The Pharmacist / Spring 2022 / Volume 44 / Issue 2

CLASS OF 2020
WHERE ARE
THEY TODAY?
LAST SPRING, 162 INDIVIDUALS EARNED THEIR PHARMD DEGREE from the UIC College of Pharmacy, adding their
respective names to a long line of distinguished graduates from an institution that traces its origins back more than 160 years.
Like so many before them, the Class of 2020 immediately transported the skills and knowledge they gained from their studies
into serving others and propelling healthcare. From clinical pharmacy roles to corporate positions, from residencies to research
fellowships, the Class of 2020’s varied career paths underscore the versatility of the UIC PharmD degree and the diverse ways in
which UIC alumni can—and do—impact lives, improve healthcare, and serve communities with a spirited mix of acumen and energy.
DR. ANNITA MATHEW
Mathew is completing the second
year of her postdoctoral training
in ambulatory care pharmacy at
the Boise VA Medical Center in
Idaho. She hopes to continue
optimizing the training she
has received through the VA to
practice as a mid-level provider
in ambulatory care settings while
simultaneously increasing access
to high-quality healthcare in
underserved communities.
“The power of the UIC PharmD
program is rooted within the
professionals who work tirelessly
to help develop strong UIC
pharmacists. Reaching out to my
UIC preceptors and alumni to
elicit their insight and guidance
has added great value in the
pursuit of my career goals.”
DR. DEVAL PATEL
Patel is serving as a pharmacy
manager at a CVS in Chicago’s
northwest suburbs, a first step
toward larger career aspirations
in pharmacy administration or
management. Long term, he
is interested in applying his
knowledge to an entrepreneurial
venture, staying close to the
field of pharmacy while also
exploring other opportunities in
the healthcare space capable of
enriching lives and supporting
wellness.
“Through UIC, I was fortunate
to build a strong professional
network, enjoy great mentors,
and discover that a pharmacist
should never stop learning.”
DR. JENNY PARK
Completing the second year of
a health economics outcomes
research (HEOR) fellowship with
Genentech and the University
of Washington, Park continues
developing her HEOR skill set in
areas such as economic modeling
and claims analyses. In her career,
she hopes to “strategically and
proactively” leverage evidence to
identify unmet needs, optimize
care patterns, increase patient
access, promote health equity,
and improve patient outcomes.
“At UIC, I learned that a strong
work ethic and adaptability invite
opportunities. While HEOR is
not the traditional route many
PharmDs pursue after graduation,
UIC widened my perspective
and helped me discover where
I can passionately maximize my
potential.”
DR. LOAN VI
Vi balances a full-time role as
remote clinical/MTM pharmacist
for Optum under UnitedHealth
Group with part-time duties as
a clinical pharmacist at South
Shore Hospital for CompleteRx.
In the coming years, she aims
to gain licensure in multiple
restricted states, earn certification
in diabetes education, and pursue
opportunities in ambulatory care.
“UIC positioned me for
professional success with
various rotations that provided
me rich real-world experience
and taught me to be patientfocused,
empathetic, and
patient. Those are lessons I’ve
been applying regularly here in
my early career.”
24 THE PHARMACIST PHARMACY.UIC.EDU