Today's Pharmacist

A minute with...
Ellie Balken
Fourth-year student pharmacist at South Dakota State University
Member since 2018

Membership in this organization has empowered me to grow personally and professionally, and my experiences have shaped the professional I aspire to be in the future. I am beyond grateful to APhA–ASP for the friendships and network of individuals who remind me daily what is so special about this profession. I am continually impressed by the leadership, intelligence, and kind hearts of pharmacists and student pharmacists and APhA has helped me establish a home within this incredible profession. ”

How has APhA helped you establish meaningful connections?

Looking back on my freshman pre-pharmacy year, I had moved away from home and lost many things and people who felt familiar. Within the first week of college, I was invited to an APhA event, and I instantly felt the sense of belonging return. APhA has a culture of inclusivity, and this has been evident at the local, regional, and national level. Some of my favorite memories from pharmacy school include traveling to meetings in new cities with my classmates, forming connections with student pharmacists from other schools, and growing my professional network. Together, we are more knowledgeable, stronger leaders, better advocates, and we inspire one another to be our best for our patients.

How has APhA helped prepare you for your career as a pharmacist (for example, experiences in patient care projects, leadership opportunities, advocacy, etc.)?

Through APhA, I have witnessed the power of advocacy in state and national legislation and can confidently say it starts with courageously using our voices to make improvements in the lives of those around us. APhA–ASP involvement at the local and national level has instilled leadership lessons that will remain relevant in any future roles. Witnessing incredibly inspiring APhA leaders the past years has instilled in me the belief that leadership is defined by how you make others feel and I aspire to empower others on their own unique journey.

Can you share a meaningful story about a time you interacted with a patient? Perhaps a time you felt like you really made a difference for them?

Alongside Brookings County Youth Mentoring Program leadership, we organized a medication safety event at their annual Thanksgiving event for children, families, and mentors to engage in conversations surrounding safe medication use. I remember two elementary-aged children kept coming back to my station and asked very insightful questions and showed genuine interest in the topics. Through our conversation, I discovered one of the children had witnessed the impacts of medication misuse, and I knew other children and families at the event likely had shared experiences.

I later was matched to mentor this child’s friend for several years afterward and aimed to show her the endless possibilities for her future and pursue any passion she discovers without fear. APhA–ASP taught me many lessons that I worked to instill in my mentee, including to live courageously, use her voice to stand up for and serve others, and to always act with kindness first.

What excites you about the profession of pharmacy?

I was initially drawn to the profession after seeing the many different roles pharmacists played in my younger sister’s care growing up, and my reasons for continuing to be passionate about this profession have expanded exponentially since. I still appreciate the diverse opportunities pharmacy has to offer, particularly because it allows pharmacists to be innovative in growing the profession and as a result, the care for our patients and communities. ■

Did you know?

This comprehensive brochure will walk you through products and solutions ranging from health apps, telehealth, digital diagnostics, and digital therapeutics to robotics and machine learning using artificial intelligence to inform treatment algorithms that are proliferating throughout the health care ecosystem.

Visit apha.us/DigitalHealth to access the free resource. ■

John Gans recognized

John Gans, PharmD, former APhA executive vice president and CEO, was announced as the recipient of the William Procter Jr. Award at Saint Joseph’s University Philadelphia College of Pharmacy (PCP) during their Founders’ Day event.

The William Procter, Jr., Award, presented by Edward F. Foote, PharmD, dean of PCP, was created in honor of William Procter Jr., PCP graduate, faculty member, and widely considered to be the father of American pharmacy. This award recognizes an outstanding alum who exemplifies the entrepreneurial spirit of our founding fathers and has provided outstanding service to the College and profession.

Congratulations to John Gans, PharmD ‘69! ■

Get involved

Preceptor SIG

The APhA Preceptor Special Interest Group (SIG) serves as an interactive community where pharmacists who precept students and residents can communicate and receive feedback on precepting strategies, precepting challenges and solutions, and opportunities for preceptor growth and development.

“What I enjoy most about the Preceptor SIG is that any pharmacist in any setting can be a preceptor, so everyone brings something unique to share with other members of the SIG,” said Elizabeth Yett, PharmD, assistant dean of student success at Ben and Maytee Fisch College of Pharmacy at the University of Texas at Tyler and SIG coordinator. “Our goal as a SIG is to provide resources to help each of us best develop our students into practicing pharmacists, and hopefully empower them to become preceptors themselves one day! You might be interested in joining the Preceptor SIG if you enjoy learning about best practices and tools to use when interacting with learners—from layered learning and mental health to topic discussions and difficult conversations.”

Please visit apha.us/PreceptorSIG to learn more. ■