Briefly describe the path that brought you here (to RxGenomix). 

I discovered my passion for clinical care, and particularly for pharmacogenomics, while I was in pharmacy school at the University of Illinois at Chicago. There, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to work in a PGx laboratory. As I was finishing my fourth year of Advance Pharmacy Practice Experiences, it was clear to me that I also enjoyed patient care in the ambulatory care setting, and I was eager to learn more about implementation.

 

After UIC, I completed a residency in ambulatory care at Monroe Clinic and a Clinical Implementation of Pharmacogenomics Fellowship at the University of Colorado. Through all of this, I found I really enjoyed educating healthcare professionals and also working on developing the infrastructure to support dissemination of pharmacogenomics in clinical care. After multiple conversations with the team at RxGenomix, I was convinced that this is the right place for me to make an impact on patient care.

 

 

What motivated you to get involved with RxGenomix?

My personal philosophy was aligned very closely with RxGenomix’s mission of making a difference in how pharmacogenomics is applied to patient care. I was really drawn to the mission and vision of RxGenomix and was very excited to see that one of the main goals of the company was to empower and educate pharmacists in implementing pharmacogenomics in clinical care.

 

What is the one thing you most hope to accomplish with RxGenomix in the next five years?

Building the most optimal infrastructure for the dissemination of PGx in the community setting. At the moment, there is a lot of interest in using PGx information, but there is a lot of work to be done in making sure that the right infrastructure is in place in order for it to be readily available to patients and providers. I would like to contribute to making PGx the standard of care.

 

What is the most valuable thing you bring to RxGenomix and/or the pharmacy profession?

My clinical experience with pharmacogenomics. I have been exposed to PGx from various angles such as clinical implementation, research and patient care. I have a good understanding of the landscape of pharmacogenomics and I would like to apply that knowledge in contributing to RxGenomix’s goals of implementing pharmacogenomics in the clinical setting.

 

What’s the most surprising thing about you? Something we’d never guess.

I love volunteering and teaching. I have been volunteering in various organizations since I was a teenager and I find it very rewarding. My first pharmacy experience was volunteering at a free clinic in Chicago. One of my most memorable volunteering experiences was teaching math on the weekend to middle school students. A few years ago, I transitioned into volunteering as a clinical pharmacist in the ambulatory care setting.

 

What is the one thing you can’t live without?

 I cannot live without my morning coffee.

 

Is there one book everyone should read?

“Diffusion of Innovation” by Everett Rogers is one of the books that I would recommend to everyone. This book was very helpful for me to better understand how, why and at what rate new ideas and technology spread. I think we are in an era of rapid technological advancements and it is crucial to understand how to adopt some of these changes.

 

You have two weeks off. Where would you go?

I love traveling, the beach and the outdoors. I would go on a road trip coast to coast in Costa Rica.

 

What is your spirit animal?

My spirit animal is the Owl as I like to be observant and understand my surroundings before I express my own opinion.

 

Who should play you in the movie about your life?  (at your current age)  

I was told that I resemble Lady Gaga when she played in the movie “A star is born”.