Congratulations to our graduates! Each student has a unique story to share about their ACPHS journey. From academic excellence, internships, residencies and fellowships, to community service, research, leadership and study abroad, we invite you to learn more about their experiences. ACPHS proudly educates the next generation of leaders to improve the health of our society. Below is just a sample of stories from our graduating class.
John W. (“Will”) Correira is graduating with a bachelor of science degree in public health. He arrived at ACPHS expecting to become a pharmacist but changed majors after getting involved in research on vaccine mandates – just as the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic increased the topic’s importance. He discovered he loved research and public health.
Amelia Ekert intends to pursue a pharmacy residency after graduation. She talked to us about her experience at ACPHS compared to the pharmacy school she initially attended.
Jason Fine, who is graduating with a doctorate in pharmacy, is part of the final class at ACPHS’ Vermont campus. He has served in a number of leadership roles at ACPHS, including in Phi Lambda Sigma Pharmacy Leadership Society as the Vermont Liaison to the Albany campus, the president of the ACPHS Student Government Association-Vermont and vice president of the Vermont Pharmacists Associate Student Chapter. Jason is also active with the University of Vermont Medical Center Foundation, serving on the grant review committee.
Abir AL kalbani completed the master’s program in cytotechnology and molecular cytology in December 2022. A 36-year-old native of Oman, she was urged to pursue her degree from her supervisor in the hospital laboratory where she worked in the country's capital. She learned about ACPHS through other Panther graduates in Oman. She is currently engaged in an internship under the guidance of Program Director and Cytology Instructor Jenna LeBlanc.
Soo Kang is graduating with a doctorate in pharmacy from ACPHS, while also completing her healthcare management MBA at Clarkson University, through an affiliation agreement between the schools. She has been a student leader, holding roles in Student Government Association, Phi Lambda Sigma and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. She has also volunteered at a primary care clinic in an underserved Albany neighborhood. After graduation, she will be a pharmacy resident at South Shore University Hospital in Bay Shore, NY.
Luis Rivera’s quick action at College Parkside Pharmacy helped a patient get the care he needed.
The quick-talking, high-energy Kaitlyn Strumski, who has accepted a job as a senior scientist in manufacturing at Eli Lilly and Co., says things have worked out better than she’d hoped at ACPHS. “My new job actually fits what I want more than what I came here thinking I would like,” Strumski said with palpable enthusiasm. “I wanted to impact society by helping people with medication. This is the most direct way you can do it – by literally, physically, making the medicine.”
Cassandra Todd is a student who worked at the public health site for nearly a year.
Mayle Lupia-Eannace was one of a group of students whose research led to the creation of the food pantry on campus.
Four students who received master’s degrees in pharmaceutical sciences shared a unique experience. Due to the COVID pandemic, they started their program in January, when it is usually not allowed. Their graduation was the result of ACPHS faculty’s determination to get them on course, combined with their own hard work to stay on track.
Erica Scholl set herself a lofty goal at age 5. Today, she is well along the path toward achieving it, but improving pediatric patients’ lives.
Zachary Lanoue and Lauren Hom’s actions during an urgent situation at a military hospital in Italy, where they were on rotation, earned them a military challenge coin for quick thinking in an emergency.
Of the 154 Class of 2023 candidates receiving doctorates in pharmacy, 35 will pursue advanced training opportunities through residencies and industry fellowships. Another 10 pharmacy graduates from previous years were accepted into second-year residency programs. The rate of so-called residency “matches” among the ACPHS Class of 2023 Pharm.D. graduates was almost 86% of the number who applied, better than the national average of 83%.
LaDanielle McNeil has lived in a medically underserved community, tried to secure medical care as an immigrant and juggled full-time responsibilities at home and on the job. Now, with her degree in public health from ACPHS, she’s ready to use that experience to inform her future work in nursing and help improve access to care.
Bianna Sallemi and Gabriella Evangelista made it to the top 10 out of 142 two-person teams at at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists mid-year meeting in December. It was the first time an ACPHS team made it to finals at the event.