WSU pharmacy students aim to help others

Pharmacists acknowledged during national day 

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COURTESY OF PUNEET KAUR

Pharmacy student Puneet Kaur said a family friend first introduced her to the idea of going to pharmacy school.

JOSIAH PIKE, Evergreen news co-editor

As people nationwide recognize National Pharmacist Day today, WSU pharmacy students are right back in the swing of things with the new semester.

Pharmacy student Shayne Fontes said, ultimately, the job of a pharmacist is to help patients through their various treatments.

“In contrast to like a physician, pharmacists are able to further manage those medications and find out what’s working and what’s not,” he said. “After a disease state is already diagnosed, we can take it from there.”

Similarly, pharmacy student Dana Rabourne said pharmacists are able to provide support, both to patients and other health care workers.

Rabourne began pursuing a pharmacy degree after working as a veterinary technician for 20 years. She said some of her career goals include helping women through pregnancy, as well as underage women recover from addiction.

Pharmacy student Puneet Kaur said a family friend first introduced her to the idea of going to pharmacy school.

“I’m from Punjab, India, and I came to the states just five years before,” Kaur said. “It was my father’s physician who was my introduction to pharmacy. He told me a lot of good things about it.”

After graduation, Kaur said she has a job lined up working as a retail pharmacist.

“Being a pharmacist you have so many options,” Kaur said. “I feel that with experience, you can do wonderful things in the future.”

Fontes said he was inspired to enter the pharmaceutical industry as a child after seeing his mother work as a sonographer.

“Seeing that really made me want to be involved in health care,” Fontes said. “I really was intrigued by the pharmaceutical angle.”

Pharmacy student Aisha Zeb is originally from California. She said she chose to become a pharmacist because of her interest in the health care industry.

Zeb said in addition to medical experience, students should also try to get leadership experience.

“It’ll help you feel more comfortable as well,” Zeb said. “Experience doesn’t have to be pharmacy-related.”

Rabourne said the best advice she can give students is to shadow those already working in the field.

“Make sure this is what you want to do,” Rabourne said. “On top of that, don’t be afraid of leadership. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Don’t be afraid to fail. It’s never too late to start.”