Alumni Spotlight: Mobeen Moslem '13, PharmD
Mobeen Moslem, PharmD, is the director of pharmacy and retail operations for Walgreens, Co., based in Southern Arizona. He earned his doctor of pharmacy degree from the R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy in 2013. He began his pharmacy career as a Walgreens pharmacy technician in 2006. Since then, he rose through the ranks. Over the course of a 17-year career with the Illinois-based drugstore, Dr. Moslem was a pharmacy intern, staff pharmacist, pharmacy manager, and a healthcare supervisor.
Dr. Moslem is the keynote speaker for the 2023 White Coat Ceremony and was able to share some of the reasons why he stays connected with his alma mater, memories from his time as a student, and some advice for students nearing the finish line in their academic journey.
Why did you want to become a pharmacist?
I had a desire to pursue a career in healthcare. During my tenure as a pharmacy technician, I learned the pivotal role pharmacists play in the healthcare system. I enjoyed seeing the relationships built between the pharmacists and patients which included providing valuable education that had a lasting impact.
What is your favorite memory from your time as a College of Pharmacy student?
My favorite memory is the camaraderie my classmates and I developed. We had a great deal of diversity and different experiences within my class. We came together to see each other succeed by doing many activities together like studying or hanging out on the weekends.
Can you name a mentor, preceptor, faculty, or staff member who made an impact on you? If so, who was that individual and how did he/she make a difference?
Dr. John Regan and Professor Bill Jones had a humongous impact on me. While I was in school, my father was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer which put me in state of shock, and it was extremely hard to stay focused in school. Consequently, there were times I had to miss class more than I had anticipated. However, Dr. Regan would always save me the lecture PowerPoints to his class and spend extra time with me to review. From Dr. Regan, I learned the importance of empathy and making a connection with people. His ability to understand and communicate with me was a huge factor in my success. Professor Bill Jones, a distinguished clinician, taught me the importance of focusing on patients over metrics. Bill Jones taught me how challenging patient care is. I learned from Bill Jones that in order to be a successful pharmacist you must include patients in goal setting, decision making, and therapy planning.
How did your pharmacy education contribute to your career success?
Walgreens prioritizes pharmacy operations with the primary goal of improving patient outcomes. Our purpose and vision are centered around keeping patients healthy and happy. My pharmacy education helps me make informed decisions that have an impact on patients. Keeping the patients front and center has allowed me to grow within the company.
How have you stayed engaged with the College? And why is maintaining this connection important to you?
Recently, I have joined the University of Arizona Coit College of Pharmacy National Advisory Board. I am extremely excited to serve as a partner to help with their mission. Maintaining a connection is important because I understand the important role the University of Arizona has on the community. The RKCCOP has helped shaped three pharmacists’ careers in my family. More importantly, I took an oath to continuously impact the next generation of pharmacists. My hope is they have an opportunity to uplift our profession to new heights in the healthcare industry.
What advice do you have for students who have made it this far in their academic career?
Continue to invest time into yourself. Being a successful pharmacist is more than the clinical aspects. Apply what you have learned to communicate effectively with patients and your team members. You will soon learn that is your most powerful asset as a pharmacist. Your success depends on your emotional intelligence in the workforce. Your clinical acumen is for the NAPLEX. How people perceive you by the way you communicate determines their health outcomes and your professional trajectory.