A Day in the Life of a Pharmacy Graduate
For my last pharmacy rotation, I spent 5 weeks working with the Medical Information and Content Development (MICD) team at Incyte Corporation. This was a wonderful experience! Because I had previously completed two internships and one rotation within the pharmaceutical industry, I came into this block ready to hit the ground running. Below are the top 4 lessons I took […]
Patient Case Drug Information Question The physician wants to switch BT from gabapentin (Neurontin®) to pregabalin (Lyrica®). She asks the pharmacy team: “What would be an appropriate starting dose of pregabalin for this patient?” Scenario The patient case/scenario above is based on a true experience I had during my acute care rotation at Crozer Health’s Burn Treatment Center (BTC). During […]
Background Diabetes is a complicated but common endocrine disorder with high global prevalence. 415 million individuals worldwide were estimated to have diabetes in 2015. Type 2 diabetes (T2D) accounts for most of the cases.1 Patients may seek to manage their diabetes with both prescribed medications as well as alternative therapies. There are several over the counter (OTC) products that are […]
BACKGROUND Patients who suffer from gout may wish to try supplements in hopes of preventing flare ups. In the acute phase of gout, deposition of uric acid crystals in joints and articular tissues leads to inflammation and extreme pain. After many years of gout attacks, nodules called tophi can form over joints leading to limited activity and gouty arthritis.1 The […]
Background As of 2020, ubiquinone, or coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), was the 3rd most common nutritional supplement used behind fish oil and multivitamins. CoQ10 is a benzoquinone compound that is fat-soluble and is synthesized in the body from tyrosine. In its reduced form, called ubiquinol, this compound is the only lipophilic antioxidant that can be generated by cells. CoQ10 is mostly […]
Introduction Raising a young daughter was more difficult for the Rodriguez family than for most. Instead of arranging playdates and dance lessons, Grace’s parents had to count how many seizures their daughter had in a single day. Nearly 2 years of hospital stays, doctor appointments, and failed medications were taking their toll on the family [1]. Tired of not getting […]
During my time at Novartis and Merck, I’ve had the pleasure of networking with many industry professionals. I talked to over 10 current fellows about fellowship applications/Midyear, and this is what they had to say: Preparing Your Application Advice on Updating Your CV Preparing for Your Interviews Prepare Your “Tell me about yourself” (~ 1min) Tips on Getting Through Midyear […]
Did you know that cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death, both in the US and in the world? In this post, the following definitions will be used: CVD: Coronary heart disease (CHD), heart failure (HF), stroke, and hypertension ASCVD: Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease. Comprised of CHD, ischemic stroke, and peripheral arterial disease LDL-C: Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol MI: Myocardial […]
When walking into the Art of Medicine in Philadelphia, I was greeted by a busy team and intricate work spaces. I had never seen a pharmacy quite like this one. All I knew about compounding is that it involves the production of medications from base products, but soon I would be exposed to much more. My academic goals for this […]
There are few topics that can prompt controversial discussion as much as the legalization of marijuana. Nevertheless, the use of cannabis for medical purposes continues to advance. As of 2021, there are 36 states in the United States that have approved comprehensive, publicly available medical cannabis programs. For instance, in 2016 the governor of Pennsylvania signed Senate Bill 3, authorizing individuals with certain […]
I was first introduced to infectious diseases (ID) during my hospital pharmacy rotation this past March. As my preceptor and the ID team completed rounds for difficult-to-treat patients, I was pretty lost most of the time, to say the least! Now that I am in the midst of this new class, I am able to connect my rotation experiences to […]
In order to understand chronic kidney disease (CKD), we first need to think about how the kidneys maintain homeostasis. Some vital functions of the kidneys are listed below: 1. Excretion of excess/harmful substances (e.g. drugs!) 2. Regulation of fluids, electrolytes, and blood pressure 3. Secretion of: Renin (part of the renin angiotensin aldosterone system- RAAS) Erythropoietin (for RBC production in […]
As I work on internship applications for the upcoming summer, I cannot help but reminisce about my first experience in the pharmaceutical industry! Despite all the challenges of 2020, exploring this exciting and dynamic work environment was an encouraging part of my professional training. Here are 6 important lessons I learned last summer at Novartis Pharmaceuticals: 1. Communication and Teamwork: […]
Following the authorization of COVID-19 vaccines for Emergency Use, conflicting information may influence how the general public feels about receiving the vaccine. It’s important that individuals and health care providers understand how the vaccine works, the possible risks/benefits, and important facts before deciding to get immunized. After reviewing the literature, study protocols, FDA briefing documents, and more on the Pfizer-BioNTech […]
For the better part of 2020, many of us have wondered if we were exposed to SARS-CoV-2 (the coronavirus causing COVID-19). As a result, hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies have tried to keep up with the public demand for testing. Back in June, a health care provider sent me information for testing in a nearby NJ urgent care. I arrived to […]
My Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience (IPPE) in ambulatory care is currently being held remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. My preceptor logs in at 8 AM and starts her telehealth appointments around 9AM. Depending on her schedule, she also performs hospital discharge medication reconciliations. Working from home has its advantages, however it also places communication barriers between our team and […]
As the COVID-19 pandemic expands across the country and social distancing must be practiced, it may feel like nearly all aspects of our lives are being affected. This is especially true for students who must now attend remote classes and adapt to online learning. Here are some tips for being a successful student during these rapidly changing times. 1. Create […]