Mariecus CM Jarvis-Mays, PharmD, is a 2022–2023 APhA executive resident in Washington, DC.
My entry into the world of pharmacy was not standard. My interest started in high school, when I attended a pharmacy open house at the University of Minnesota. I had planned to go to a 0- to 6-year PharmD program but ended up attending a 4-year college in my home state. Four years later, I graduated with a triple major in chemistry, biochemistry and molecular biology, and sociology/anthropology, and most of my pharmacy prerequisites. While I thought pharmacy was interesting and I wanted to help people, I was a bit grossed out by bodily fluids and hospitals. So, I took a detour and joined Teach For America.
Over those next 4 years, I taught science and earned my master’s degree in education. Eventually, I realized I missed being on the forefront of innovation and decided to dig up a previous passion. I took a leap by moving to Washington, DC, and attending the Howard University College of Pharmacy. My mother describes me as a “curved arrow” because I took a winding path.
Melding my experiences
I’ve met lots of curved arrows throughout my pharmacy experience. Some had a background in information technology, government contracting, laboratory research, or public health. In my graduating class, there were 2 other former educators! Each of them brings unique experiences and talents, and interesting perspectives, to the profession.
People with past work experience or additional education must decide how they will brand themselves in the pharmacy world. Do they want to find a position that uses both skillsets, or would they prefer to take a more traditional path and use the skills they have developed?
I decided I wanted to meld my experiences together. Upon graduation, I obtained postgraduate experience at APhA as a resident in their education department. If I chose to work in a community pharmacy or in a hospital, I would have used my communication skills to help patients understand how to take their medications and use my classroom management techniques to manage multiple employees. As a resident in association management, I have been able to create assessments, review content for alignment with project goals, and conduct market research.
I am using lessons from my detour in this current role. So far, I have been exposed to instructional design and adult learning techniques, which I would never encounter during live instruction of teenagers. Creating learning objectives, incorporating scaffolding—which is offering a particular kind of support to students as they learn and develop a new concept or skill—and using evidence-based learning strategies transfer readily to my current role. I am so happy to have found such a complementary experience.
Past experiences provide alternate perspectives
To my fellow curved arrows, I suggest leaning on people who have similar experiences. They may be aware of unique opportunities that match your skillset or be able to provide advice about how to employ your abilities. Our past provides alternate perspectives and greater diversity to the profession.