Ryan Kwok is a third-year PharmD candidate at the University of California, Irvine, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.
As the APhA Community Pharmacy Practice Community student liaison, I strive to be forward-thinking on how to make changes in the future of pharmacy practice. I serve in this role to show student pharmacists that there is hope in the community pharmacy setting.
Connecting with inspiring leaders
In my work as a current pharmacy intern at an independent pharmacy in southern California, I use my multi-lingual abilities and cultural understanding to serve a predominant Asian American community in addition to immunization outreach and street medicine. I am also interested in the business aspect of pharmacy operations. One of my goals post-graduations/post-residency is to be a partial owner of a community pharmacy clinic where clinical services are provided by ambulatory care pharmacists and primary care providers. As an active member of this APhA Community, I receive advice and insights on these topics and more from the experts.
Being involved with the Community Pharmacy Practice Community has allowed me to connect with inspiring leaders and mentors who share a passion for advancing patient-centered care in the community setting. Through virtual meetings, collaborative discussions, and showcase events, I have been able to build relationships with pharmacists who are shaping innovative practices nationwide in various community pharmacy settings. These connections have not only expanded my network, but also provided me with career guidance that continues to influence my professional growth, aligning my career goal with resources that I never thought I would be able to obtain this early on in my career.
As someone who wants to pursue a PGY1 community-based residency, I value the advice and encouragement I receive from practitioners who have successfully navigated this path as well. In addition, Ryan Waldschmidt, PharmD, the Community’s chair-elect, provided me with the opportunity to represent the Community in a showcase event hosted by the APhA New Practitioner Group in late November. I am looking forward to speaking more about my experience with the community through this event!
Join us today
If you are passionate about direct patient care, influencing your local area, and being a valuable member of the health care profession, this is the APhA Community for you. Together, we can advocate for a better future for community pharmacy practice. Check out the APhA Community Pharmacy Practice Community and the 22 other Communities and join now at www.pharmacist.com/Membership/Communities.