PharmD Student Spotlight: Kelsey Rae Wasikowski
Today
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Kelsey Wasikowski is a first-year pharmacy student at the Tucson campus of the R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy. She was a Pharmaceutical Sciences major during the two years of her undergraduate studies at the University of Arizona and applied to pharmacy school her sophomore year, through early assurance. She is currently a member of the Women's Swimming and Diving team for the University, competing in the Breaststroke and Individual Medley. Some highlights of her swimming career thus far include placing in the finals and scoring at the 2025 BIG-12 Conference Championships, placing in the finals and scoring at the 2024 PAC-12 Conference Championships, and competing at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Q & A
What inspired you to pursue a career in pharmacy?
- My inspiration to pursue a career in pharmacy stems from my experiences working with pharmacists as a patient. Their compassion, empathy, and dedication to quality patient care showed me the meaningful impact pharmacists can have on improving health and patient's wellbeing. Witnessing their ability to apply extensive knowledge to the personal experiences of patients motivates me to gain the same skills and expertise to contribute to high-quality patient-centered care.
What’s one thing you’re most looking forward to in your final year of pharmacy school?
- In my final year of pharmacy school, I am most excited to gain hands-on experience in different pharmacy settings. I plan to choose APPE rotations that cover a variety of different areas of pharmacy in order to broaden my understanding of the profession. The rotations are a great opportunity to gain experience that I may not otherwise have the chance to encounter and provide me with a more well rounded skill set for whichever specific career I ultimately pursue.
What aspect of pharmacy excites you the most about entering the professional field?
- What excites me most about entering the professional field of pharmacy is the opportunity to advocate for patients and make a meaningful impact in areas that may be underrepresented. For example, I may be interested in exploring veterinary pharmacy, where I would be able to apply my knowledge to improve the health and well being of patients who may not have the voice to advocate for themselves. I find it rewarding to work in a field where patient care extends beyond the traditional patient population and where advocacy can make a real difference.
What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learned about yourself since starting pharmacy school?
- Prior to starting pharmacy school, I was strongly advised to reconsider my choices of being a Division 1 student-athlete in a professional doctoral program due to the workload and time requirements that both of these commitments require. Since starting pharmacy school, I have developed a new degree of discipline that has proven to myself my ability to be successful in the face of demanding challenges.
If you weren’t studying pharmacy, what career path do you think you’d be pursuing?
- Since I can remember, I have had a prominent trait of empathy that has given me the desire to help others. It is for this reason that I have wanted to work as a first responder in Emergency Services, specifically a firefighter or paramedic. If I wasn’t studying pharmacy, I would most likely be pursuing this pathway.