Doctor of Pharmacy Admission Essay

My name is Cidone Saintvil, and I am 33years old. I am currently attending Broward College in Davie, Florida. I have selected because through the course of my life I have seen how much people come to depend on their pharmacist.

Growing up, I saw that patients do not always have knowledge about medications and often they are afraid to speak to their doctor about how they should take medications.  The person people turn to for guidance and for clarification of medical questions is their pharmacist.

I have learned a great deal over the last few years, but I know there is much more that I can learn.  My long-term goal is to become pharmacist.  My immediate goal is to continue to learn as much as I can to be able to help my patients to become knowledgeable on the importance of their medications. I believe that the Doctor of Pharmacy program will help me achieve both of these goals.

I come from the same socioeconomic background as many of the patients that come to the pharmacies that I have worked in.  I am bilingual which will help in situations where a patient needs something explained in their native language. I can interpret and counsel these patients easily on how and why they need to take their medications.

My parents are elderly, so I have a very good understanding of how to deal with elderly customers.  Many pharmacists do not realize the amount of patience and understanding that is needed to help the elderly and going with my mother or father to pick up a medication for them, I have seen how exasperated a pharmacist can get when my parents ask them a lot of questions.  I also have a good moral character and I believe that I will serve as a role model for future pharmacists.

In July of 2003, I achieved my certification as a Certified Pharmacy Technician in July of 2003.  I have been attending Broward College and the classes that I have taken there have given me a good foundation on which to build other essential knowledge that I will learn in the Doctor of Pharmacy program.

I have been mentored throughout my education by Morris Bellman, a pharmacist.  Mr. Bellman has been a mentor and a friend and he has taught me many important lessons, lessons that I treasure greatly.  He has taught me the importance of the way that prescription drugs are administered, what the possible side effects of different drugs are, and about the cost and availability of generic drugs that can be substituted for the prescription equivalent.

I have learned a deal by reading the most current scholarly papers in the field of pharmacy.  I feel I am now prepared for the next step in my educational journey, the Doctor of pharmacy program.

For the past 11 years I have worked in various positions dealing with medication and patients. From January 1998 to 2003, I held the positions of a material handler and a customer service clerk at Caremark Mail Order Pharmacy in Weston, Florida.

In July of 2003, I received my certification and since my certification I have been working for Soliant Health (formerly called Cardinal Health) as a pharmacy technician.  With every job that I have held, I have learned a great deal and I have always been eager to learn more and feel each opportunity has further prepared me for my next step which is admission to the Doctor of Pharmacy program.

In closing, I feel that my personal and professional background makes me an excellent candidate for this program.  I am a hard worker, self motivated and I am looking to make a change.  I have always felt that a pharmacist is more then just the dispenser of medications.  I feel that the pharmacist is supposed to be someone who has the best interest of the patient in mind and is there to help them with any and all questions.