Led by PBA professor Dr. Jessica Lendoiro, the Palm Beach Society of Health System Pharmacists brought together 30 local pharmacists and pharmacy students from two schools for an on-campus speed networking event.
Five PBA alumni and two faculty from the Lloyd L. Gregory School of Pharmacy participated as mentors. Fifty-three students from PBA and Nova Southeastern attended the event.
Said first-year GSOP student Mariana Fabregas, “The PBSHP Mentor Roundtable was a great opportunity to meet distinguished pharmacists who advocate for the profession and took time from their busy schedules to help us pave the way forward with words of wisdom and encouragement to pursue our goals and aspirations.”
At the Mentor Roundtable in Gregory Hall, students met pharmacists from a variety of practices and learned more about rotations, residencies and specific areas of expertise such as cardiology, oncology, infectious disease, industry and administration.
Another first-year GSOP student, Daylin Naranjo, said she “learned about a variety of career paths and different areas of pharmacy that I could have never thought of if I didn’t attend the event.” Naranjo said she went into the event almost certain about the path she wanted to take when she graduates and left with several more options to explore.
The small table sizes allowed students to interact more personally with each pharmacist, Naranjo said.
Palm Beach Society of Health-System Pharmacists’ leadership Drs. Manny Nunez, Jessica Lendoiro, Nisha Mathew, Stacey Maravent and Melissa Kacou pose for a photo at the speed networking event hosted at the Gregory School of Pharmacy. GSOP student Josuah Tilus sat at the administration table, where he talked with two pharmacists in the HCA Healthcare Network. They gave Tilus valuable insights about being a manager and how to choose a profession, Tilus said. It was then that he realized he is “built for a career in management.”
“As they were explaining their work, I could see myself loving what they do and could see the glimpses of their work in what I currently do in pharmacy school,” Tilus said. “This networking event gave me a glimpse of the almost innumerable career opportunities within the pharmacy profession, and I look forward to understanding more at the next event.”
Lendoiro, instructor of pharmacy practice, is president of PBSHP. Two of the society’s other officers, secretary Dr. Melissa Kacou and social media coordinator Dr. Danielle Kenney, are PBA alumnae.
Photo 1: Pharmacy students talk with Dr. Melissa Kacou, a GSOP alumna and leader in PBSHP.
Photo 2: Palm Beach Society of Health-System Pharmacists’ leadership Drs. Manny Nunez, Jessica Lendoiro, Nisha Mathew, Stacey Maravent and Melissa Kacou pose for a photo at the speed networking event hosted at the Gregory School of Pharmacy.
