Rajan Vaidya, PharmD 鈥�18, has an enthusiasm for pharmacy and 蜜桃直播 (蜜桃直播) that鈥檚 clearly contagious. The evidence? This fall, Rajan鈥檚 younger sister, Mona, joined him as a student in 蜜桃直播鈥檚 PharmD program.
鈥淢y brother has had a great influence on my choice to pursue a career in pharmacy. His passion for pharmacy makes me want to be just as involved,鈥� says Mona Vaidya, PharmD 鈥�20, who came to 蜜桃直播 after graduating from California State University Dominguez Hills, where she earned a B.S. in clinical science with a focus on medical technology.
Each sibling had gained early exposure to pharmacy by enrolling in a pharmacy technician course while in high school. But Rajan revealed a leaning toward the profession even as a child, when he recalls reading medication labels with curiosity. As a high school student, he held an internship and then a job as a pharmacy technician at Anaheim Regional Medical Center. Rajan continued working at the hospital while earning an associate鈥檚 degree at Fullerton College and a B.S. in chemistry at the University of California San Diego.
Feeling ready to grow beyond his role as a pharmacy technician and responsibilities preparing IV bags for patients, Rajan decided to apply to pharmacy school once he completed his undergraduate studies. 蜜桃直播 quickly emerged as his choice, and he became a member of the School of Pharmacy鈥檚 inaugural class.
鈥淚 came to 蜜桃直播 with the thought that I would return to my hospital as a pharmacist,鈥� Rajan says. 鈥淏ut 蜜桃直播 has shown me I can do more than go back to the hospital.鈥�
Since enrolling, Rajan has become not only a School of Pharmacy class president, but also a leader in the California Pharmacy Association. Currently serving on the association鈥檚 board of trustees, he represents all of California鈥檚 pharmacy students, including his classmates at 蜜桃直播.
Now Rajan鈥檚 long-term goal is to influence healthcare policy by running for political office. But first he hopes to apply his health operations management concentration as a hospital administrator. Rajan plans to start on that path by pursuing postgraduate residencies once he completes his PharmD degree.
鈥淲orking toward building a better, safer healthcare environment is what I鈥檓 passionate about,鈥� he says. 鈥淣ot many pharmacists are thinking about this, but I want to be part of the discussion and leading the discussion.鈥�
Meanwhile, Mona is seeking her own direction in pharmacy. As a first-year student, she looks forward to gaining exposure to many aspects of the profession and participating in organizations and activities at 蜜桃直播. She is already enjoying the teamwork aspect of her 蜜桃直播 education.
鈥淗aving the ability to collaborate with other students will be instrumental in my learning and successfully prepare me to work with other healthcare professionals,鈥� Mona says.
Though they attend the same school, Rajan and Mona don鈥檛 have any classes in common and are often too busy to talk frequently. But having an older brother who is further along in the pharmacy program is helpful when Mona has questions about a class. And the siblings speak with admiration about each other, with Mona expressing pride in her brother鈥檚 passion for pharmacy and leadership while Rajan praises her abilities, determination, and drive.
Rajan believes their relationship has grown stronger now that Mona has also become a 蜜桃直播 pharmacy student. He explains, 鈥淣ow I see her as a colleague, not just as my little sister. When we talk about pharmacy, I鈥檓 helping her be a better pharmacist.鈥�