We sat down with NABP’s latest resident, University of Illinois Chicago PGY-2 Health-System Pharmacy Administration and Leadership resident Vinh Thai, to discuss his pharmacy school and residency experiences and get advice for current pharmacy students!
What made you interested in studying pharmacy?
I was always very interested in math and science in school, and I wanted to pursue a profession that focused on my strengths. I was most drawn to chemistry, that was my passion, and I became really interested in the chemistry of medication. I am originally from Vietnam, and pharmacists there treat patients’ common illnesses at community pharmacies. I saw how much pharmacists helped their patients, and I wanted to pursue a career where I could help people. No one in my family is in the medical field, so I thought along with helping others, I could help my family by studying pharmacy and sharing my health care knowledge with them.
What are your career goals?
My specific career goals have changed over time, but one constant has been my passion for making meaningful contributions to the pharmacy profession and ultimately providing the best care for patients. At this point in my pharmacy education, I am pursuing health-system pharmacy management. As a pharmacy manager, I will be able to help patients while also helping other pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in the field. From a leadership position, I will be able to advocate for structural changes that would benefit my colleagues. One topic I am passionate about is the well-being of fellow pharmacists. During my time at NABP, I was inspired by the Pharmacy Practice, Well-being, and Safety Initiative to share tips for other pharmacy students in this blog.
Why is well-being important to you?
I’ve seen how health challenges, both physical and mental, can suddenly derail people’s dreams and careers. Throughout my life, I’ve witnessed several relatives and friends fall short of their goals, not because of a lack of effort or talent, but because of unexpected health issues. These experiences made me realize that the best way I can continue doing what I love, both professionally and personally, is to prioritize my health.
I’ve come to understand how closely physical and mental health are connected. Maintaining my well-being is not just about avoiding illness; it is about supporting my ability to grow and succeed in all parts of life. Attention to well-being will help me in my career as a pharmacy leader as I will understand and attend to the health needs of my staff, as well as keeping tabs on my own health and how it is affecting my leadership.
How has networking helped you in your pharmacy journey?
When I was a P1 student, I had no idea how important networking really was. It didn’t click for me until I met my first pharmacy mentor, Dr. Megan Thompson. She always reached out to encourage me and pushed me to step outside of my comfort zone and take on leadership roles during pharmacy school. Looking back, I truly don’t think my growth would have happened the way it did without her support early on.
Since then, I’ve made it a point to connect with others intentionally. Whenever I’ve faced setbacks, it was those relationships that held me up. You never know when you’ll need support, advice, or simply someone who believes in you. It’s been such a meaningful part of my journey, and I really hope others take this into consideration and start nurturing their connections early on.
How have soft skills like communication, problem-solving, and teamwork helped in your pharmacy journey?
When it comes to soft skills, I didn’t give them much thought during school, but once I began my PGY1 residency, especially as I pursue the administration and leadership path, I realized how important soft skills are. I started reading books on topics such as communication, leadership, and emotional intelligence, and I began actively strengthening those skills. As a result, I’ve become much more intentional in how I communicate. I focus on really listening and considering my communication style based on who I’m talking to. These may sound like small things, but they’ve made a big difference in how I connect and collaborate with others.
Tips for Current and Future Pharmacy Students
To make the most of your time in pharmacy school, grow into a well-rounded professional, and lay the foundation for long-term success, consider the following tips.
1. Explore Different Career Paths
Studying pharmacy offers a wide range of career opportunities. Start by researching the diverse career paths available to those with a PharmD. While community pharmacy and hospital practice are often top of mind, there are many others to consider, including specialty pharmacy, compounding, ambulatory care, home infusion, and many more.
Your exploration can include shadowing pharmacists, completing internships, and gaining insights during rotations. The earlier you can narrow down your interests, the more intentionally you can tailor your experiences.
2. Gain Work Experience
Once you’ve identified a potential career path, seek out an internship or part-time position in that area. Working in a real-world setting helps you determine whether a certain practice area truly aligns with your interests and goals.
Even if you later pivot to a different path, the experience will still be valuable. For instance, experience in community pharmacy can help you understand the challenges patients face post-discharge—insight that’s incredibly useful in clinical or hospital settings.
3. Build Your Network
Building a strong network can expand your knowledge and open doors to insights, advice, and opportunities you might not otherwise encounter. To build your network:
- Cultivate relationships with mentors within your school.
- Attend pharmacy conferences to connect with professionals outside of your school.
- Get involved in student organizations.
As leadership expert John Maxwell notes, the people you surround yourself with have a significant impact on your success and personal growth.
4. Sharpen Soft Skills
Soft skills like communication, teamwork, leadership, and emotional intelligence are essential in any pharmacy career, even though they may not be part of your curriculum. No matter what your future role is, you’ll be interacting with patients, colleagues, and others, making these skills critical to your success.
Look for opportunities to develop these skills through workshops, presentations, and feedback from mentors.
5. Maintain Your Well-being
Pharmacy school is a marathon, not a sprint. Each semester and every rotation brings new challenges, and you’ll perform at your best when you feel your best. To thrive in the long run, you must prioritize your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Establish habits that support rest, nutrition, movement, and meaningful connections with others. Find resources to maintain mental health and well-being as a pharmacist through NABP’s Initiative.
Find more resources for students in other NABP blog posts, the Examinations pages, the Practice Exams pages, and Candidate Application Bulletin. Sign up for the NAPLEX email series for more information for students.
Vinh Thai, PharmD is a PGY2 Health-System Pharmacy Administration and Leadership Resident at the University of Illinois Chicago Retzky College of Pharmacy. He earned his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Colorado in 2023 and recently completed a one-month rotational experience at NABP.
