Ava Ramaley
Hometown: Tucson, AZ
Why did you choose to get your PharmD Degree?
I chose to get my PharmD Degree because pharmacists are one of healthcare's most accessible yet often underestimated professionals. Their impact is everywhere, from preventing medication errors to optimizing complex therapies, their decisions can change outcomes. I want to use my knowledge of medications to collaborate with healthcare teams to make those decisions count and to make a meaningful impact on patient care.
Why did you choose the University of Arizona R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy?
Arizona already felt like home to me after completing my undergraduate at the University of Arizona. I wanted to build on the connections that shaped my experience while pursuing my PharmD within a highly ranked program.
What about being a PharmD Ambassador excites YOU the most?
I'm excited to be the person who makes pharmacy school feel less intimidating and more attainable by sharing my own experiences, advice, and genuine perspective with future students.
What inspires you most about the many possibilities a career in pharmacy can offer?
What inspires me most is the opportunity to make a difference in numerous ways, whether through direct patient care, advancing treatments, leadership, or discovering a specialty I never expected.
What are your career interests?
I hope to pursue emergency medicine or transplant pharmacy, specialties that challenge me to think critically, adapt quickly, and use pharmacotherapy to make a direct difference in patients' lives.
What piece of advice you would give to a prospective PharmD student?
Find your people early! A strong study group can make challenging coursework feel manageable. Stay organized and on top of your work, but don't forget to get involved and build connections-some of your greatest resources and friendships will come from the people you meet along the way. Pharmacy is a small world.
On and off-campus involvement
I have been fortunate enough to gain experience in pharmacy both on and off campus. I volunteered for two years at the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base Clinic Pharmacy and shadowed pharmacists in Emergency Medicine at Banner Medical Center and at Phoenix Children's Hospital. I currently work as a pharmacy intern at Walgreens and Northwest Oro Valley Hospital. On campus, I am involved in the Student College of Clinical Pharmacy club, currently serving as the President-Elect. I'm also involved in Kappa Psi and the Student Association of Specality Pharmacy club. Additionally, I volunteer at community health fairs, currently serving as a Cholesterol Coordinator. These experiences have strengthened my leadership, communication, and clinical skills while exposing me to many ways pharmacists can impact their communities.