“Ami,” can you believe that you are already roughly halfway through your APPE rotations? The time passes quickly, making it challenging to get as much as possible out of every month. While you may feel disillusioned with some aspects of the process, you are doing an excellent job taking active steps to maximize your own experience and maintain a positive, open-minded attitude. 

If you continue to approach the rest of the year in the same way, I am confident that you will find the “hAPPEness” you are looking for!

Five years ago, I started as the first clinical pharmacist in women’s health at the Indianapolis VA Medical Center. My passion and desire to encourage fellow pharmacists and student pharmacists to practice in this exciting space grows as each year passes. Empowering patients to feel in control and well informed regarding their health and medications is one of the most rewarding aspects of my job. 

I currently practice in an internal medicine resident physician clinic, where I focus on chronic disease state management and women’s health-related concerns.  I also still have the pleasure of spending time in a gynecology clinic, focusing on conditions such as menopause, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, urinary incontinence, pregnancy and lactation concerns, endometriosis, and polycystic ovarian syndrome. As a women’s health advocate and APhA–ASP Chapter Advisor at the Butler University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, I was thrilled to see the recent launch of the APhA–ASP Women’s Health Campaign. 

In early April, I learned that my brother had attempted suicide. I was assured that he was safe at the hospital and would be getting the treatment he needed. I knew that over time, things would be okay. And things are okay. He is back home and doing very well. My family has dealt with mental illness and the struggles that mental Illness causes for a long time. We have a strong community that includes mental health professionals, family members, and friends. I feel fortunate and wish that everyone had this kind of support. Throughout my career, I would like to promote and help contribute to sustainable support systems for my patients.