mentors, Joshua Pullo, PharmD, once told me, “I am a real person taking care of real people.” This statement truly resonated with me as I was constantly worried about my image and how fellow classmates or future employers would perceive me. I then realized that making authentic connections with my peers by being relatable would outweigh any potentially negative consequences. This, combined with friends starting to ask me about my next rap, gave me the motivation and energy to continue to make music to help promote events and bring awareness to certain issues facing the profession.
So far, I have made a rap video for a local fundraiser, another for the 2018 APhA–ASP Region 3 Midyear Regional Meeting, and most recently for the APhA–ASP National Back the PAC Campaign that would assist in the passing of legislation so that pharmacists can be recognized and given health care provider status.
I cannot imagine my time in pharmacy school without taking that first leap of faith, without stepping out of my comfort zone and being “Fearlessly Authentic.” I was able to build a brand, make my “pharmily” bigger, and now have a hobby to relieve stress when school feels overwhelming. The warm reception I receive when I put out a new rap reassures me that I am doing the right thing and am truly grateful for the support. Rapping has given me a new-found confidence that will translate to help my professional development and social interactions going forward.
Where I was once worried about peer and faculty opinions, I have now been consistently recognized for my work and effort by both. Our Chapter Advisor, Karen Whalen, PharmD, BCPS, even played the “Take Back the PAC” music video on screen during an active learning session for all three University of Florida campuses to see, easily one of my best memories of pharmacy school.
Theme resonates with me
While attending the APhA Annual Meeting & Exposition in Seattle this past March, our incredibly inspiring APhA–ASP National President Kelli Jo Welter told me that this year’s theme would be one that I would deeply understand and connect with. When she delivered her inaugural speech and revealed “Fearlessly Authentic,” I must admit that I got teary-eyed and fell in love with the message. We are more than just student pharmacists and there is so much more that we have in common. If only we can be brave enough to be authentic and share our lives outside of pharmacy with each other and our patients. By finding the things that connect us, we will be more likely to rely on each other and strengthen bonds.
If we can show our patients that we are human, we can instill confidence in them to trust us so we can provide the best in care. People joke that I will probably rap to my patients when counseling them on their medications. While I do not think that is the best idea, I fully intend on continuing to bring awareness and advocate for important topics in the profession through music for years to come.
So, what about you? What are your passions? I urge anyone reading this to not be afraid of imaginary repercussions. Do not overthink things like I once did. Understand that your creative talents are needed and can be used to help this generation of pharmacists to continue to improve on the legacy of those who came before us. Use social media, share your ideas with other chapters, find others with similar passions, and amplify your message. Be “Fearlessly Authentic” and you will be surprised at the level of support you will receive from your profession.
Pharmacy truly is a small world, which only means your impact will be easily felt by many and hopefully make it that much smaller and, in my opinion, that much better.