We celebrate the contributions, achievements, and engagement of our alumni. We invite you to learn more about members of our Badger pharmacy family through the alumni profiles.
When did you get your degree(s) at UW? What is/was your area of expertise?
I graduated with my PharmD in 2011. I completed a PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice residency and was the inaugural PGY-2 Infectious Disease resident, both at UW Health.
Where do you currently work? What are your job responsibilities?
I am a Pharmacy Coordinator of Infectious Diseases at UW Health. I provide antimicrobial expertise to our ID physicians and ensure appropriate use of antimicrobials throughout our health system. Specifically, I am responsible for pediatric antimicrobial stewardship at the American Family Children’s Hospital, rounding with the immunosuppressed adult ID service at UW, and I also work in our outpatient HIV clinic. I am responsible for the creation and maintenance of antimicrobial guidelines/policies, as well as the development of an outpatient antimicrobial stewardship program.
Describe a special memory from your time at the School of Pharmacy?
I’m not sure if this qualifies as a “special memory”, but I’ll always remember trying to carefully remove the cap from a needle during my first sterile products lab and subsequently stabbing myself with that needle. Talk about amateur!
How do you feel pharmaceutical sciences and/or the pharmacy profession has changed since you graduated from the School of Pharmacy?
There is an even greater emphasis now on interdisciplinary collaboration. I work collaboratively with other healthcare professionals every day, so I feel it’s important that students get exposed to this concept during the curriculum.
How do you “stay connected” with UW grads or with the School of Pharmacy?
I serve as the treasurer for the Pharmacy Alumni Association. We hold several fundraising events each year to support pharmacy students. These funds are used for scholarships, over $30k awarded last year, as well as other activities that engage and support pharmacy students, such as ice cream social, coffee/snacks for final exam “study break”, etc. I also give a lecture on tuberculosis each spring and serve on the school’s Awards and Citations Committee.
What advice would you give to current or aspiring pharmacy (PharmD or graduate) students?
There are so many career choices in pharmacy—many more than I imagined when I started pharmacy school. Keep your mind open to all of them and explore as many as you can to help you make the right career choice.
If you had to take one course again. What course and how would you do?
I would definitely re-double my efforts in the nuances of PK. As I recall, I did not do particularly well on that exam and could probably use another run-through with Dr. Hutson!
Faculty and or staff member remembered the most and why?
Karen Kopacek—without her guidance, I would have not found clinical pharmacy and would not be in the career I am today. An honorable mention to Steve Oaks for teaching the guys in our class how to covertly leave the top button of our shirts undone behind the knot in our tie. Much more comfortable!
Hobbies/interests
Golfing! I don’t claim to be very good, but I enjoy the opportunity to play as much as I can.
Random thoughts…
Choosing to go to school at the UW-Madison School of Pharmacy was the best choice I could have made. It’s amazing how many Badgers are out there!