As a final-year student pharmacist on rotations, I understand the importance of prioritizing my well-being amid the demands of academia and professional responsibilities. I want to share with you my personal journey and emphasize the significance of self-care. For me, my hobbies and outdoor activities help me de-stress and find balance during pharmacy school, work, and rotations.

Being a student pharmacist is no walk in the park. In fact, it’s far from it. It’s more like running a marathon, but with your brain instead of your legs. While embarking on such a relentless journey, student pharmacists need to remember one thing among all the chaos: to take care of themselves.

Substance use disorders (SUDs) can affect anyone, just as cancer or any other numerous disease states out there. They are a result of many factors, including genetic risk factors, the ubiquity of alcohol, or the opioid epidemic. Pharmacists and future pharmacists have a duty to protect patients and make positive change in the profession.