Get to know your 2023–2024 APhA–ASP national executive committee: Grant Smith, national member-at-large

Grant Smith is a final-year PharmD candidate and second-year MBA candidate at Samford University.

Hello everyone! It was such an honor to be elected to serve as a national member-at-large during the APhA Annual Meeting & Exposition in March 2023. I cannot wait to serve and connect with you all this coming year.

My APhA–ASP journey started when I decided to join the International Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation (IPSF) Committee as a part of my APhA–ASP Chapter at Samford University. As a first-year student pharmacist, I was able to see the incredible opportunity the academy provides student pharmacists and fell in love with the international networking and projects that the committee offered. The following year, I went on to chair the IPSF Committee. As the committee chair, I was able to continue advancing international pharmacy interests as well as provide students in my chapter with opportunities to learn from and network with health care professionals from around the world.

As a third-year student pharmacist, I was appointed to serve as the national project coordinator on the APhA–ASP International Standing Committee. In this position, I traveled to Egypt and Chile to further promote international pharmacy and represent APhA–ASP at IPSF assemblies and events. Throughout my time in this role, I was able to see APhA–ASP’s impact on a regional, national, and international level, and I wanted to continue to serve student pharmacists across the country. This experience further instilled in me a desire to serve student pharmacists at a national level and gave rise to my campaign to become APhA–ASP national member-at-large.

Apart from my involvement in pharmacy, I’m currently studying for my master’s degree in business administration. This has been a fun and rewarding experience, as it gives me an occasional break from the clinical jargon.

In my downtime, I enjoy catching up on missed TV series on Netflix, and recently, the new Star Wars series on Disney+. I also enjoy working with my hands through rebuilding/building furniture or other do-it-yourself projects, working out, and playing piano on occasion.

This coming year, I look forward to meeting many of you at regional and national events and reconnecting with members across the country. I also cannot wait to see the amazing events, projects, and accomplishments that each one of you will achieve in the coming years.

Five questions for Grant

1. What show are you currently binging?

I am currently binging Shadow and Bone on Netflix. It’s so good!

2. What is your most used phone app?

It would most likely be Spotify. I listen to music while I work, drive to school, do the chores, etc. I listen to all types of music, and I especially like to listen to new music from countries from around the world.

3. If you could live in any state, which would you pick and why?

I would probably have to choose Wyoming or Colorado because I love to ski.

4. What actor or actress would you want to play you in the movie about your life and why?

Not going to lie, I am pretty bad at remembering the names of actors and actresses, but I would probably choose Chris Evans because I normally vibe with the characters that he plays.

5. You can only eat one food again for the rest of your life. What is it?

I love hibachi. My go-to order is a hibachi chicken (no onion). I would eat it every day if it was healthier and cheaper!