Kathryn Sawicki ’16
[UNE appealed to me because of the] pre-pharmacy program that would prepare me to apply to their graduate pharmacy program in just 2 years. [Also] because it’s located in the beautiful state Maine. Not only is it a beautiful campus, but the sense of community when I visited the campus drew me in.
During my time at UNE I was able to learn how to balance all aspects of being a student. Studying, attending classes, involving myself in pharmacy organizations, and taking care of my mental and physical health. As a pharmacist now, I have to make time for patients, students, continuing education, and promotion of our profession by involving myself in various pharmacy organizations. UNE prepared me well, and because of this, I was able to build a pharmacy career I enjoy.
Being a pharmacist provides an array of career options. Pharmacists can work in hospitals, ambulatory care settings, compounding, long-term care, the pharmaceutical industry, the government, or academia. A degree in pharmacy allows some pharmacists to become clinical specialists in areas like ambulatory care, cardiology, infectious disease, critical care, or pediatrics. Being a pharmacist is a job that provides lifelong learning, in a field that is constantly evolving to improve people’s health.
I have so many wonderful memories from UNE and pharmacy school. If I had to pick just one it would be the amazing [advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE)] I did in Granada, Spain. A group of us had the opportunity to spend 6 weeks living with host families in Spain. During that time, we attended classes at the ¸ßÇå²»¿¨¸£Àû of Granada and learned what pharmacy school looks like internationally. We also spent time in retail pharmacies, hospitals, and research labs while exploring the history of Granada.