Niabi Saganitso

Hometown: Phoenix, AZ
 

Why did you choose to get your PharmD Degree?

I have always had a passion for healthcare, and I knew where I wanted to be growing up. I started working in a retail pharmacy to ensure I enjoyed it fully before starting pharmacy school. I ended up loving it and saw a career where I could make a difference with my patients. 

Why did you choose the University of Arizona R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy?

As a child, I always wanted to be a Wildcat. U of A also has very great healthcare programs. Today, I am living out my dream as a PharmCat.  
 

What about being a PharmD Ambassador excites YOU the most?

I am most excited about getting to connect with possible future PharmCats and share my experiences and words of advice for anyone choosing to pursue a career in pharmacy. 
 

What inspires you most about the many possibilities a career in pharmacy can offer?

The flexibility and range of a pharmacy career is what excites me the most. If I feel like I want change, pharmacy is a wide field, and I can work in different areas if I feel passionate about it. 

What are your career interests?

My career interests include patient care, healthcare, hospital settings, and the ability to rotate through different duties as a future pharmacist.

What piece of advice you would give to a prospective PharmD student?

Obtain pharmacy experience prior to pharmacy school so you know you like the field.  Also, invest in professional headshots for pharmacy school! The headshots will come in handy.

On and off-campus involvement

I have been involved on campus with various volunteering activities when I am able to contribute time. I also run the Indigenous Pharmacy Student Association (ISPA) club for anyone interested in serving native American/ underserved populations. I have also worked collaboratively with other clubs to hold a cultural potluck as well as serve as a member of the student council as a student leader. I am in a research survey project with a couple other classmates examining diabetic patient counseling and nutrition's role in pharmacy school. I have worked as a pharmacy technician trainee then a certified pharmacy technician through self-study. I was a technician for about two years before becoming a pharmacy intern. I have worked as a retail pharmacy intern for about two years and a hospital pharmacy intern for about one year. I feel both jobs have given me help piecing together the information I learn in pharmacy school, and I get to apply it to real patient scenarios and see different medications in use. My IPPEs have also helped me grow as a student pharmacist. I have a service commitment to (Indian Health Service) IHS and I feel as though my hospital IPPE experience and my background working in retail/hospital pharmacy has prepared me immensely for my future role.