Taylor Ravelo
Hometown: Lakewood, CA
Why did you choose to get your PharmD Degree?
I wanted to be a pharmacist since I was ten years old due to my grandma passing away from Alzheimer's. I wanted to see why her medication didn't make her feel better, so I wanted to take part in potentially understanding how medications affected the body, and so on! I love connecting with people and helping them with a specialty in medications.
Why did you choose the University of Arizona R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy?
U of A has always been my dream school because of location and opportunities that has been provided to us. It is a great place to live and there are tons of internships that are applicable to school schedules!
What about being a PharmD Ambassador excites YOU the most?
I love meeting new people! It makes the transition from undergrad to grad school much easier when you have someone telling you it's going to be okay!
What inspires you most about the many possibilities a career in pharmacy can offer?
In a world of pharmacy, the possibilities are endless! Pharmacists have such a major role behind the scenes, and it truly saves people's lives. I want to contribute to the patient safety and the quality of care to our society.
What are your career interests?
As I grow in my career, I would like to deep diver into management and/or rehabilitation facilitates. However, I am still open to seeing what pharmacy has to offer!
What piece of advice you would give to a prospective PharmD student?
Always be open to change! It is very hard to find a good rhythm when you are forced to learn one way. Be open to knowing different study habits and form connections with your classmates so that you can help each other. We are all in this together, so always help someone out!
On and off-campus involvement
I am involved with multiple student organizations, such as ambassadors, APhA, SSHP, and Kappa Psi. These have helped me grow out of my comfort zone and explore new connections with peers and pharmacists. I was able to be a hypertension coordinator in health fairs to overlook the booth and answer any questions about patients' medications. Outside of school, I have worked at my internship at Fry's Pharmacy for almost 2 years now. These experiences have helped me apply what I have learned in school and practice my skills in real time. It is a great way to see how you can be helpful to people when you are putting yourself out there!