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Interview with Mindy Lam – Pharmacist at the VA

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Over winter break, I had the opportunity to interview my fellow Kappa Psi brother, Mindy Lam!  Mindy is an OSU College of Pharmacy Class of 2015 graduate, and she is currently a pharmacy resident at the Columbus VA.

Mindy Lam, PharmD

Mindy Lam, PharmD

Tell us a little about yourself!

Hi! My name is Mindy Lam. I am originally from sunny Irvine, California. I did my undergrad at University of California – Irvine and moved to Columbus, Ohio, where I completed my PharmD at OSU. I’m currently doing a PGY-1 residency at the Chalmers P Wylie VA Ambulatory Care Center in Columbus, Ohio. After completing my residency, I hope to work as an ambulatory care pharmacist.

What organizations were you involved with during your time at OSU?

I was involved in Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity and SNPhA.

Dr. Mindy Lam (top right) with her Kappa Psi lineage

Dr. Mindy Lam (top right) with her Kappa Psi lineage

What exactly is the VA?

The Veterans Affairs is a government department that is dedicated to providing medical care and services to the veterans.

Can you describe the residency program and current job responsibilities?

The PGY-1 pharmacy residency program at Chalmers P Wylie VA is focused in ambulatory care, as the facility only offers outpatient services. We manage chronic disease states in pharmacist-run clinics, such as diabetes, anticoagulation, and hepatitis C. At the VA, pharmacists are able to initiate medications, adjust doses, and order lab work, giving us the autonomy and ability to make immediate and beneficial interventions to improve patient care. We also coordinate with the medical team when additional care is needed.

What was the application process that you went through to apply like?

As with most residency programs, the application process is handled through PhORCAS, which requires a letter of intent, letters of recommendation, pharmacy transcript, and CV to be submitted. Additional requirements are specific to the residency site, such as an on-site presentation, working through a patient case, or conducting a mock patient interview.

What are the most rewarding things about working at the VA?

The most rewarding thing is being able to use my clinical knowledge to help improve the healthcare veterans are receiving, especially after everything they have done for our nation. I follow patients longitudinally throughout my residency, which allows me to build good relationships with veterans and tailor their therapy according to their needs.

What are the most challenging?

The most challenging aspect of the residency is managing many different responsibilities in a work day, especially when unexpected things pop up.

How do you think OSU prepared you for the challenges you’re currently facing?

OSU definitely taught me how to manage my time and prioritize what needed to be done. From studying, completing projects, working a job or two, on top of attending class, doing IPPE rotations, it was a constant juggle between getting things done and making sure I had time for myself.

Any last thoughts or advice?

As I’m sure you have heard before, get involved in an organization that you feel passionate about, don’t be afraid to take on new roles and responsibilities – this is your time to do it! Be flexible, as there are many ways to get to your intended goal. And lastly, have fun and explore the different opportunities.

Thanks for sharing about your experiences, Mindy!

Questions for Mindy or myself?  Email zhang.1177@osu.edu.

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APhA-ASP Patient Counseling Competition

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Tomorrow begins another semester at The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy. For me, the semester begins with the APhA-ASP (American Pharmacists Association – Academy of Student Pharmacists) Patient Counseling Competition. I’ve seriously been looking forward to this for months now, and I can’t believe that it’s here already!

The Patient Counseling Competition is actually a national competition for student pharmacists across the country. This week begins the first round of our local competition here at the college. My co-chairs and I have been planning this for months, and we’re so excited that it’s finally coming together!

Image from 2016 booklet

Image from 2016 booklet
APhA-ASP National Patient Counseling Competition

Here’s how it works:
Last month, student pharmacists who signed up for the competition got a list of ten medications. When they come in to compete, they’ll be given a case for a patient who is picking up one of those ten medications from the pharmacy. The student gets a few minutes to look this over, and then they’ll counsel a “patient” (a volunteer from the faculty and staff at the college) about their new medication.

The top ten participants will move on to the final round at the end of this month where they will get another case with a different medication. We’ll determine a champion from our college who will then go to the national conference in March to compete against the champions from other pharmacy schools. When I went to the national conference my first year of pharmacy school, our Ohio State winner got second runner-up, which was so exciting for our chapter. The year before, our winner actually won the national competition!

Prescribed by

Prescribed by “Dr. Scarlett N. Gray” for our Ohio State competition

It’s a super cool experience—for any year of pharmacy school. For our first-year student pharmacists, it’s a chance to practice patient counseling in a low-risk setting and an opportunity to expose themselves to this aspect of patient care that they will continue to develop throughout pharmacy school. For second-, third-, and fourth-years, it’s an opportunity to really hone and perfect their counseling skills. There are also prizes for the finalists from our Ohio State Chapter as well as cash prizes at the national level.

This is a fun way to get involved at the College of Pharmacy and with APhA-ASP, and really it’s just one of the many things going on at the college this semester. I hope that this year’s participants will have as much fun competing as I have had in creating our OSU competition this year!

Take care!

Thanksgiving

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Hey Out-of-State Students!

For those of you trying to gain residency for tuition purposes, going home for Thanksgiving break may not be a possibility. I did not go home over Thanksgiving break because I couldn’t rationalize spending so little time in my hometown. There are options!

  1. Invite a friend/significant other to come into town.
  2. Get pharmacy friends together and have a potluck.
  3. FaceTime/Skype/Google Hangout/video chat with family and friends.
  4. Cry. Just kidding. This is a terrible option.
  5. Spend it with a friend and their family.

I sort of did a combination of options 2 & 3. I was able to spend some time with my family (electronically) on a day that, for me, is very family oriented, but still be surrounded by good people, good laughs, and good food. My corn bread was a favorite. You can never go wrong with Jiffy!

Enjoy this break! You deserve it. And recharge those batteries in preparation for finals!

Contact us if you have any questions. 🙂

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Finding Fit

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Hey everyone!

One thing that I feel is very important in deciding which school you go to is determining which place you feel is a good fit. Now everyone may have different ideas of what “fit” means to them. Here is what fit means to me:

  1. A place that feels like it could be home. Because let’s face it, pharmacy school isn’t going to be rainbows and butterflies. Having a place that provides comfort and support really helps with the (frequent) times of stress.
  2. A university that is more than just a pharmacy school.  I wanted a university that had more to offer than just professional school. Having football, other professional schools, a huge medical center, and so much more was so important to me. OSU has so many organizations outside of pharmacy! All you have to do is explore. 🙂
  3. Students and faculty that are warm and inviting, yet experts in their fields (for faculty! Students will get there one day!). Knowing that students and faculty reach out to new students and are willing to interact and help students in any way was really important to me. I wanted to know that the students and faculty here are people I could really mesh with. Gauging this at your interview day is important. I loved the casual, laid-back nature of my interview here, but professionalism was everywhere and within everyone.
  4. Location. Fit to me was being in a location that offered the same things my hometown did. I am from a large city, and so I wanted to have access to all the conveniences that cities have to offer. I knew a good place for me wouldn’t be in a small town. Plus a city like Columbus has so much to offer! There are constantly festivals, food, and so much more. Check out some of our other blog posts about Columbus!

My best advice for deciding which school to attend is this: go with your gut. What school makes a good fit for you and can feel like home to you? For me, I applied to schools and based everything off logic for applications. But my decision to go here was that it truly felt like it could be my home for the next 4 years. Honestly, I was not expecting to fall in love with OSU COP before my interview, but it was the best decision I could have made.

At the end of the day, you need to determine what fit means to you. Stop looking at schools like they are just numbers and look at fit during your interviews. You won’t regret going to a school that feels like a home away from home! And remember that your interviews are just as much as you interviewing the school as the school interviewing you.

Good luck!

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at sakai.22@osu.edu.

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Fall Fun in Columbus

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There are lots of fun things to do in Columbus in the fall!  Here are just of few of the things going on in and around the city:

  • Highball – Oct 23-24, 2015
    • “HighBall is the nation’s fiercest costume party. Staged in the fashion capital of Columbus, this yearly event for the Halloween season bridges runway style with the culture of the Short North Arts District. Be a part of the HighBall street spectacle and model yourself on High Street. At HighBall, you are what you wear.”
  • Circleville Pumpkin Show – Oct 21-24, 2015
    • Circleville is just 30 minutes south of Columbus!  The famous Pumpkin Show offers “Amusement Rides, Games, Two Parades Daily (except Saturday), Exhibits, Arts & Crafts, Food, Food & More Food!”
  • North Market Flea Market Sundays – Last one Oct 25, 2015
    • “North Market and Columbus Flea present Market Flea on Sundays starting June 7th, running through October. Market Flea is located at North Market’s outdoor pavilion and will showcase the best-in-class artisans, vintage sellers, jewelry designers, crafters, artists and furniture makers.”
  • Leeds Farm – Sept 19 – Oct 31, 2015
    • “We feature fall family fun on the farm. Spend the day getting plenty of fresh air and having fun as a family in our many barnyard and outdoor activities for the young and young at heart. Select the perfect pumpkin from the thousands we grow right here on our farm. Marvel over blue pumpkins, fairytale pumpkins, exotic shapes of gourds and more.
    • Don’t miss feeding the goats and visiting the pigs. Listen for donkeys to bray or feed the fish from our pond dock. We’ve got enough farm and fun activities to keep your family moving all day, including our Back 40 barnyard activities, hayrides, farm animals, and farm pond.
    • Educational school tours and private parties are available. Leeds Farm is located in Ostrander, Ohio, between Marysville and Delaware on State Rt. 36.”
  • Pigeon Roost Farm
    • “This year we celebrate our 35th year of Farm Family Fun in Hebron, Ohio!  PumpkinFest is open every day, from September 12 through November 1, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.  Lots of great fun for the whole family, with giant slides, challenging mazes, a new fort, and some of the most fantastic displays of pumpkins you’ll ever see.”
  • Ohio Renaissance Festival – Sept 5 – Oct 25, 2015
    • “Thrill…Feast…Watch…Shop…Explore…Enjoy!  Forget your cares and step back in time to this 30-acre re-created 16th Century English village and enjoy over 400 years of fun in a single day! The festival offers something for everyone featuring nearly 100 shows daily on 11 stages, over 135 unique arts and crafts shops, hearty food and drink, games of skill and human-powered rides to amuse all ages.”
  • Cedar Point Haunt
    • Fridays: 6pm – Midnight
    • Saturdays: 11am – Midnight
    • Sundays: 11am – 8pm
    • Open 11am-10pm on October 11th
  • Columbus International Festival – Nov 7-8, 2015
    • “The 2015 Columbus International Festival will continue a 60 year tradition of bringing together the diverse cultural community in Central Ohio. We are proud to present many new and exciting features such as:
      • Live cultural entertainment and fashion show
      • Ethnic foods and cooking demonstrations
      • Free festival “Passport” and global activities for kids
      • Parade of Nations, Sat & Sun, 3 p.m.
      • Free flu shots, eye, dental and other medical screening free of cost
      • Children’s activities and arts & crafts, free of cost
      • Naturalized Citizenship Oath Ceremony by a federal judge at our CIF stage”

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National Mental Health Awareness Week: Dealing with Stress

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Are you stressed?

A recent American College Health Survey found stress, sleep problems, anxiety, depression, interpersonal concerns, death of a significant other and alcohol use among the top ten health impediments to academic performance.

Being a pharmacy student can be exhausting!  There’s a lot of pressure to be exceptional academically, personally, and professionally.  Taking some time for yourself each week is incredibly important so that you don’t burn out.

What can you do?  Set aside time to relax and recuperate! Create a positive state of mind to foster creativity, stress relief, and connectedness with your support groups.

Try these stress management tips:

  • Recognize the warning signs of stress, such as anxiety, irritability and muscle tension so that you can step back if you have too much on your plate
  • Learn problem-solving skills so that you can anticipate challenges and cope with setbacks
  • Practice relaxation skills, such as yoga, stretching, massage, deep breathing or meditation
  • Engage in regular physical activity or exercise
  • Eat well and limit alcohol and caffeine
  • Get adequate sleep – make it a priority!
  • Get encouragement from supportive friends, family, and mentors
  • Don’t be afraid to take a break and breathe
  • If you ever feel like you need help – please reach out!

If you are experiencing personal problems or situational crises, please contact:

  • The College of Pharmacy Office of Student Services: Room 150 Parks Hall (614-292-5001)
  • OSU Counseling and Consultation Services (614-292-5766) for assistance, support and advocacy (this service is free and confidential)
    • Visit www.ccs.osu.edu for additional information on their services, including group counseling and workshops
    • Open 9a-4p M-F
    • CCS services are free up to 10 sessions per academic year, and those with student insurance are eligible to be seen with a co-pay thereafter

Each student has a student mentor that is specifically trained to help you cope with all the stress that being a pharmacy student might bring.  Also, all the faculty at the College of Pharmacy are caring and understanding.  They really want students to be healthy and happy so that they can perform at their maximum potential.  In the Office of Student Affairs, Joe Orozco (orozco.5@osu.edu) and Kelly Crum (crum.159@osu.edu) are available resources.  We also have an on-site counselor at the Student Affairs office, Shawn Levstek, Psy.D.  Shawn presents programs geared toward improving stress management, improving coping mechanisms, and overall wellness, and is at our college on Tuesdays and Friday, located in 138B Parks Hall. If you are interested in counseling or have any questions for him, contact Dr. Levstek by email anytime at levstek.4@osu.edu.

The Ohio State University College of Medicine has a list of Columbus Community Mental Health Resources on their website.

If you need immediate assistance:

  • Life threatening emergencies
    • Go to nearest ER or call 911
  • Suicidal Ideation
    • Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255
    • 24/7 suicide hotline at 1-800-784-2433
    • Columbus hotline 614-221-5445
    • OSU Emergency Dept. 614-293-8333
  • Netcare Access Crisis Hotline: 24 hour mental health and substance abuse intervention 614-276-2273

Special thanks to Kiersten Pasternak for the mental health resource information.

And as always, I’m here and happy to help.  Email me at zhang.1177@osu.edu!

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Pharmacy Technician Experience

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Hello All!

Let’s talk about pharmacy technician experience and pharmacy school.

Bad news: It does look good on your application.

Good news: It is not necessary.

I know plenty of my peers who did not come to pharmacy school with any tech experience. Some only had volunteering experience at a pharmacy. I think many (if not most) of those that did not come into pharmacy school with experience got an internship to gain that experience. So you should know that it can wait.

Where I am from, it is incredibly hard to get a tech job. I tried applying at all the pharmacies around the area I lived for the first two and a half years of my undergrad. No bites. So here I was, almost the end of my junior year, really stressed about my lack of experience and pharmacy school applications (if only this blog post was around back then). What I did was I asked to volunteer at an independent pharmacy in my neighborhood. I needed a minimum of 50 hours of pharmacy experience for the school I was looking at. The owner/pharmacist was very understanding of my situation, and since she knew I was interested in pharmacy as a career, she allowed me to volunteer!

I would highly suggest doing this if you are freaking out as much as I did. The funny thing is that I didn’t even have to stress about my lack of experience because there are so many more qualities and criteria that The Ohio State University looks at for applicants. So you don’t really have to do this, or feel like you have to.

The best part about this was that the owner/pharmacist loved me and the help that I brought to her pharmacy, that she offered me a job after I was done with my volunteer hours.

Some other ways of gaining experience that the admissions committee looks at are: “participation in a pharmacy related organization, work as a pharmacy technician, volunteer work in a health care setting or a charitable pharmacy, along with other educational or extracurricular opportunities.” This was found on the FAQ page of The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy website. You should check it out if you have not already!

Thanks for reading! I hope this relieved some stress and gave you some ideas on gaining experience that you may have had!

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OSU COP Annual APhA-ASP Career Fair!

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Who: All OSU College of Pharmacy students

What: Meet and network with pharmacy employers in Columbus!  Companies represented include: Companies attending include: CVS, American Red Cross, Mayo Clinic, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Ohio Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists, Ohio Health, Rite Aid, Target, The Centers for Families and Children, Walgreens, and more!

Where: Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center -2201 Fred Taylor Drive Columbus, OH 43210

When: Sept 24, 2015 from 4-7pm (some interviews start at 3pm)

Why: This is a great opportunity to explore what jobs Columbus has to offer pharmacy students.  Many different hospital and community pharmacies are represented at the Career Fair, and several conduct interviews (apply for an interview beforehand).  You can ask questions and learn about different internships and fellowships available to you.  Also, there is free food, free parking, raffles and prizes, and you get Professional Development hours.  🙂

Send your questions to COP-careerfair@osu.edu!

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Interview Day Preparation

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Hi Future Candidates!

I’m here to talk to you about preparing for your interview here at The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy. I hope you are so very excited about your interview! As one of your Student Ambassador Coordinators, I am so excited to meet you on the day of your interview.

So how should you prepare for your interview day?

You should know that the interview is open file. Be prepared for any questions or interests that your interviewers may have! As an example, I was asked to talk about The Lost Boys of Sudan, an organization I volunteered for in Arizona, and how that impacted my life. My interviewers had never heard about The Lost Boys of Sudan and wanted to know more about it, just as they will want to know more about your own personal interests and involvement. Don’t expect questions solely about pharmacy!

Your interview will take place with two people. One interviewer is typically one of our fantastic faculty or staff, and the other interviewer is a pharmacist well-known to the college or one of our top students. Both people will be amazing and will have incredible knowledge to share with you. So if you have any questions for them, don’t be afraid to take advantage of them!

Speaking of questions…. You can also ask any of the ambassadors questions that day as well. Feel free to ask us any question – big or small – that pops into your mind as you research our college and campus.  Whether it be about student life, housing, classes, internships, expectations of the college, etc. we are here to answer every question.

An ambassador should contact you closer to your interview, so you can also ask any questions via email. When I came to Columbus for my interview, I arrived early the day before and my ambassador met with me to tell me more about events that were going on in the college or in Columbus in general. My ambassador recommended some places to eat as well!

The best thing you can do to prepare for your interview is to simply relax and be yourself.  You’ve already gotten the grades and passed all the tests, so let your passion for pharmacy shine through, and you will definitely do well on your interview. I know this is a very stressful time, but try to not stress too much and get excited about your future in pharmacy!!

Good luck with your interview day! Hopefully you come to know that The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy is the perfect fit for you! Just like it was for me. 🙂

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Ohio State Traditions

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Hey Future Buckeyes!

 

As school is starting back up again, so does the start of college football! Here at OSU many traditions are associated with football season. Being a buckeye at heart, I figured I would give you a little insight to the most important traditions on campus. Enjoy!

 

  1. Carmen Ohio

Throughout the entire year you will hear the song “Carmen Ohio”, which is our Alma Mater sang during various occasions. It is mostly sang before and after many sporting events. During the song, students lock arms and sway back and forth while singing it. The song ends with “How firm thy friendship, O-HI-O. Once you experience a stadium full of people singing it, you’ll never forget it.

 

  1. Brutus Buckeye

Brutus Buckeye is Ohio State’s well-known mascot. Until the 1960’s OSU did not have a mascot, but in 1965 an art student designed and introduced the first Brutus. Since then, Brutus has been stealing the hearts of the Ohio State community with his big smile and talented tricks.

brutus buckeye

 

  1. O-H?!

If you’re planning on coming to Ohio State, be sure to answer O-H with an I-O! This tradition started in 1942 when U.S. navy sailors began chanting O-H-I-O-S-T-A-T-E to the tune of “Row, row, row your boat”. One of those sailors then enrolled at OSU and became a cheerleader. This student tried to teach this long chant to the crowd after a hard loss, but the chant proved to be too difficult for the crowd to keep up with. Eventually they settled for O-H-I-O, which some may say was a turning point for Ohio State Football.

o-h-i-o

 

  1. TBDBITL

If you haven’t seen this before TBDBITL stands for “The best damn band in the land” Ohio State’s well-known marching band. Some even refer to the band as “The pride of the Buckeyes”. The band kicks off every game with Script Ohio followed by an unbelievable halftime show. Before each game, the band also plays at the “Skull Session” to get the crowd excited for the upcoming match. During this time coaches, players, the band and fans all get together to prepare for the game! The band is best known for their halftime show arrangements and formations such as Star-Trek, Michael Jackson, and Wizard of Oz.

 Illinois Fighting Illini vs Ohio State Buckeyes

5.Script Ohio

Although it’s hard to believe, the first band to perform script Ohio was the University of Michigan during a halftime show at Ohio Stadium. The band spelled out “Ohio” in script diagonally across the field. Four years later, Ohio State’s band performed Script Ohio during a game and the rest is history! Today the band performs Script Ohio right before every football game. A senior sousaphone player tops it off with the dotting of the “I”.

script ohio

  1. Fight Songs

While most schools have one fight song, Ohio State has three. OSU has the “Buckeye Battle Cry”, “Across the Field”, and the crowd favorite “Hang on Sloopy”. These can be heard continuously throughout game days at Ohio State.

 

  1. Victory Bell

Previous graduating classes of Ohio State donated the Giant Victory Bell that sits in the Southeast tower of Ohio Stadium. The bell is rang by students for 15-20 minutes after a victory and can be heard up to 5 miles away!

 

  1. Mirror Lake

As you’ve probably heard, Ohio State’s biggest rivalry is the University of Michigan. In 1990, a group of 100 OSU students decided to jump into Mirror Lake (a manmade pond on campus) the Thursday before Ohio State played the team up North to show their support for their team. Now over 12,000 students take the cold plunge into the water during the week of Thanksgiving to show their support for the upcoming game against their biggest rivalry.

 mirror lake

  1. The “Long Walk”

In the heart of Ohio State’s campus sits the oval, where many students go to walk their dogs, play Frisbee, and even sunbathe. The oval is also known to be a bit romantic. Tradition says that if you take the “long walk” from one end to the other holding hands with your loved one, you’ll be together forever.

 

osu oval

Now you’re ready to be a buckeye! O-H!

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