Board certification a future milestone in my career journey
Rose Sikorski is a final-year PharmD candidate at the University of Toledo College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.
I never realized how many career paths were possible with pharmacy, and just how many avenues were possible postgraduation. As a junior in high school, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in health care and eventually found my calling in pharmacy. However, I never truly appreciated all the opportunities in the field until I officially entered pharmacy school. My long-standing interest in oncology led me to set a new goal: to become an oncology pharmacist. I quickly realized that board certification would be a key milestone in that journey. What I had yet to understand was the multiple pathways to one day achieving my goals.
The mission of the APhA Board Certified Pharmacists Community is to define APhA's vision through the development of thoughtful programming, advocacy, publications and guidance documents, and networking that will result in the advancement and success of pharmacy and nonpharmacy specific board-certified pharmacist leaders and practitioners. As the student liaison for the Board Certified Pharmacists Community, I have had the opportunity to connect with multiple different pharmacists from varying fields and backgrounds. I have learned about the many opportunities not only to achieve board certification, but also post board certification as well. The diversity in careers and paths of the pharmacists in this Community is truly inspiring, and I am so grateful to be a part of it.
An engaging Community
Through various planning sessions and meetings, I have seen how this Community actively engages with pharmacists and fosters growth. I think that many people believe there is only one way to board certification, but I have come to understand there are multiple routes, each unique, that ultimately lead to the same destination.
For student pharmacists interested in pursuing board certification after graduation, I highly recommend becoming a part of this Community to build relationships with mentors who have already been through the process! Being able to hear the diverse careers and paths of the pharmacists in this Community has been eye-opening and inspiring, and I truly enjoy being a part of this Community that welcomes these varied experiences.
Check out the APhA Board Certified Pharmacists Community and the 22 other Communities and join now at www.pharmacist.com/Membership/Communities.