Last October, I was invited to give the annual Rho Chi Robert L. Boblitt Lecture at my alma mater, the University of Houston (UH) College of Pharmacy. The usual topic for this annual lecture is the future of pharmacy practice from the perspective of a pharmacist leader. Fondly remembering some of the Boblitt lectures I attended when I was a student pharmacist, I was overwhelmed with pride at receiving the invitation. Then, I remembered the typical demographic for Boblitt lecturers: association leaders, former deans of schools and colleges of pharmacy, and practitioners with decades of service. In a blink of an eye, I had officially become … seasoned.

In celebrating the 50th anniversary of APhA–ASP, let us appreciate the work that has been done to allow the opportunities that we have today. The achievements of an organization are the results of the combined efforts of every individual. Long before our official establishment in 1969, passionate student pharmacists came together to push boundaries and pave the way for us to actively engage in APhA–ASP today. Many of these leaders are still involved in shaping the future of pharmacy; they truly display the promise for advancing the profession that we make when we first put on our white coats. 

First off, congratulations on your interviews and your decision to attend the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting & Exposition. It’s a great way to explore many different postgraduate opportunities all in one place. I too interviewed at Midyear and many residency programs, so I understand wanting to be as prepared as possible. 

Being prepared does mean doing the practice interviews and creating a pristine CV, like you mentioned. I cannot express enough how important it is to make sure that these are well-prepared documents. Proofreading is very important, as these are usually some of the only documents that everyone at your program site will see and evaluate. But I absolutely agree with you about preparing our minds and perceptions as well in this process.