Four second-year pharmacy students have been selected to receive a Baxter Scholarship toward their fee for the Plein Certificate in Geriatric Pharmacy. The Plein Center Leadership Team was inspired by the motivation and vision of the scholarship recipients. Each scholarship winner shared compelling personal stories of experiences that inspired them to pursue a career in geriatric pharmacy. A link between all of them is a desire to strengthen relationships with – and uphold dignity and agency to – older adults.
Amanda Cushen
With the Plein Certificate in Geriatric Pharmacy, Amanda seeks to empower older adults.
“Preserving dignity in older adult patients is extremely important to me,” she wrote. “I hope to provide some relief to patients as I provide care, not only in medication management, but also as someone that can lend an ear when they need it and truly listen to their concerns.”
Maria Dolgova
Maria’s vision for the future of geriatric care is one that educates patients.
“I believe pharmacists can create a safe environment where the patient can learn not only about their medications and the need for them, but also what steps they could take to develop habits to age healthfully,” she wrote.
Shannon Lopez-Parker
Shannon hopes to use the skills and tools from the Plein Certificate to improve the lives of older adults and bolster connections.
“We are all stronger when we are connected, and the Plein Certificate will provide me with tools to provide better care and stronger connections with older adults in our communities,” she wrote.
Liz Sullivan
Liz applied to the Plein Certificate for Geriatric Pharmacy in order to give older adults the power they deserve in their healthcare decisions.
“My goal as a pharmacist for older adults is to give control over their medications and health back to my patients,” she wrote. “I came to pharmacy school to serve my community and help my patients become advocates for their own healthcare.”