Description

“Just keep marching forward – that is critical to your success”

Chidindu “Chiddy” Aderibigbe, PharmD, MPH is a current Leadership Development Associate at Eli Lilly within their Clinical Capabilities organization, specifically the Clinical Design, Delivery, and Analytics (CDDA) team. She’s a recent graduate of Texas Southern University and was a part of the inaugural recipient cohort for the ASHP Midyear Travel Award. She joins podcast host and #PharmGradWishlist leadership team member, Kathy E. Monangai, PharmD, to discuss seeing those in the profession like yourself, goal setting, and mentorship.

Dr. Aderibigbe is a native of Houston, Texas whose pharmacy story began at birth (since both her parents are and eventually one of her siblings became pharmacists). She began pharmacy school during the height of COVID-19 in 2020 and made it a point to get involved in various organizations such as SNPhA and SSHP. As Dr. Aderibigbe continued her studies, she made it a point to inspire the students behind her. One of her favorite mentorship programs was through the Scientist Mentoring & Diversity Program for Biotechnology (SMDP Biotech). She leveraged the connections she made there and through her time at Midyear to secure post-grad training.

“You are more prepared than you think…

All the experience you’ve built up does shine”

Top Triamwong, PharmD, an Ambulatory Care Clinical Pharmacist with Facey Medical Group & Facey Medical Foundation joins podcast host and #PharmGradWishlist leadership team member, Kathy E. Monangai, PharmD, to discuss “life post-post-graduate training”. Dr. Triamwong is a native Southern Californian whose pharmacy story began shortly before he moved across the country to the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy. When he began in 2014, he sought a field of pharmacy that could bring him closest to the patient and found mentors in Ambulatory Care. After graduating in 2018, he completed a PGY-1 Ambulatory Care Residency with the University of Southern California School of Pharmacy. He walks us through each of his transitions: student, trainee, clinician.

Dr. Triamwong touches on the anxiety of post-graduate training, managing imposter syndrome and work-life balance, and remembering your hobbies (he’s an avid LA sports and music fan). We also touched on the importance of having mentors who look like you, but especially those who do not. “If you stand by your interests, if you follow what calls out to you – you’ll find people with similar interests and be given opportunities to connect with people who then mentor and guide you so you can thrive in what you would like to do” We are always transitioning or pivoting at various points in our training, career, and in life. As Dr. Triamwong transitions out of the new practitioner space and contemplates future pivots, he knows patient care will be at its core.

To support aspiring pharmacists, find more information at https://linktr.ee/pharmgradwishlist 

“You are not defined by a position, or by a title, or by your job – all of those things can change”

Kathy E. Monangai, PharmD, advisory team member of the #PharmGradWishlist interviews Chidinma Ahiarah, PharmD, current PGY-2 Oncology Pharmacy Resident at USCF Health. Dr. Ahiarah’s story illustrates that delay is not denial. She’s a current San Francisco, California transplant by way of Austin, Texas. Before moving out West, she completed her PharmD degree in 2021 at the Texas A&M College of Pharmacy and entered the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Pharmacy Resident Matching Program for the first time in the fall of 2020. Dr. Ahiarah walks us through her journey of not matching in her first attempt, the challenges of the experience, and matching at a top 10 hospital in the following cycle.

Dr. Ahiarah leads with her identity in all that she does and shares how she considered that during the Match process. “Being a resident is not the best thing to happen to you. The best thing to happen to you is the fact that you’re here, the fact that you have a story to tell, and that you’re able to contribute to the world” As a future clinical pharmacist, with interests in oncology, malignant hematology, critical care, and academia – she hopes to be a voice/advocate for future minority pharmacy residency hopefuls and support DEIB efforts at her future institutions. Learn more about PharmGradWishlist at https://linktr.ee/pharmgradwishlist

Hello Everyone! Welcome to the “Brighter Horizons” podcast brought to you by #PharmGradWishlist. I’m your new host, Kathy Monangai, and I’m excited to take you on your next listening journey. At #PharmGradWishlist, we believe we can end health disparities; it starts with discussion, leading to actionable change, and emphasized by amplification. Join the #PharmGradWishlist team in listening and sharing the stories of how we can turn healthcare and education into an equitable playing field. The "Brighter Horizons" podcast aims to showcase a movement to support minoritized pharmacy graduates who will be the future of a more diversified healthcare space. Each episode hopes to shine a bright light on a crucial topic facing healthcare today, equity, through the voices and vignettes of past, present, and future healthcare heroes. Learn more at https://www.pharmgradwishlist.org/