Stepping into your most authentic self

Ally Murchison is a final-year PharmD candidate at the University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

When I first started my pharmacy journey in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic was at its highest intensity. I remember sitting at my home desk for what felt like an eternity. I felt extremely isolated, and I was afraid that I would neither be able to achieve my future goals nor be successful in pharmacy school.

Through many new friendships and incredible organizations, I was able to put my personal strengths and qualities forward to become a successful student leader. Now as a current final-year PharmD candidate, I have the confidence in myself to pursue a hospital residency after graduation this May.

I wouldn’t be where I am today without the help from my university’s APhA–ASP Chapter and my good friend APhA–ASP National President Victoria Lyle.

Following my passion

I was fortunate enough to be named a co-chair of the Operation Reproductive Health campaign my first year of pharmacy school. Throughout the last 3 years on this operation, I’ve had the opportunity to be a leader for a cause about which I’m truly passionate. At first, this position overwhelmed me, and I wasn’t sure how I would perform at the same rigor of my predecessor. However, with the help of Victoria and her kind words, I realized that I had all the personal characteristics and ideas to be successful.

I established two annual events to raise funds for reproductive health campaigns. These were Wear Pink Day, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and a holiday sweater contest in which the winner had the honor of donating the total funds to a reproductive choices charity of their choice.

During my third year of pharmacy school, I held a meeting with an AbbVie representative to discuss the importance of reproductive health advocacy, birth control access, and the unique role of pharmacists in a medical liaison position. In addition, my co-chairs and I held a spring and fall event to promote safe reproductive practices as well as HIV and HPV awareness. With the accessibility of social media, we created infographics to inform fellow students of reproductive rights activists and their contributions to this cause. Finally, I led a first annual donation drive to support a homeless youth shelter in my hometown. Through this drive, we were able to provide personal care items and clothing to those in need in our immediate community.

In addition to my APhA role, I also held other leadership positions during my didactic years while balancing two pharmacy internships. Although this was difficult to balance, I had the support I needed to continue to be confident in myself.

Pay it forward

As student pharmacist leaders, it’s a priority for us to encourage and support the future generation of student pharmacists to achieve greatness. I’ve made it a goal of my own to continue to help younger student pharmacists believe in themselves, and I encourage others to do the same.

Everyone has the potential to do great things by embracing their own qualities, characteristics, and strengths. I encourage you to follow Victoria’s presidential theme: “Believe in Yourself.”