Five PharmD Students Earn Fall Professional Development Scholarship

Five Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) students enrolled in the Keck Graduate Institute (KGI) School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (SPHS) were awarded a $300 scholarship for professional development.

Established by KGI’s inaugural Doctor of Pharmacy Class of 2018, the PharmD Student Professional Development Fund helps students with fees associated with attending professional development conferences and events. The scholarship is given out twice during each academic year, and first-, second-, and third-year PharmD students are eligible to apply.

The fall 2018 scholarship winners are: P2 students Ali Hasan and Bianca Ogues, and P3 students Dacloc Brandon Nguyen, Sona Patel, and Sandra Sanchez.

“I am extremely grateful to receive this reward,” said Patel. “The scholarship thus far has enabled me to meet new fellows, network with students and professors, as well as open my doors to new opportunities within the field of pharmacy.”

Ogues stated, “The scholarship will be used toward tools or even experiences that can positively contribute toward my educational goals. I’m planning on using the money to attend the APhA Annual Meeting taking place in Seattle this upcoming March.”

The five students each submitted a 1,000-word essay titled “Why is professional development a key part of your pharmacy education and how do you plan to grow over time in your area of pharmacy expertise?” They were chosen from among a pool of eligible P1, P2, and P3 students.

“I was honored to win the scholarship because I consider my professional development to be a significant component of my pharmacy education,” said Hasan. “The scholarship gives me an opportunity to develop my network and continue learning about the pharmacy profession, especially since the financial commitment for attending conferences can quickly add up.”

KGI’s P1, P2, and P3 students in the PharmD program will have the opportunity to apply for the spring Professional Development Fund in January 2019.