Preparing for the next step

Posted by Unknown at Wednesday, January 16, 2019

2019. This is the year I graduate from Pharmacy school. After 8 years at the University of Michigan I will finally be done! 

I've been doing a lot of reflecting recently as I am on the precipice of many major changes: the end of school, transitioning into the role of a practitioner, and possibly moving (with everything that entails). I think it is extremely important to take a step back and reflect on where you've been and where you hope to go at times like this. 

I am amazed at all I've learned and how much I've grown in the last 8 years. These years have provided me countless joys and moments of growth and I am so excited to see where the next 8 years bring me. 

I am so thankful for all the experiences and opportunities I've been blessed with because of my education, family, friends, and connections. I have been able to travel, learn from people different than me, discover what I'm passionate about and begin to make a plan for the rest of my life. 

Last rotation was my "Off rotation". At UofM we can choose to take one rotation off. I chose the last one so I could focus on residency applications, work at the hospital and have flexibility to be with family over the holidays. I had many great conversations reflecting on the past and dreaming about the future. I am so thankful I had this time to prepare for the next steps in my life. 

In just a few months things will be very different, and I am going into that change thankful and ready to take on the challenge. 

What day is it?

Posted by Matthew Lewis at Wednesday, August 31, 2011

It is hard to believe it's Wednesday already and the first half of the first week of the second rotation is done. As I suspected, I am very familiar with lung transplant issues due to my PharmD project, which is finding out if an anti T-cell drug (antithymoglobulin) has a good risk vs. benefit ratio. I am loving this rotation! It feels great to actually know something about the medications and the patient population, instead of neonatal patients and issues.

However, this rotation started off with lots of work and patients. The expected learning curve is shorter, since we are now all rotation pros, having been on the scene for the lengthy time of four weeks at a previous site. I have already gotten assigned an in-service presentation, did a medication class overview, with another one on the way, got assigned a larger topic on infection protocols, and had four patients. Okay, you might not think four is a lot, but when you consider most of these patients are going home on 20+ medications,multilayered comorbidities, and need extreme education, it becomes a lot. In fact, transplant pharmacists educate everybody because anti-rejection medications like Prograf and Cellcept have severe side effects like nephrotoxicity and debilitating diarrhea which must be managed with appropriate dosing and therapeutic choices. I'm happy here though despite the work load. This is going to be great, but it's going to fly by.