Ally White is a final-year PharmD candidate at the Lipscomb University College of Pharmacy.
1. As you reflect on your student pharmacist experience thus far, what are some of your favorite memories?
Some of my favorite memories so far are interactions I’ve had with patients alongside fellow students.
For example, I was able to participate in the Vanderbilt Program for Interprofessional Learning (VPIL) my first two years of pharmacy school, and it was an incredible learning experience to interact with patients as part of an interprofessional team. Each student contributed a unique perspective to the patient’s care, and we were able to make treatment recommendations from a medical, nursing, pharmacy, and social work perspective. One particular experience I recall was a home visit assignment with my VPIL team. We traveled to a patient’s home and interviewed her about her experiences in and out of the clinic and hospital settings. She was so gracious to welcome us into her home and shared how her patient experience at Vanderbilt benefited from having a care team that incorporated various disciplines of health care. As the team’s student pharmacist, I was able to talk with her about her daily medications, and even identified a potential drug interaction that I discussed with her treatment team. We switched her medication to avoid a potential adverse effect. I appreciated the gratitude she showed for us and the value of patient interactions in the home setting.
Another of my favorite memories as a student pharmacist was a mission trip through Lipscomb Missions to Baja, Mexico, this past March 2022. I was one of two student pharmacists on the trip, and we were able to make recommendations regarding the care of patients alongside experienced physicians and nurse practitioners. Through this trip, I learned to be appreciative of the access to medications that we have here in the United States. Even simple OTC medications like ibuprofen and acetaminophen are not affordable in the rural communities of Mexico that we visited.
A funny story from the trip was when we noticed that patients kept returning to the clinic the day after their appointments asking for “the magic green cream.” All of the providers were confused on what they meant—it turns out that they love to use diclofenac gel on their achy joints, and it’s very effective for many of the patients who work in the fields. In Mexico, diclofenac comes in a green tube, hence the “magic green cream.” Though this experience was comical, these patients were genuinely grateful for a simple OTC product that helped relieve pain after a long day of working in the crop fields. We were able to provide diclofenac to them for free, allowing them to use their earnings to provide for their families and thus relieving both physical and financial stress.
2. Pharmacy school is demanding, especially when you add on additional activities. How do you manage all of your responsibilities?
I make lists! I have a daily list of things I need to get done, and a to-do list for things that I need to be actively working on in order to meet a deadline. I try to plan out my day every morning so that I ensure I am allowing adequate time for each task or responsibility.
I also have found that I have to make time to recharge. This might be a 15-minute break from school and work responsibilities to relax or taking an hour to go for a run, or it could be spending several hours outdoors or doing something I enjoy. You can’t pour from an empty cup, so I prioritize my health and well-being so that I can manage all my responsibilities more effectively.
3. What are some of your favorite leadership tools and/or resources?
I have phenomenal mentors who lead by example. By interacting with them, I am able to learn leadership skills and share my ideas with them for feedback. Two examples of mentors I look up to include my APhA–ASP Chapter Advisors, Sarah Uroza, PharmD, and Justin Kirby, PharmD. They are dedicated professors, providers, and colleagues giving 110% to everything they do.
4. What does being a leader mean, and what does being selected for this award mean, to you?
I took a class in my undergraduate studies called Servant Leadership. I believe that a good leader is humble and willing to complete even the most menial tasks. I try to reflect on the way that I interact with others to make sure I am maintaining humility and leading through service to those around me in whatever way possible. I have learned from some of the best leaders I know.
I am honored to receive this award, and am very thankful for my mentors, who saw potential in me and encouraged me to step into a leadership role that pushed me out of my comfort zone. I have learned so much in my role as APhA–ASP chapter president, and I am so proud of the success of our chapter this year.
5. What’s next for you?
I just began my APPE rotations in June. I look forward to a year of growing my knowledge and experiences as a final-year student pharmacist!
I plan to pursue a PGY-1 residency following graduation. My current clinical interests are cardiology and solid organ transplant. A research interest of mine is how social determinants of health affect health care in the United States. I have enjoyed studying social determinants of health through the VPIL program, as well as with my research in interprofessional education. I hope to continue incorporating this knowledge into my APPE rotations and postgraduate employment so that I can better serve my patients.