Eager to grow as a patient educator, I first competed in the local APhA–ASP Patient Counseling Competition in my second year of pharmacy school. I challenged myself to improve and compete every year after that. At APhA2018 in Nashville, the work of the last 4 years of pharmacy school was rewarded when I won the national APhA–ASP Patient Counseling Competition, which is supported by CVS Health.

“Alison,” congratulations on reaching a huge milestone—graduating from pharmacy school! According to the U.S. Census, only about 2% of the adult population has a doctoral degree. You and the Class of 2018 have worked so hard to achieve this. Take a moment to celebrate this great accomplishment.

And to those of you who went through the residency match process, congratulations! For those who did not match with a program, your career was meant to go in a different direction. It’s okay. I chose not to pursue a residency and have not regretted my decision. Residency just wasn’t right for me. Here are some tips for transitioning from student pharmacist to new practitioner.

All APhA–ASP Chapters share a common goal: to provide care to patients and the community while advocating for the profession. Student pharmacists do this every day in some type of way, either individually or with peers at their schools. So why not take it a step further and bring the forces together? As chapter leaders at four different schools that are geographically close within Region 2, we had a unique opportunity to travel a short distance and meet in the City of Brotherly Love!

During American Pharmacists Month (APhM) this past October, the University of the Sciences Philadelphia College of Pharmacy (PCP), Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, the Temple University School of Pharmacy, and the Thomas Jefferson University Jefferson College of Pharmacy gathered in the name of patient care and held a city-wide health fair for the citizens of Philadelphia. Who knew a small idea tossed around in conversation during the 2016 Region 2 Midyear Regional Meeting would bring together four chapters and four unique individuals with one common goal?