Pharmacists of tomorrow: A career with limitless potential

Going beyond study enriched my pharmacy experiences and broadened the horizons of what is immediately out there

Sue In Lee is a returning pharmacy student from the University of Auckland. As an alumnus of the qualifying 2020 cohort, she has returned to complete a diploma in bioscience enterprise. Sue In is a high-achieving student and has rotated through various opportunities and roles within the pharmacy sector. In this article, she shares how she got to where she is today.

Ms Lee’s track record shows her love for co-curriculars and her passion for being involved. She wants to drive change and development, and much of her work has been within the leadership space. During her time in the BPharm, Ms Lee was a recognised face at the School of Pharmacy, where she was involved in significant leadership roles, such as becoming a class representative in her second year. She was the Auckland Pharmacy Student Association’s marketing rep in her third year and the organisation’s president in her fourth. As president, Ms Lee was also involved in taking APSA to the world stage when the organisation officially registered as a member of the International Pharmaceutical Students Federation.

Ms Lee then decided to develop those leadership skills beyond university and was inducted as the IPSF secretary for the Asia-Pacific region. Her latest adventure saw her rub shoulders with the world’s top health leaders at the 76th World Health Assembly in Geneva (as pictured). This allowed IPSF representatives to participate in high-level health discussions with other WHO delegates from around the globe. Through these progressions, Ms Lee has seen how the small things can combine to become something much more.

“Going beyond study enriched my pharmacy experiences and broadened the horizons of what is immediately out there.”

While these commitments keep Ms Lee’s hands full, she says she wouldn’t have it any other way. For her, the opportunities open doors to many different areas of the profession. Ms Lee’s level of exposure has allowed her to connect with a wide range of individuals inside and outside the pharmacy sector and has helped build her network and discover her niche as a pharmacist. She mentions that her opportunistic view on life has helped immensely with her professional development in practice, and she intends to continue extending herself to seek out new opportunities.

Ms Lee’s experiences have also highlighted that while some of the more traditional careers in pharmacy are presented to students on a silver platter, many other pathways often go unnoticed. For prospective students wondering what else could be out there, she says the world is our oyster. She has seen that pharmacists can wear many hats and believes that even if your dream role doesn’t exist today, it doesn’t mean it won’t exist tomorrow.

Pharmacy is full of unique and exciting opportunities, but they can only be appreciated by those who dare to look. Ms Lee believes that opportunities will come to those who are ready, but individuals must constantly seek them out to gain exposure. The diversity of options available also highlights the versatility of the BPharm and its untapped potential for future pharmacists.

“I found it so upsetting to see some pharmacy students unmotivated and disliking their career before it’s even begun. One of my biggest aspirations for my leadership roles is to help other pharmacy students to see the endless potential of a pharmacy degree and to discover their interest and passion in the profession,” she says.

Although it may seem daunting initially, Ms Lee recommends that stepping out of your comfort zone is an excellent first step to discovering these for yourself. Pharmacy often overlaps with other areas, and she says it is all about finding how your interests can interact with your study to personalise your career. As well as doing a little research on where the BPharm can take you, she also recommends contacting those already in the industry to get an idea of what these pathways can look like in practice.

As the profession rapidly evolves, Ms Lee has much to look forward to as an early career pharmacist. As well as the traditional duties, she hopes to see the profession continue integrating patient-centred care into practice. This allows pharmacists to make meaningful impacts through services such as optimising medicines to increase patients’ quality of life. Regarding technology, Ms Lee also sees services such as digital health and robotics revolutionising how pharmacists can best use their time and specialised skill sets as medicines experts.

Sue In hopes that her positive outlook towards the profession can help others to see the same. The BPharm can be many things, and there is generally something for everyone. If you genuinely believe pharmacy is for you, you will go above and beyond to find your niche.