PHARMACY

Graduated in 1994
Vice President, Pharmacy Services
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan

Q: Why did you choose WSU?

A: I already had two siblings who graduated from Wayne State University — my brother graduated from the pharmacy school in 1984. They both enjoyed their time at Wayne State and had embarked on successful careers by the time I started my first year. I have never regretted my decision to attend WSU!

Q: What inspired you to pursue pharmacy?

A: I always had an affinity to health care and my experience working with my brother, who owned three pharmacies, convinced me that pharmacy was my future.

Q: Who was your most memorable instructor?

A: Dr. Hanley Abramson. He was not only a good professor, he is also a very good person who really cared for his students. Dr. Abramson is retired now but we still keep in touch.

Q: What was your most challenging class?

A: Without a doubt, it was Pharmacokinetics. Dr. Nagwekar was tough! I was too young and naive to understand at the time, but what Dr. Nagwekar taught us was beyond the specifics of the class. He also taught us to have discipline and to be more thoughtful in solving problems.

Q: Where was your favorite place to study?

A: "Favorite" is a stretch but my usual place to study was the kitchen table at my parent's house. I worked 25 hours per week while completing my time in pharmacy school so I would come home at 8 p.m. every day and start studying at the kitchen table until 11 or midnight every day. I like having activity around me when I study. I also drank a lot of coffee during those years.

Q: Share some reflections about your time at Wayne State.

A: Undergraduate studies were pretty straightforward and it seemed like I had more time to network with a very diverse group of friends, which was so much fun. Pharmacy school was a wakeup call and I quickly realized how focused I needed to be to succeed in my classes. Second year of pharmacy school was the toughest. I then entered the Doctor of Pharmacy program, which was a two-year program at the time (post-bachelor degree). It included the most difficult classes but also the most rewarding. In addition to making great friends, the professors were amazing and I felt very confident being a pharmacist after completing the program.

Q: In your opinion, what is one of the biggest changes that has occurred in your profession since graduating?

A: Pharmacists are now an integral part of the overall health care team. I feel like we are now getting the respect we deserve from others on the care team. The diversity of opportunities within the pharmacy profession has also increased over the years.

Q: Tell us more about your career.

A: The highlight of my career was the time I worked for a leading specialty pharmacy, Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy, helping to lead the organization to significant growth over a 10-year period, including taking the company public in 2014. I was an executive for the company, served on the board of directors for three years and also led one of the organization's subsidiaries. I have always loved clinical pharmacy but this gave me direct responsibility in helping run a successful company. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

---

The Doctor of Pharmacy program at Wayne State University is a four-year curriculum in the heart of Detroit. Approximately 100 students are enrolled in each year of the program. WSU Applebaum information meetings for prospective students take place at 6 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month. The application process or the Doctor of Pharmacy program begins each July.

An anchor in urban health care

The Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is built on more than 100 years of tradition and innovation in the heart of Detroit. We have grown deep roots in our city, harnessing its powerhouse hospital systems and community service organizations as vibrant, real-world training grounds for students, with an ongoing focus on social justice in health care. And our research at all levels – from undergraduates to veteran faculty members – translates into creative solutions for healthier communities.

Wayne State University is a premier urban research institution offering approximately 350 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to nearly 24,000 students.