2016 Future Pharmacist of the Year Finalists

2016 Future Pharmacist of the Year Finalists

Christina Andros, who will graduate in June 2017, wants to positively impact patient care through medication delivery techniques, safety procedures, and optimized pharmacy workflow. “Pharmacists, as some of the most accessible health care professionals, are able to make significant impacts on people’s health through education.”

GREATEST ACHIEVEMENTS

I initiated Tar Wars, a tobacco-free education program for fourth- and fifthgrade students, through my Student Societies of Health-System Pharmacy chapter.

SOURCE OF INSPIRATION

It’s the patients who are transitioned through the overburdened health care system and fall victim to errors. These mistakes inspire me to be a leader who can ensure optimal safety and care.

PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY

Never turn down an opportunity to learn something new. The more knowledge you gain through diverse situations, the more well-rounded you become.

VISION FOR PHARMACY

It’s for pharmacists to be regarded as indispensable members of the health care team, working to improve patient health, safety, and education.

Union University Jackson, Tennessee

Kelsey Turcotte’s parents, who work as a chemist and a nurse, swapped stories from the lab and hospital at the dinner table. These conversations led Turcotte to develop a passion for science, as well as an appreciation for acts of kindness. Pharmacy was a perfect hybrid of her interests: science and compassion for others.

GREATEST ACHIEVEMENTS

My most valuable achievement was becoming president of the American Pharmacists Association—Academy of Student Pharmacists chapter of my school, because this led to great opportunities and experiences.

SOURCE OF INSPIRATION

My family is my biggest source of inspiration. They have always supported my ideas and encouraged me every step of the way.

PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY

You can only succeed as much as you think you can.

VISION FOR PHARMACY

I don’t think we will realize the full potential pharmacy can have until we gain provider status. Pharmacists have a vast amount of knowledge and the potential to help patients in more ways than they are currently used.

Thomas Jefferson University Hospital Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Salematou Traore, a postgraduate year 1 resident, seeks to educate the public and other health care professionals on the importance of pharmacists to patient health. Although Traore was given a diagnosis of end-stage renal failure when she was 15 years of age, she has refused to be defined by the condition and has succeeded despite it.

GREATEST ACHIEVEMENTS

My greatest achievement so far is leading my American Pharmacists Association—Academy of Student Pharmacists chapter to its first regional award for our Operation Heart initiatives. This accomplishment serves as a prime example of the magic that can happen when we work together.

SOURCE OF INSPIRATION

My desire to make a difference in the life of another is my biggest source of inspiration.

PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY

We must never give up on our dreams. No matter what life throws our way, we must know that we deserve to live happy and full lives.

VISION FOR PHARMACY

My vision is to see pharmacists as an integral part of every multidisciplinary team and working in their communities to fill gaps in care.

Melissa Nelson, now an executive fellow for the Pharmacy Quality Alliance (PQA), chose the pharmacy profession because of the versatility it provided in finding ways to improve health care quality. Nelson, who previously worked in the restaurant business, said there are a lot of similarities between pharmacy and the service industry. Both emphasize quality, employee development and retention, inventory management, and sales.

GREATEST ACHIEVEMENTS

I worked with several other colleagues to modify and evaluate the Educating Pharmacists in Quality program, which is a resource offered on the PQA website to train practicing pharmacists and pharmacy students on measuring, improving, and reporting quality of care.

SOURCE OF INSPIRATION

Mentorship, in its many different forms, truly motivates me. I find it to be a forum for both teaching and learning that can be used for improving quality.

PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY

The attitudes and beliefs that keep me going every day are passion, partnership, integrity, continuous quality improvement, fun, and altruism.

VISION FOR PHARMACY

My vision for the pharmacy profession includes recognition as fully integrated and identified members of the health care team working collaboratively and interprofessionally.