The accolades are rolling in for Rajan Vaidya, PharmD 鈥�18. Early in March, the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) Foundation selected him as its 2018-2019 Knowlton Center Executive Resident in Association Management and Leadership. Soon after, he became California Pharmacists Association (CPhA) Student Pharmacist of the Year.
鈥淚t鈥檚 one thing to get a residency and another to get that residency,鈥� says , an assistant professor of clinical sciences in the School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at 蜜桃直播 (蜜桃直播), about Vaidya鈥檚 executive residency. 鈥淭here鈥檚 only one awarded across the country, and I know the competition is strong. Any of the candidates from any school would be the best of the best, and most schools will never be able to say they have a recipient, even if they鈥檝e been around for 100 years.鈥�
Yet neither Ha nor Associate Director for Student Affairs Kristen Felthousen, both of whom first met Vaidya through his work as a student government leader for 蜜桃直播鈥檚 inaugural School of Pharmacy class, is surprised that he would stand out.
鈥淲hat sets Rajan apart is a level of maturity that a lot of people don鈥檛 find in their whole lives but for some reason comes very naturally to him. He鈥檇 be a star in whatever he chose to do,鈥� says Ha.
Felthousen adds, 鈥淗e鈥檚 adept in connecting people at any level and is very genuine. He鈥檚 always diplomatic and able to come with solutions. I think that makes a good leader. 鈥�
"What sets Rajan apart is a level of maturity that a lot of people don鈥檛 find in their whole lives." - David Ha
During his time at 蜜桃直播, Vaidya became the first two-term student trustee on the CPhA Board of Trustees, representing all pharmacy students in the state. He has served on CPhA鈥檚 legislative and policy committees, roles that took him to state conferences and legislative days in Sacramento, CA and to Washington, DC, where he advocated for pharmacists at the offices of U.S. Senator Kamala Harris and U.S. Representative John Garamendi of California. Vaidya has also been a leader in the Indian Pharmacists Association, contributing to its political action committee and as mentor鈥搈entee program co-coordinator.
When he was ready for the first of two elective rotations that are part of 蜜桃直播鈥檚 fourth-year pharmacy curriculum, Vaidya accepted an offer from Assistant Surgeon General Pamela Schweitzer to come to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services in Baltimore. Now he鈥檚 in the second rotation, working in Sacramento with California State Senator Jeff Stone, a pharmacist by training.
鈥淚鈥檝e chosen to take my experience beyond traditional pharmacy and do more in healthcare policy,鈥� says Vaidya. 鈥淚 saw that healthcare decisions are being made without any input from pharmacists. I could work with one patient at a time, providing direct health services, but I realize I can make an impact by being part of the discussion to influence health policy.鈥�