Sister Spotlight: Devon Montague

Devon Montague is a Theta Chapter Alumna, part of the Beta Class and Royal Family. While at Colorado State University, she studied Chemistry. Devon currently lives in Aurora, Colorado and is the lead triage pharmacy technician at the University of Colorado Hospital.

For this issue, Devon gave us a little information about herself, her time with ΑΣΚ and her work helping to get COVID-19 vaccines into people's arms.

Loop: What has it been like working in a vaccine clinic?

DM: Working in a vaccine clinic has been exciting, stressful, and overwhelming. There was a lot that was put into getting it set up so quickly, and adjustments that have had to be made but it?s all been worth it. On the first day of our clinic we were able to vaccinate 1608 employees.

Loop: What was the mood at your work when the vaccines were approved for distribution?

DM: The overall reaction was excitement, hope, and relief. Everyone has been very emotional from the approval, to the arrival at our facility, and to finally receiving the vaccine. It?s been kind of like a light at the end of a very dark tunnel and a breath of fresh air.

Loop: What got you interested in pharmacy as a career?

DM: I chose this career path because when I was younger I had a pharmacist catch a major dosing error in my medications that would have been harmful to my health. Ever since then I?ve wanted to help others in a similar way.

Loop: What?;s your favorite thing to do with your free time?

DM: Spend time with family and my pets.

Loop: What originally attracted you to ΑΣΚ?

DM: That a group of like minded women could come together and support each other in STEM fields.

Loop: Can you share a favorite ΑΣΚ memory?

DM: My favorite memory is the candle passes we held. Getting to celebrate Sisters' achievements for the semester was always such a highlight and great bonding moment.

Loop: If you had one piece of advice for a Sister just starting out in ΑΣΚ what would it be?

DM: Keep your mind open to change, and what you put into the Organization is what you'll get out of it. There are so many opportunities to grow personally and professionally.

Loop: Back to the vaccine, what one thing would you most like people to understand about the COVID vaccines?

DM: It wasn't developed overnight or rushed. There's been a ton of research done on the mRNA that's in the vaccine. The production of the vaccine was able to happen so quickly because of the increased funding and paperwork being expedited.

About the Vaccine

The Pfizer vaccine is good for 5 days once removed from the freezer and placed in the refrigerator.

After removal from the refrigerator, the vials must be reconstituted within 2 hours using 1.8mL of normal saline.

Once reconstituted, the vials are good for 6 hours.

Each dose is 0.3mL and the clinic is able to get 6 doses from each vial.

The vaccine includes two injections, ~3 weeks apart. Devon shared that she had a sore arm with the first injection and some additional side-effects after that second injection: body aches, headache, slight fever and nausea.

The Inside Loop

Royal Blue or Silver? Royal Blue

Do you know your Hogwarts House and, if so, what is it ? Gryffindor

What is your Favorite branch of science? Chemistry

What w as your First job? Activities Assistant at a Veterans nursing home

Favorit e season? Fall

Who is your Woman in STEM icon (living or dead)? Marie Curie

If you could live anyw here, where would it be? Anywhere in the mountains

What might someone be surprised to know about you? I love to cook and bake

What w as your Most m em orable vacat ion? Going to Mexico for Christmas one year with my entire family

What is your Favorite book? I don't have a favorite book, but anything written by Sarah Dessen I love.

When was the last time you laughed so hard you cried? This sounds awful, but I honestly can'?t remember the last time I laughed so hard I cried.

What one superpower would you want ? To be able to understand animals.

If you could only have one food for t he rest or your life, what would it be? Enchiladas