Post-grad Pharmacy student embracing her profession
Asked to describe the most exciting part of her post-graduate education, Ellie Ishida, BS ’24, PharmD ’27, immediately points to experiential learning. At the James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy, you might even call it experiential living.
In her second year as a PharmD candidate, she is already working two internships — one at a hospital and one at a pharmacy. And rather than being watch-your-boss-and-push-paper internships, these carry significant responsibility.
“At the hospital, I interview patients to determine their current medication regimens and confirm they’re represented accurately in our records,” she says. “I compound sterile IV medications, manage medication inventory in the operating rooms, and deliver medications to patient rooms.”
At the pharmacy, she is responsible for speaking to patients about their medications and answering their medication-related questions. She also fills prescriptions, transfers and accepts new prescriptions, and gives vaccinations.
The scholarship has not only helped ease the financial challenges of pursuing a PharmD, but also validated the hard work and dedication that brought me to this point.
Ellie Ishida BS ’24, PharmD ’27
“Experiential learning has been super helpful, as we’ve been able to apply knowledge from the classroom to real life,” Ishida says. “All the different hospitals and health care systems that UC partners with have really great preceptors — people who are there to help us learn and who care about us growing as students and young pharmacists. I love how all these hospitals respect our school. We have high standards going to those places.”
Ishida shares her passion for the college and the field of pharmacy as a Class of 2027 Tribunal Student Representative and as president of UC’s chapter of Kappa Epsilon, a national professional pharmacy fraternity.
In choosing a school, seeing UC was believing
Ishida is from Columbus and initially wanted to attend college out-of-state, but a tour of UC during high school changed her mind. “I just loved the feeling of the campus and how it really felt like the community was so strong,” she says. “That drew me in, as well as the campus itself.”
She enrolled in the University Honors Program as a pre-med major but soon switched to pre-pharmacy after learning about the profession’s wide variety of career pathways. She qualified for the PharmCat Scholars Early Assurance Pathway, which enabled her to begin pharmacy school during her senior year.
Ellie Ishida is a student in UC's James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy. Photo/UC Alumni Association
Ishida earned her undergraduate degree with honors and was awarded a UC Health scholarship that supports her pharmacy education. “The scholarship has not only helped ease the financial challenges of pursuing a PharmD, but also validated the hard work and dedication that brought me to this point,” she says. “The recognition reminds me that I am supported by the UC community, which strengthens my confidence to keep striving for excellence.”
Beyond simply thanking them, what would she tell the donors who had funded her scholarship?
“I would definitely tell them about all the experiences I’ve had because of their support. I’d let them know that this doesn’t go unseen. And then I would encourage others to help other pharmacy students if they’re able to. Because going through pharmacy school involves a lot of stress emotionally and mentally. So just having one small thing off your plate is a huge help.”
Ishida aspires to perform a one or two-year residency following graduation, most likely in clinical or inpatient pharmacy. “In five years I hope to be at a job doing something I’m really passionate about,” she says. “My goal is to become a compassionate and knowledgeable pharmacist who not only provides high-quality care, but also advocates for my patients.”
Featured image at top: Ellie Ishida is a student in UC's James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy. Photo/UC Alumni Association
To support Ellie and other students like her, please visit the James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy giving website.
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