Introduce yourself to the group

Hi! My name is Anisah Rozan and I'm a 6th year Pharm D. student from St. John's University. I currently work as a pharmacy intern at an independent pharmacy, which is where I've been for the past 3 years. Working in an independent pharmacy has helped me gain perspective as to how much it takes to run your own pharmacy. Opening my own pharmacy has always been a dream of mine, but after graduating I would like to start working in either a hospital pharmacy setting or industry. I love travelling, watching UFC and trying new restaurants. I also play the piano and I love to cook and bake. I have a little brother Zack (12) and a little sister Zoyah (9). After I graduate, I'm planning a trip to either Europe or Bermuda with my mom before I start working.

Hello, my name is Roquia Ali. I am a 6th year pharmacy student at St. John's University. Currently, i am working as a pharmacy intern at Rite Aid pharmacy. I"m still not set on what i want to do after i graduate. All i do know is that i want to take a break after graduation. After having rotations throughout the summer the this year and the previous, I am excited to have some time. This is currently my fourth rotation, making me almost halfway done with the 6th year. During my free time, I hike and try to enjoy the outdoors as much as i can. When the weather doesnt allow that, i like to stay home and bake.

Hello, my name is Nashfa Zaman and I am currently in my 6th year at St. John’s University. I have been working at a Walgreens for the past 4 years and recently got a 2nd job at Northwell. I also help out at my dad’s pharmacy when I can (he’s not a pharmacist but thinks he knows as much as one). This is my second APPE rotation and I’m excited to see what this rotation is like and how it will shape my career path. As of right now, I’m not too sure what I want to do long term, and I’m hoping rotations help me get a better idea of what I do enjoy. In my free time, I like to do more arts and crafts projects. I’ve recently been learning to crochet and sew. During COVID I started with embroidery.

As for plans after graduation, I’m not sure what I want to do. I want to take a mini trip for myself, but the thought of student loans is daunting. My first plan after graduation is to just start paying that off. I’m the type of person that can’t fully relax until something like a debt is paid off. My sister (27) is a lawyer and has not been touching her student loans due to the pause and is now getting married. Seeing the stress of how much a wedding costs (south Asian weddings are a multi-day event) and loans on top of that has scared me into trying to pay them off as early as possible. So as much as I would love to relax after having 6 years straight of school, I’m putting myself in the mindset that if I can do it for a little while longer, I will really be able to fully enjoy my life. I’ve been fortunate enough to have travelled a lot during high school, going to most of Europe with my family. I’ve seen most of the major countries and will survive waiting to see the rest of them for a few years.

Hello, my name is Trisha Khong, and I am a 6th year pharmacy student at St. John's University. My homestate is in Orange County, Southern California, and I currently am a pharmacy intern at Long Island Jewish Medical Center. I completed my introductory rotations at Elmhurst hospital and CVS last summer. These sites helped me gain a better insight on what I want to pursue upon graduation. During my time at Elmhurst hospital, I was fortunate to shadow a narcotic pharmacist and learn how to perform narcotic audits, which really peaked my interest. Participating in rounds with my preceptor was first-hand insight on the significance of pharmacists’ roles as medication experts crucial to maintain therapeutic efficacy and patient safety. At CVS, I performed patient counseling, tailoring each session to ensure safe and correct medication administration and adherence needed to maintain patient health. I also provided medical information to doctors and nurses and developed interprofessional communication skills essential to the smooth flow of patient care. As of now, I am interested in the path of residency and hope to continue my post-graduate learning in California; however, it is subject to change; I am open to whatever opportunity that arises, and I hope these rotations will give me a better picture of the many paths of pharmacy available.

In regards to my hobbies, I practice yoga avidly, and have committed hundreds of hours through private classes! One of my goals is to be certified as a yoga instructor one day. In addition, I enjoy baking in my free time, and would say I'm quite a decent baker. I used to participate in bake sales in my community to help raise money for non-profit organizations. Further, I enjoy traveling, and I travel very often especially since my family resides both in CA and NY.

The Socio Esthetician is my first rotation site. I am glad to be given this opportunity to apply my academic interest in skin disorders and its association with aesthetic medicine by utilizing the SocioEsthetician platform not only as an outlet to digitize my passion, but also be able to connect and participate in a community of colleagues who share the same interest as me. This rotation is a great chance for me to share my knowledge and learn new material from others!

Hello, my name is Kristen Ursick. I am a 6th year pharmacy student at St. John's University and I am a pharmacy intern at CVS. In the past, I worked at an independent pharmacy that also was a compounding lab. I have learned alot at my experiences at different pharmacy settings. This is my first APPE rotation. I am excited to begin this journey where I can grow as a student and future pharmacist. I hope that each of my rotations can help push me in the direction of making the final decision for my career. Currently, I believe I’d like to work in a hospital setting or possibly do a residency, but I am open to change as I gain more experience in each setting. I am excited to gain experience in an ambulatory care setting because that seems interesting and I have not had much experience in that type of pharmacy setting. This rotation was interesting to me because I have always been interested in cancer and skincare. I took an oncology elective in my last semester where we learned about melanoma and I hope to research that topic even further. From kindergarten to my senior year of high school, I was a competitive dancer and I loved to paint and draw. I have always had an interest in art and being creative. I also took an advertising and design three year elective in high school. For a while I thought that was what I was going to go into as a career before I decided to go into pharmacy school. I am hoping to switch one of my elective rotations to one that involves medical communications and marketing. I think I would find this interesting as it combines my past interests with my pharmacy career. That is another large area of pharmacy that I was not aware of when I began this program. I’ve spent the last few years very focused on my classes and studying and now it will be great to gain on the job experience in a variety of settings. I hope to travel for a little while after graduation if I have the time. It will be much needed after this last year of school. I have traveled to many states in the USA and to islands in the caribbean. I’d love to travel to Europe and different countries soon. In my free time I love to hangout with my friends and family, exercising, and reading which I hope to have more time for eventually. I have spent the last few years in Queens for St. John’s, but I am glad to be back on Staten Island all in one place and beginning rotations.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristenursick/

Hello, my name is Aleksandra Agranovich, but I like to go by my nickname “Sasha”. I am currently a 6th year pharmacy student at St. John’s University. I work as a pharmacy intern for Walgreens but hope to broaden my pharmacy experience in other settings within the near future. I currently reside in New York and want to remain and work here because New York City is the best city in the world. Throughout my time at St. John’s, I was able to overcome many challenges and obstacles that have helped to shape me into the person and pharmacy intern that I am today. Upon graduation in the coming months, I hope to get a job in the hospital and possibly complete a pharmacy residency. I am very interested in the subject and therapeutics of diabetes, although I would also love to learn more about dermatology. If I am able to, I would like to become a clinical pharmacist and focus specifically on diabetes education.

In terms of hobbies, I love reading books. I also really enjoy writing, riding my bike, and cooking/baking. I really hope that I get a chance to travel right before starting my career as a pharmacist. There are still many places that I haven’t been to and would like to explore. In addition to hobbies, I have a cat named Tulip and she is really cute. She tends to follow me all around the house. I am very excited to start writing journal entries for this rotation. At St. John’s, we never really learned much about dermatology so I’m hoping that this month will keep me updated on the most current dermatological medications and conditions.

LinedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/aleksandra-agranovich 😊

Hello, my name is Justin, and I am a 6th year pharmacy student at St. John's University. I am excited because this is finally my last rotation and that I will be graduating next month! In the past 6 years I have worked at a couple pharmacies in the retail setting. Throughout my years in pharmacy school, I have learned that I have strong devotion towards the disease diabetes. After graduation, I will start my career in the retail setting/tele-health pharmacy such as MTM consultations but, my goal in the future is to be working for a pharmaceutical company that also has a strong interest in diabetes, precisely in drug information. In my free time, my passion is playing sports (mainly basketball), eating at many food spots in Manhattan, helping to run a youth service in Brooklyn, and lastly, I find myself to be a movie critique. After graduation, I will probably travel to many places starting with Florida and Washington as I have family that reside there, then travel internationally to Europe and Greece. Feel free to connect with me though my LinkedIn!! https://www.linkedin.com/feed/

Hi everyone! My name is Alicia and I am a 6th year pharmacy student currently on my 8th rotation at the SocioEsthetician. I chose this rotation because I saw a great opportunity to dive deeper into topics that we do not have the time to completely cover in pharmacy school. My pharmacy work experience began at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. I began working at an independent community pharmacy during 2020 and I fell in love with it. I enjoy the interactions that I am able to have with patients in the independent community setting. I plan on working there as a pharmacist post-graduation. Even though I have decided on my plans after graduation, I am still eager to learn about other areas of pharmacy so that I am aware of all future possibilities. In addition to working in independent community pharmacy, I also work as a lifeguard and swim instructor, teaching children and adults how to be safe and confident in the water. In my free time I enjoy going on walks or bike rides through the trails near my house. I also took up golf as a hobby last summer. I am looking forward to warmer weather so I can continue to practice.

Hello! My name is Xunpeng Li, a 6th year pharmacy student who will be graduating in September 2021. This rotation is my last rotation and I really feel excited to finish all 9 rotations. I am currently working in an independent pharmacy in Flushing, NY. Majority of the patients are from China and some Asian countries. Most patients are nice to us and are willing to stay with us. We speak Mandarin and many dialects to explain details regarding medications in daily basis. Ever since the beginning of my job in Flushing 5 years ago, I knew that a great pharmacist would need to have great relationships with patients. Despite the fact that not every patient would be your buddy, I still value the keys of a good relationship. I really like photography as a personal habit. Even though, I am not a professional photographer. My friends enjoyed going out with me because I took great photos for them. I also like to drive to different places and breath the fresh air. Lastly, I enjoyed watching movies. As being a future pharmacist, I understood the professional career path would be long and meaningful. I think an entertainment or habits contribute to a healthy career path. Movies usually demonstrate philosophy in an entertaining way, so I laughed and could learn some words of wisdom while watching. Please feel free to reach me on https://www.linkedin.com/in/tommy-li-a8936314a/.

Hi! My name is Donna and I am currently on rotations for my sixth year in the Pharm. D. program at St. John’s University. I took an interest in pharmacy after volunteering at an independent one in my neighborhood and enjoying the work environment around me. In my second year of pharmacy school, I began to join clubs and learn more about different opportunities out there for pharmacists so since then I have been interested in pursuing the pharmaceutical industry path. I like this career path because there are so many different roles in industry for pharmacists to be a part of whether it be using your clinical knowledge or trying out the business side of things. Outside of pharmacy, I really value spending time with my friends and hanging around in NYC. I absolutely love traveling which is why I jumped at the chance to study abroad my second year in pharmacy when it was offered. This was the best decision I made because I made new friends through this experience. Every day I miss the experiences I had abroad but after graduation, I’m hoping for a road trip with my friends from the program to celebrate our graduation! I am looking forward to the rest of this rotation; skincare is always going to be an important popular topic (I'm always trying to find the best morning and nighttime skin routines). Skin was the first drugs and diseases course we had in our third year so it’ll be great to refresh my memory and learn about even the biggest beauty misconceptions that weren’t discussed in class. Feel free to always reach out on: http://www.linkedin.com/in/donnasalib

Hello, my name is Natalie Eshaghian and I am a 6th year pharmacy student at St. John’s University. I am a 1st generation Jewish Iranian American, being one of the first in my family to gain a doctorate degree. Throughout my time in pharmacy school, I have been involved in many different organizations, both pharmacy and non-pharmacy related. I was a part of the College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists (CPNP) organization, as well as the Jewish Student’s Association, where I held 2 leadership positions, one as secretary and the other as president. I loved my time at SJU learning about the different fields of pharmacy, however, I enjoy APPEs because it really delves deeper into the different routes of the pharmacy profession. My favorite course throughout pharmacy school was my leadership and alternative medicine electives, where I learned about how to be an effective leader in the pharmacy profession as well as the various regular day items that most people use but treatment options for others. I feel that with this rotation I can educate myself more on the topic of alternative medicine, since many patients use alternative routes of treatment.

I am interested in various sports, such as football and soccer. I also love gymnastics and used to be a part of the gymnastics team in high school! I also have a creative side, and try to draw on my free time. Lastly, I am into health and fitness, and even have my own instagram page to motivate me to stay on track. Feel free to follow: @Bffitness18 https://www.instagram.com/bffitness18/

I hope to travel once I graduate to different areas of the world, such as Thailand, Maldives, Israel, Italy, London, and so much more. I hope I can gain a career in pharmacy upon graduating, but I have a feeling that once that happens I would have to limit my desires of traveling. However, I hope I can acquire a pharmacy career that will be flexible to allow me to enjoy my time and travel the world! I am looking forward to this next rotation at the SocioEsthetitian!

If you would like to connect on LinkedIn, here is my profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-eshaghian-bb692720b/

Hi everyone! My name is Najwa Ghani and I am a 6th year PharmD student wrapping up my rotations. I have worked in various settings. First, I worked at an independent as a pharmacy technician. Then, I worked as a pharmacy intern at Capsule Pharmacy. In fact, my friend and I were the very first pharmacy interns there. It was really great being able to see a start-up grow and be able to partake in multiple roles as a pharmacy intern whether it was in their office or the physical pharmacy. I finally transitioned to be a pharmacy intern at Montefiore Medical Center. It is interesting to see the ins and outs of how a hospital and how a hospital pharmacy operate and I am glad that I have the opportunity to do so. Outside of pharmacy school, my passions are food (not cooking, unfortunately just eating) and kayaking. My claim to fame is being a Yelp Elite and food is truly what brings people together and I love trying anything and everything. I got into kayaking several years ago and also enjoy water polo very much. I am a volunteer at the Brooklyn Bridge Boathouse and occasionally direct children water polo games. The best part about kayaking for me is being in the water, there is nothing more cathartic for me as I learned how to swim when I was 4. I am interested in any role as a pharmacist and exploring different roles outside of the typical scope of pharmacy.

My LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/najwa-ghani-4b31251b8

Hello, my name is Marina Beshara and I am currently a 6th year Pharm D student at St. John’s University. I have been working as a Pharmacy Technician at an Independent Pharmacy for the past 4 years and I enjoy the interactions that I have had with the patients as well as my co-workers. When I first started pharmacy school, I only thought pharmacy meant working in a community setting but through the last 6 years I have learned that there are many other specialties in pharmacy. I am interested in exploring the Pediatrics specialty as well as Compounding upon graduation. Outside of school, I love walking in nature, whether it is through a park or by a lake; it is very relaxing. I also enjoy listening to music and watching TV. I love traveling as well. One of my favorite countries to travel to is Egypt but I am bias because that is where I am originally from. I am hoping to travel after graduation to honestly any country in the world or even visiting different states. If you have any recommendations then please let me know; I am very open to visiting new countries and learning about different cultures as well as trying different foods. I am looking forward to connecting with all of you. Here is a link to my LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marina-beshara-1999mb/ but also feel free to reach out to me on any other platform.

Hi my name is Fatima Malik, and I am a 6th year pharmacy student at St John’s University. I recently started working as a pharmacy intern in Walgreens from October 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Working during the pandemic has proven to have its trials, yet I am grateful for the learning experiences that Walgreens has taught me with and the wonderful people I’ve worked with along the way. I originally chose to become a pharmacist because of my hospital volunteer experience at Northwell Hospital during high school, and because I enjoyed chemistry as a subject.

As a St John’s student, I am appreciative of St John’s diversity as I was able to explore multiple organizations pharmacy and non-pharmacy related. Over the past 6 years I have researched several fields of pharmacy, and developed interest in ambulatory care/specialty pharmacy settings. I like that ambulatory care combines aspects of inpatient and outpatient care and that it has so much variety in what it has to offer. Upon graduation I am interested in pursuing a possible residency, and I am also open to learning more about the industry side of pharmacy as well. I aim to become a pharmacist who will not only improve the quality of life for patients, but build strong personal connections to my patients as well as interprofessional relationships.

I have multiple interests, skincare being a subject I love educating myself on continuously as well as beauty in general. I am always open to trying new skincare and makeup and it is a true passion of mine. In my free time I like to read, take care of my two year old kitten, bake and spend quality time with my family.

Hello everyone, I am Natalia Loomis, a 6th year pharmacy student at St. John's University. During my semesters at St. Johns, I have been involved in various leadership positions and organizations. Outside of st. John's, I have been working with CVS Health for around 4 years and love the connections I have made with the various teams I had the opportunity to work with. As I embark on my APPE journey, I want to take the opportunity to use the skills I have acquired through my pharmacy education both inside and outside the classroom. I hope through my experiential rotations I strengthen my professional development and growth; with the ultimate goal of becoming a better healthcare professional. Professionally, I am interested in pursuing an off track pharmacy profession within the Pharmaceutical Industry. Personally, I am very into wellness and navigating the world of mental health, especially since It was not a topic of conversation growing up. I love going to the beach, reading, listening to music, and hanging-out with my friends during my free time. I am an avid yogi, poet, and podcaster. For more information about me personally I recommend checking out my podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/60Ca4V9B3VRB0WNuQxJoXX?si=3Kt0xMb0SF6sxaqR5CUskQ

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalia-loomis-428368190/

Hi, my name is Alexandra (Ally) LaStella, and I am currently a 6th year Pharm. D student at St. John's University. This is my final rotation before graduation, and I could not be more excited! The two pharmaceutical topics that I am most interested in are psychiatry and ***/AIDS.

I recently took a leap of faith and moved across the country to Imperial Beach, California (which is just south of San Diego and just north of Tijuana, for reference). I am planning to take the pharmacy boards in both New York and California to maximize my job opportunities following graduation. However, I would really like to find a remote position and be able to work from home - I am even currently in the process of doing some medical writing with Uqora, a San Diego-based supplement company providing preventative therapies for recurrent UTIs that are more than just cranberry pills. Check them out! https://uqora.com/

I have been employed with Rite Aid since May 2015, and will be transferring my position out to Ocean Beach, California. I am excited to get back to work and see how things are different in a California retail pharmacy.

On a personal note, I am a proud dog-mom to a 5 year old Italian Greyhound named Cooper, who is the love of my life. We enjoy long walks on the beach and mid-day naps. Luckily, there is no shortage of beaches out here in sunny southern California!

Please feel free to reach out to me on any platform, including LinkedIn, which I've provided below. I am excited to see what the future holds!

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-lastella-aa674720b

Rotation Dates: Period 11 2021 (04/12/2021 - 05/07/2021)

Hi! My name is Sophia Jen and I am currently a 6th year pharmacy student at St. John's University and pharmacy intern at Raindew Pharmacy. I'm generally open to any field in pharmacy since I don't have any particularly strong interests in a specific career path. My four years of experience in an independent pharmacy have been eye-opening in the sense that it has directed me towards a future where I see myself in a casual environment where I can develop personal relationships with coworkers and get to know my patients in a deeper way. Through my work experience, I've learned not to take things too personally as everyone is dealing with their own hardships just like I am. I consider myself to be pretty flexible and quick to adapt when placed into new environments so I am interested in pursuing non-traditional pharmacy career paths that challenge yet still utilize my pharmaceutical knowledge. Outside of pharmacy, I love to travel with my friends and family and watch Korean dramas. Another interest that I have is skincare because I used to physically and mentally struggle with acne and hyperpigmentation in my late teens and early twenties. I still experience breakouts and bad skin days but my skin has never been better ever since I learned about skincare and I always get so excited whenever I get a new product to try. After graduation, I plan on doing some travelling and road trips along the East Coast seem to be the safest option at this point while the pandemic is still overbearing. Since I don't have any job offers lined up yet, I want to take my time studying for the board exams and having fun before I get swept up into a full-time position. You can reach out and follow my professional journey on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sophia-jen

Hi, my name is Crystal and I’m a 6th year pharmacy student at St. John’s University. I’ve been with CVS Health for just about 5 years now and I’ve been fortunate enough join the medical cannabis industry with Curaleaf earlier in the pandemic. My pharmacists have been supportive of my journey through pharmacy school, encouraging me whenever I faced any bumps in the road. Their impact will stay with me forever and I want to give back the same way by becoming a preceptor. It would be a blessing to be a role model and safe place for my interns seek guidance. Sometimes you just need a little reassurance and it helps coming from someone who has been through a similar path. Although it’s only 8 months thus far, I’ve loved my experience in medical cannabis. My team at Curaleaf is exceptionally knowledgable and welcoming. I came in as a blank slate since alternative medicine was only brushed over in school, but I’ve definitely pushed myself out of my comfort zone and excelled. Providing consultation sessions, I find joy in being able to get to know patients beyond what’s written in their profile. I love hearing their story - who they are and how they ended up here. I consider myself an introvert, but when it comes to patient care, it’s like the switch flips. One thing I am actively working on is prioritizing my mental health. I am an overachiever to say the least and oftentimes, I overextend myself. Juggling rotations and 2 jobs, I currently work 7 days a week so I am still working on finding a healthy balance between work and personal life. With success often measured based on your job title or salary, mental health is usually not in the equation. I am a huge advocator for therapy and hope to influence my future mentees to welcome what might be uncomfortable conversations with patients/friends. Know the signs, what to say, and when to recommend a professional for help. I hope that one day, it will be the norm to address our mental health the same way we would our physical health. Although I thoroughly enjoy my role in community pharmacy as well as medical cannabis, I would love to specialize in psychiatry and behavioral health. Outside of work, I’m fairly reserved and appreciate simple days like sleeping in before getting an iced coffee and bowl of pho. Before COVID-19, I was fortunate enough to have extensively traveled Europe with both family and friends, but I am just as happy to stay home as long as it’s with the people I love.

Please feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crystal-l-a59249b8/

I look forward to working with you!

Hi, my name is Paige, and I am a sixth year PharmD candidate at St. John’s University. I previously worked in the community at Rite Aid pharmacy, but now work for a health technology & pharmacy-based company called Capsule. Capsule is a new pharmacy that takes what does not work in the standard retail/community pharmacy, and improves upon it (https://www.capsule.com). Currently I’m part of a few Capsule initiatives, including travelling clinics for COVID-19 vaccinations, a new MTM program, and a training program for new intern hires. Working for Capsule has been amazing! For me, choosing to pursue a career in the pharmacy field arose out of a love for healthcare, helping people and problem-solving. And while I don’t have a specific specialty of interest, my passion lies in helping patients get the care they require and educating the community. This same passion reflects on my experience in school where I started a mentoring program for the incoming freshman class in the St. John’s College of Pharmacy. I also developed an interest in mental health and psychiatric disorders, which led me to participate in a mental health first aid training. During this program, I learned how to help those struggling with mental health or in a mental health crisis, which was a very rewarding experience. I have many interests that I’m sure will grow over the coming years, but I’d like to begin working as soon as possible following graduation. During my free time, I enjoy painting and working out, which I hope to find more time for after I am finally licensed! I also enjoy music, traveling, brunch and spending time with family and friends. I look forward to learning more about this pharmacy role and gaining a new perspective. The following is my LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paige-dennis-766396149.

Hi everyone, my name is Bria and I am a 6th year pharmacy student at St. John's University. I have been always been interested in helping people who live in lower income neighborhoods or have limited access to adequate health care. I also want to learn about minimizing the health disparities that are seen in the healthcare system, especially now with the pandemic. I personally know a lot of people who are going through very rough times because of COVID-19 from lack of food, income, and health resources. My goal upon graduation is to start off in retail and provide as much guidance as I can within the communities that I am serving. I want to be someone who can vocalize the concerns for these types of communities on a larger scale, so that things care change in the medical field to provide better care for all patients. Later in the future, I do plan on transitioning into managed care pharmacy because I have always been interested in that aspect in pharmacy. In my free time, I love to draw, dance, teach myself new things such as sign language and video editing, and spending time with my family. I am looking forward to working with everyone!