Director of Outreach and Postgraduate Training and Assistant Professor of Clinical Sciences Kanika Bhandari received a Certificate of Special Recognition from U.S. Senator Adam Schiff earlier this month in honor of her commitment to the health and well-being of Californians and dedication to the community.
Bhandari also serves as president of the San Gabriel Valley Society of Health-System Pharmacists (SGVSHP) and hosted a legislative event with Alpha Plus Network, Inc. on August 14 to advocate for several pharmacy-related bills currently making their way through the legislature.
Along with Senator Schiff, U.S. Representative Judy Chu was in attendance. More than 200 pharmacy professionals attended the event, including W.M. Keck Foundation Professor of Biopharmaceutical Sciences and School of Pharmacy Interim Dean Derick Han; Norris Professor of Clinical Sciences, Assistant Dean of Experiential Education, and Interim PharmD Program Director Talia Puzantian; and several KGI PharmD alumni and students.
“The future of pharmacy depends not only on the care we provide at the bedside, but also on our willingness to advocate for the profession and the patients we serve,” said Bhandari. “I was incredibly proud to see the KGI pharmacy community represented at this event, from our dean and faculty to our alumni and students. This is what it looks like when we lead by example and make advocacy part of who we are as pharmacists. I am proud to be at an institution that develops not only excellent clinicians, but also engaged advocates who will help shape the future of our profession.”
KGI’s School of Pharmacy is dedicated to the growth of pharmacy professions and increasing access to graduate education in the field. In the past year, the school has added two new programs –– the Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Master of Science in Population Health Sciences –– to bolster opportunities in critical and high-growth areas of pharmacy. In addition, KGI has expanded its Community College to PharmD Pathway program, signing MOUs with several community colleges in the region to expand opportunities for students to save money and time becoming a pharmacist.