In Their Own Words: Chad

(Note: Chad just finished his first year on the Admissions Committee so I was really curious as to how he would reflect on his experiences. True to form, he was just simply honest. With Chad, there just isn't any pretense -- from his own pharmacy school application to his approach reviewing applicant files -- his authenticity and thoughtfulness are totally apparent. Last year when we were interviewing students to be members of the Admissions Committee, one of the student selectors said of Chad "Oh, he can work with ANYBODY!" The others agreed without hesitation. It's that characteristic that makes Chad a pleasant and invaluable addition to our PharmD program and to our committee.)

Name: Chad

Year: Class of 2014

Hometown: Davis, CA (now San Leandro, CA)

Previous institutions attended: Stanford University, CSU East Bay (post-bac)

Undergraduate Majors: Communication and Sociology

Why did you apply to be a member of the Admissions Committee and what have you enjoyed the most?

A big part of the reason why I applied was to see how the whole system works. I remember when I applied to pharmacy school I was so fascinated by the admissions process, and I wondered how the Committee made such tough decisions. But more than that, I felt like I had a lot to offer in terms of my background as a non-traditional (read: older) student and as a career-changer. One of UCSF’s strengths is its ability to attract diverse and dynamic students, and serving on the Admissions Committee gave me the opportunity to play a role in the process of selecting those students.

What surprised you most about UCSF’s admissions process?

How vehemently the members of the Admissions Committee argue for the files they’ve reviewed. During our committee meetings, we talk about the applicants in a group panel format. If one member of the committee feels very strongly about a particular student, she or he will make those views very clear. A discussion ensues, and it can be very, uh, lively!

In your opinion, what are the most common mistakes applicants make?

Failing to see an easy solution to a potential shortcoming. For example, not retaking a class in which you got a D or an F and thereby showing us that you have mastered the material. Don’t give us reasons to doubt your commitment and drive; instead, give us reasons to want to admit you without reservation!

What stands out to you on an application?

Passion! It is easy to spot it in an application when it’s there, and it is equally obvious when it’s not. If you have the drive and determination to become a pharmacist, let it show in your essays and in the care you put towards assembling your application. Too often applicants will tell us what they think we want to hear, and in doing so will fail to let their own individuality and passion shine through. If you are truly passionate about this path you have chosen, tell us your story and really OWN it!

What are your pet peeve(s) when interviewing an applicant or reviewing a file? (What drives you crazy?)

Using flippant or jocular language to the point of being unprofessional. When you are interviewing for pharmacy school (or any professional program, for that matter), you need to drop those “Yeah, like, totally, and stuff…” phrases from your vocabulary. Nerves are understandable, and we all have those idiosyncrasies that come out when we are nervous. But remember that you are being evaluated on communication skills, and it is important to show us that you understand how to communicate professionally. The same goes for written materials. By all means, use humor to make your essays quirky and unique, but don’t cross that line between funny/quirky and inappropriate/unprofessional. Have someone, who can remain objective, review your application before you submit it (i.e., NOT a family member or significant other).

What characteristics are necessary in order to succeed in UCSF’s PharmD program?

Commitment, focus, and time management skills – in no particular order! All of those characteristics are essential to succeed. This is a very demanding program, and if you drop your focus or are not completely invested in the final outcome, you will struggle. You also need to be able to choose your activities and extracurricular commitments wisely. Over-committing causes a LOT of stress and can negatively impact your academic performance. It’s important to know when to say no!

What tools or resources would you recommend to prospective applicants?

Make FULL use of all the resources that UCSF provides, from Preview Sessions to campus tours to the Supplemental Application presentations. Also, talk to as many UCSF alums or current students as you can to get a sense of the curriculum and the school as a whole. You need to know if UCSF is a good fit for you (and vice versa). On a side note, take everything you read on public forums with a grain of salt. You’ll hear a lot of conspiracy theories etc., so keep an open, yet objective, mind.

What single piece of advice would you give to a prospective applicant?

Get to know everything you can about the school(s) on your list. You will be spending a huge chunk of the next 3-4 years at your school of choice, so be sure it’s the right one for you. Don’t rely on rankings, reputation, NAPLEX pass rate, etc.

Why do you think you were admitted into UCSF’s PharmD program?

I was a fairly unusual applicant, since I decided to change careers in my late 30s (my previous career was in journalism/media). I think my winding road to pharmacy and previous work experience gave me the insight to compose a unique and thoughtful application. I also had a solid academic background (but I was nowhere near a 4.0 GPA). In addition, I wrote my essays from the heart. A big part of the reason why I decided to change careers was my own experience as a patient, so that background made it very easy for me to tell my story and connect it to the broader goal of becoming a pharmacist.

What do you do for fun?

I like to read, travel with my husband John, see movies, and just relax. When I finish pharmacy school, I’m hoping to get my pilot’s license (which I started several years ago but had to put on hold as I went back to school).

(To read all previous "In Their Own Words" profiles, click the "committee profiles" label link below!) 

What's YOUR Story?

Everyone has a story to tell.

We are excited to share with you seven new profiles of current UCSF PharmD students -- adding to the 14 previously posted profiles. We love this project because it gives us a chance to share with you the dynamic path each individual has taken, along with the unique characteristics they possess. It would be super-crazy-cool if we could post profiles of EVERY student -- but that would be impossible.

While every person has a different story to tell, we believe this group of students represents the diversity of experiences and aspirations reflected in our student body. What you don't necessarily get in the profile is the compassion, genuineness, and authenticity of each of these individuals. I've had the chance to work with all of them and am constantly reminded of the gentle nature they go about making a difference in the world. It truly is an honor to have them represent UCSF.

What's YOUR story?

Check out the profiles here!

What a way to end the week!

Earlier today, the UCSF team was announced as the national winner of the 13th Annual Pharmacy and Therapeutics Competition sponsored by the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy Foundation.

Congratulations to the team of Tien, Tiffany, Clint and Judy! We are so honored to have these four as part our community. (Never underestimate the power of critical thinking skills + communication skills + presentation skills. It's a winning combination!)

For more about this dynamic team and their journey to the national competition, visit UCSF's Campus Newspaper, the Synapse.

About the competition:
The AMCP Foundation conducted the 13th Annual National Student Pharmacist P&T Committee Competition (P&T Competition) at the AMCP 25th Annual Meeting & Expo in San Diego, California, April 4-5, 2013.  The competition was designed to challenge students to gain a real world perspective of the formulary management process.

Following a local competition within each Chapter, the winning team from each participating Student Chapter then submitted their presentation materials to the AMCP Foundation National Competition Selection Committee.  This committee selected eight (8) teams to participate in the AMCP Foundation 13th Annual National Student P&T Committee Competition (P&T Competition) in San Diego, California.

The finalist this year included: 

• Ohio Northern University   
• University of California San Francisco   
• University of Florida   
• University of Illinois at Chicago   
• University of Maryland   
• University of Minnesota   
• University of Southern California   
• University of Washington  

Formulary management is uniquely dynamic and requires extensive and timely pharmaceutical knowledge as well as an understanding of the medical community practice standards that exist within the health care system.  A Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee (P&T Committee) is ultimately responsible for developing, managing, updating, and administering the formulary system that is utilized by managed health care systems.

Pharmacists who serve on P&T Committees must know how to evaluate the best available scientific evidence, clinical and economic, weigh its use and its impact on patient population outcomes, be able to conduct cost/benefit analyses, and relate drug therapy choices to practice guidelines.  Development of these necessary formulary management skills will help managed health care systems achieve the challenging goals of improving the quality of patient care while controlling scarce healthcare resources.

The local and national competition is intended to give students an opportunity to hone a variety of skills including critical analysis, presentation and research skills.  More importantly, the competition allows students to view different styles and processes that can be used in effective formulary management and provide exposure to, and a working knowledge of AMCP's Format for Formulary Submissions.

UCSF Appoints New Dean of Nation's Top Pharmacy School

I'm so excited to post this!

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UCSF Appoints New Dean of Nation's Top Pharmacy School

Longtime Clinical Scientist Joseph Guglielmo Tapped to Take Helm

UC San Francisco has named a highly accomplished pharmacist and clinical scientist, B. Joseph Guglielmo, PharmD, to lead the nation’s premier School of Pharmacy, continuing the school’s focus on shaping the course of the therapeutic sciences, pharmacy education, patient care, and health policy.

UCSF Chancellor Susan Desmond-Hellmann, MD, MPH, announced the appointment today, noting the numerous contributions that Guglielmo already has made to UCSF, as well as his breadth of leadership across the academic pharmacy landscape.

“In its decades as the pre-eminent School of Pharmacy in the nation, the school has never been stronger, and there is no better dean to guide it into the future,” Desmond-Hellmann said. “Joe is both an able leader and an international expert in his field, and will provide a clear course for the school as it helps guide the changing world of health care.” 

We see a time when new, precise therapeutics – drugs, medical devices, and diagnostic tests – are used safely and effectively to improve the health of people everywhere.

Dean B. Joseph Guglielmo, PharmD

Developing Therapeutics to Improve Health

As the nation’s leading pharmacy school in terms of both research funding from the National Institutes of Health and the ranking of its Doctor of Pharmacy degree program in U.S. News & World Report, the UCSF School of Pharmacy serves as a bellwether for pharmacy schools worldwide.

“It is a tremendous honor to be named the next steward of this accomplished school,” said Guglielmo. “The caliber of people and the culture of respect and inclusion here are second to none: the faculty is brilliant and collegial; the students are leaders by instinct and experience; and the staff is extremely talented. Excellence is their common ground.”

Guglielmo has served as the school’s interim dean since July 2012. He previously led the school’s Department of Clinical Pharmacy as the Thomas A. Oliver Chair in Clinical Pharmacy.

“We see a time when new, precise therapeutics – drugs, medical devices, and diagnostic tests – are used safely and effectively to improve the health of people everywhere,” he said. “This view will drive my work as dean.”

The UCSF School of Pharmacy is a leader in pharmaceutical chemistry and in the bioengineering and therapeutic sciences, including such fields as pharmacogenomics, the science of how our genes affect our response to medication. In the 1960s, it was the birthplace of clinical pharmacy, in which pharmacists began to work in the hospital directly with physicians, patients, and their families to ensure the best medication choices and the safe and effective use of those medications in patients. The school is now exploring new ways to better apply the medication expertise of the pharmacist outside the hospital.

The School of Pharmacy’s specific focus on therapeutics to improve health complements UCSFs singular focus on health. The University also includes leading graduate schools of Dentistry, Medicine and Nursing, as well as graduate and doctoral programs in biomedical research, a vast research enterprise and a top medical center.

B. Joseph Guglielmo, who was named interim 

dean in 2012, joined the UCSF faculty in 1979.  

Well-Respected Member of UCSF Faculty

Guglielmo is a well-respected educator, clinical pharmacist and expert in the evidence-based, safe and effective use of antimicrobials to treat infections. He is a professor of clinical pharmacy in the UCSF School of Pharmacy, where he joined the faculty in 1979. He also currently serves as associate director of pharmaceutical services in the UCSF Medical Center, where he maintains a clinical practice as an infectious-disease pharmacist.

Widely known as an advocate for therapeutics research, Guglielmo oversaw, as department chair, a 40 percent increase in the Department of Clinical Pharmacy’s overall faculty research funding from 2006 to 2012, including grants from the National Institutes of Health.

Guglielmo’s international contributions to antibiotic safety include the UCSF Medical Center Antimicrobial Stewardship Program, which he developed in the 1980s to study and improve the practices governing the use of antimicrobials in hospitals. The goal of the ongoing program is to decrease the threat of microbes developing resistance to medications. This stewardship program was one of the earliest programs of its kind in the United States.

In 2007, Guglielmo created the UCSF Medication Outcome Center to improve medication use and management in the UCSF Medical Center and beyond.  He also developed clinical pharmacy services for UCSF's HIV/AIDS program, specifically supporting the HIV Women's Program and the Men of Color Program.
A firm believer in forging relationships among clinical scientists and their colleagues in basic and translational science, Guglielmo was actively involved in the UCSF Clinical and Translational Science Institute at its inception and during its renewal.

He has taught Doctor of Pharmacy and Doctor of Medicine students, residents and fellows for decades and is the recipient of many teaching awards, including the UCSF Lifetime Achievement in Mentoring Award, Resident Preceptor of the Year Awards, UCSF School of Pharmacy Long Teaching Award, and the Academic Senate Distinction in Teaching Award. He is the author of more than 110 peer-reviewed papers, the majority related to anti-infective agents.

Guglielmo will receive a base salary of $271,000, with a Health Sciences Compensation Plan component of $94,000 per year, for a total salary of $365,000.  He also is eligible for standard pension and health and welfare benefits for senior leadership. The appointment, which was approved by UC President Mark Yudof, will take effect April 1.

The UCSF School of Pharmacy is internationally known as a wellspring for research discovery and innovation in the therapeutic sciences, a leader in doctoral-level pharmacy professional education and science education, and a leader in the evidence-based pharmaceutical care of patients.

By Kristen Bole on March 21, 2013

Photos by © majedphoto.com

 

Laptops, snacks, & applicant files... (oh my!)

Meant to post this a few days ago....

Nothing says "Let's get down to business!" like bowls full of snacks, laptops full of applicant files, and a whole LOT of information!

It feels good to be right on track... and so close to the end. 

In Their Own Words: Ryan

(Note: It's been awhile since I've posted an Admissions Committee Student Profile... but we have a new crew on-board and I hope to introduce them through the spring and summer. First up is Ryan. I remember Ryan as an applicant and he certainly has lived up to the person we saw on paper and met during the interview -- authentic and genuine. If you've been to any of our Preview Sessions, you've likely met him. He's quick to volunteer for our outreach events -- which speaks to his passion for helping students prepare to enter a PharmD program. Ryan approaches his work on the Admissions Committee with dedication, attention to detail, and thoughtfulness. It's amazing when a current student cares so much about those just starting out on this journey.)

Name: Ryan

Year: Class of 2014 

Hometown: Boston, Massachusetts

Previous institution attended: University of Wisconsin - Madison
Undergraduate major: Biochemistry

Why did you apply to be a member of the Admissions Committee and what have you enjoyed the most?

I saw the admissions committee as a unique opportunity to collaborate with some of the faculty in a process that gives back to the school. I felt confident in my ability to review an applicant's materials and determine whether or not they were the right fit for our program here at UCSF. Understanding that it would be a significant time commitment, I knew I would enjoy participating in an activity that I am passionate about. I am interested in a career in academia and I thought that participating in this process would allow me to be more familiar with how the school operates an admission process. 

What surprised you most about UCSF’s admissions process?

I was surprised at how holistic the approach is. I think the admissions team does an outstanding job of evaluating each individual's entire application from start to finish. There really isn't any priority given to any one part of the application which makes it such that applicants have the opportunity to stand out in a variety of different ways. I think this is a pivotal part of the process as applicants to UCSF come from different backgrounds with unique experiences. 

In your opinion, what are the most common mistakes applicants make?

Lack of prioritizing their extracurricular activities.While we do like to see a breadth of different experiences, the quality of those experiences are far more important to me than the quantity. It makes it very difficult to know what you put your heart into if you have an extensive list of extracurricular activities. I often found that the stronger applicants had a few extracurricular activities, demonstrated sustained commitment to those activities, and often had letters of reference from those activities to vouch for their contributions.

What stands out to you on an application?

For me, I think quality PharmCAS and UCSF Supplemental essays really made some applicants stand out. For starters, it is very easy to determine whether or not an essay was edited simply from reading it over onetime. While a minor grammatical mistake certainly is not a deal-breaker, essays which are well written and lack any mistakes really stand out. I think there is a lot of variety in applicant writing styles as well as the quality of writing, but to have multiple grammatical and/or spelling mistakes, to me, indicates a lack of effort. A big piece of advice is to print each and every one of your essays you will submit, and give them to someone else to read. It is very difficult to catch all of your own mistakes, particularly if you are editing on a computer screen. 

What are your pet peeve(s) when interviewing an applicant or reviewing a file? (What drives you crazy?)

When an applicant does not actually answer the prompt for the supplemental application. I would have thought this was obvious, but I had a variety of applications where the individual simply did not answer the prompt. This can be very frustrating, particularly if the essay is well-written. While the prompts do provide some flexibility in your possible responses, please make sure to take one last look at your essay and ask yourself "Did I answer the question they asked me?" 

What characteristics are necessary in order to succeed in UCSF’s PharmD program?

I think the most important characteristic you can have is to be driven. Don't lose sight of the fact that getting into school is really the easy part. Once you become a student, it really is important that you are motivated to learn the material. Becoming a great pharmacist requires a lot of self-learning. Your professors will have high expectations of you and the best students are the ones who use that as a challenge to become great.

What tools or resources would you recommend to prospective applicants?

One thing I wish I had done to better prepare myself was talking to pharmacy students. Applicants often have previous interactions with pharmacists about what the career entails, but you can actually learn a lot from current students who are well versed in what it takes to get into/succeed in a PharmD program. I suggest attending one of the Pharmacy Information Days and getting in touch with a current PharmD student.

What single piece of advice would you give to a prospective applicant?

Do something to make yourself stand out.  At UCSF, we are looking for individuals who have the capacity to be leaders in the future. The best way to determine this is to look at what an individual did when they weren't in the classroom. If it is early on in the process and you don't have anything on your application that makes you unique, I encourage you to get involved in a program that will allow you to demonstrate your leadership. It doesn't necessarily have to be pharmacy-related, but you should have something on your application that makes us pull it out of the pile and say "This is someone I want to be a part of our school."

Why do you think you were admitted into UCSF’s PharmD program?

I am confident that I was admitted to UCSF because of my extracurricular involvement. Starting in the spring of my sophomore year, I obtained a job as a pharmacy technician at the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics. This gave me exposure to an important aspect of the field of pharmacy which enhanced my ability to talk about the field during my prepared materials, my on-site essay, as well as in my interview. In addition to that experience, I also worked as a research assistant in a pharmacology laboratory. While I wasn't a stellar researcher, it gave me exposure to a field which is tied to pharmacy. Lastly, I volunteered at a hospice facility. This was a very unique experience that exposed me to a field of healthcare that is often overlooked. I think the admissions committee was attracted to the depth of my experiences which were all related to health care but certainly different from one another. 

What do you do for fun?

I am the definition of a "sports nut" as I really enjoy both watching and playing basketball, baseball, hockey, and football. We have an intramural basketball team, named the Badgers, that has won the student championship 3 out of 8 quarters we have been here.  Additionally, I am also quite the cinephile. I am currently working on a list of the "Top 100 Must-See Movies of All Time" to be released in the spring of 2014. Since moving to San Francisco, I have picked up additional hobbies such as running, biking, and brewing beer. One thing that is challenging about living in San Francisco is that there really is so much to do and it is difficult to take advantage of (being a student.) 

(To read all previous "In Their Own Words" profiles, click the "committee profiles" label link below!)

It must be that time of the quarter again...

Every time I see this in our office....

...I know it must be finals week! Just a small way we tell our students "Hang in there! You've got this!" 

(It's not all healthy -- but hey, when they work this hard, a little junk-food and sugar is well-earned!)