Olivia Kinney provides a rapid antibody test for a patient at a Kroger Pharmacy in Cincinnati.

The challenges of the past year have pushed the pharmacy profession to adapt faster than ever. With pharmacists’ expanded scope of practice come technology advancements, evolving payment models, and heightened responsibilities. Our patients need us, and we continue to answer their call in innovative ways.

E-cigarettes, or vapes, were first invented in 2003 and have increased in popularity as an alternative to smoking. E-cigarettes function by heating an oil made of nicotine, flavorings, and other chemicals to create an aerosol that users inhale. They contain fewer chemicals than traditional cigarettes and have been marketed as less harmful. As e-cigarette use has become more prevalent, however, risks have been identified. The most concerning is e-cigarette or vaping product use–associated lung injury, known as EVALI.

The past year has undoubtedly been arduous. At times, it was tough to picture if anything advantageous would arise. As a final-year student pharmacist studying at Wake Forest Baptist Health, I want to share what I found fulfilling this year in hopes of emboldening others to search for similar opportunities.

Wake Forest Baptist Health invites select student pharmacists from various institutions in the state of North Carolina to complete all their advanced pharmacy practice experiences at its hospital. This is an amazing opportunity to gain hospital experience, participate in a multidisciplinary environment, and strengthen fundamental knowledge before becoming a clinician. I highly recommend looking within your program or state to see if similar opportunities exist.

Final-year student pharmacists are entering the season when we will discover what’s to come in the year ahead. Many students are matching for residency, while others are activating their plan B. Some folks are beginning the job hunt in hopes of landing their first pharmacist position, and others are looking for nontraditional pharmacist jobs. This is an exciting time of year, as we are finally on the cusp of earning our PharmD degrees and can now look ahead to the many professional possibilities that stretch before us.