Throughout your life, you will experience things that make you wonder why it’s happening to you. You will later find out that it was either protecting you from something or it was preparing you to help encourage someone else. My own match story has provided me the opportunity to help pharmacy students weather the storm of the match. Through the process, I have been blessed to watch each of these individuals grow and learn from their resilience as well. Ryan is one of those stories and I am honored to share his experience and success as a pharmacy administration resident!

Story:

Ryce:

Tell us your story and how you got to chose pharmacy as a career.

 

Ryan:

I was born and raised in Houston, Texas but my family’s roots are in New Orleans, Louisiana. My uncle was the first of my family to attend college and earn a pharmacy degree at Texas Southern University, a historically Black college/university. This inspired his siblings, including my father, to pursue a secondary education which modeled for their children to do the same. Earning good grades and going to college was ingrained into my childhood. I was always interested in medicine but chose pharmacy because of the professions’ vast opportunities. Contrary to popular belief, pharmacists work beyond retail settings (e.g., Walgreens or CVS). Once I learned that pharmacists could specialize in psychiatry, ambulatory care, administration, and other avenues, I found myself gravitating more towards it. I started pharmacy school in August 2015 and graduated in June 2019.

 

Obstacles:

Ryce:

So, many people look at people who earn residencies and think it’s a cake walk or that you are perfect in order to get one of the coveted positions. What would you say was your biggest obstacle to get to where you are today?

Ryan:

I encountered numerous obstacles as a pharmacy student, but not securing a residency on Match Day was certainly one of the most devastating. For those unaware, Match Day is when medical professionals receive acceptance or rejection to post-graduate training. Residencies are highly coveted and associated with stature and experiences that increase job outlook and marketability (especially in the realm of pharmacy). Students interview across the country for these limited positions and thousands are rejected each year. If you do not match during Phase I, you can reapply for Phase II. It was certainly an anxiety-ridden period.

Ryce:

Can you give a little more background about your qualifications as an applicant and what happened after receiving the news of not matching?

Ryan:

By the time I applied for the match, I had served as a leader for various organizations, interned three years at a prominent hospital, created student programs within the Texas Medical Center, and won awards at state and national levels. I interviewed at five hospitals and considered myself a competitive candidate. Yet, on March 15^th, 2019, I did not match during Phase I.

I remember feeling paralyzed and lying in bed for what felt like hours. The flood of text messages I received from classmates curious to see where I matched only fueled my frustration and embarrassment. I stayed home and slowly pulled myself together. I contacted Ryce because I remember she once was in a similar situation. It was very important for me to talk to someone who understood what I was going through. It was like talking to a big sister, which helped me to regroup. She also shared with me what her mother would tell her, “You get one day to cry about it, but tomorrow, you need to have a plan.” I wasn’t crying but those words repeat in my head to this day. Ryce checked on me the next day and I told her that I was going to apply for Phase II.

Fast forward to April 10^th, 2019, I matched to a two-year Health-System Pharmacy Administration program.

 

Action:

Ryce:

That’s awesome! I remember talking to you, but I forgot about my mom’s advice. It’s still true today though. After making a plan, what motivated you to keep pursuing the field you wanted? What advice would you give to someone in your shoes in this year’s match?

Ryan:

While preparing for Phase II, I was told to apply for less competitive positions by other pharmacists. I ignored this advice completely. Despite the possibility of being rejected a second time, I knew I only wanted to do a residency if it was in Pharmacy Administration. My feelings of frustration and embarrassment subsided as time progressed. Residency is a great opportunity to expand your knowledge and gain a competitive edge. However, it does not validate your worth as a pharmacist or a person. Regardless of the results, I recognized that I was still going to graduate from pharmacy school in three months and had the support of my family and friends. For a small moment after the initial rejection, I felt as if my accomplishments across four years were somehow made obsolete because of one day. In hindsight, this was completely absurd.

This experience taught me to never discredit myself and always remember that God is protecting me. I am grateful for matching to a residency program and I encourage everyone to strive for excellence, but to maintain a balanced life and positive mindset as well. Setbacks are a natural part of life. To fear failing is to fear living.

Purpose:

Ryce:

I love that! I’m going to have to use it. Now that you’ve gotten past one of the biggest hurdles, what’s next for you?

Ryan:

I am currently finishing my first year of residency in Charlotte, North Carolina at Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center. My interests include medication safety, pharmacy operations, and financial management. The great thing about pharmacy administration is that it allows you to explore roles outside of a hospital setting so my options are open. Outside of pharmacy, I try to understand more about financial literacy, health, and African American history. It is easy to get stuck in “work-mode” but exercising creativity and self-awareness is important as well.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Ryce:

I guess residency is flying by. I guess there is something to be said for being booked and busy. I’m so proud of your accomplishments so far. How have you been able to use your story and experiences to help others?

Ryan:

As a past student leader and brother of Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity Inc., pharmacy students regularly contact me concerning residency and life post-graduation. It is an amazing and humbling experience to share my story as Ryce and other mentors did for me. My goal is for students to realize and achieve their full potential, whether that includes completing a residency or not.

The landscape of pharmacy is consistently changing and more questions than answers currently exist. New solutions therefore require new minds. I have also had the opportunity to counsel and encourage other residents as residency requires an immense amount of time and energy. To those reading, stay resilient and recognize that moments of hardship are temporary. Everyone’s path is different and that’s what makes your story unique.

Ryan’s Favorites!