EVOLVING WITH THE PANDEMIC: A STUDENT’S PERSPECTIVE

BY JILLIANN MERRITT, Pharm.D. Candidate 2024, Ferris State University

The first year of pharmacy school is always difficult for students since the curriculum differs from undergraduate studies. The COVID-19 pandemic, however, introduced obstacles that nobody was prepared for. It was a big adjustment for both professors and students.

My pharmacy school journey started less than two months after the first COVID-19 case was confirmed in the United States on Jan. 22, 2020. On March 12, 2020, I had my first college of pharmacy interview. That same day, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer closed all K-12 schools in the state. Over the next few days, in-person restrictions were implemented, with a stay-at-home order issued March 23. Social gatherings were limited and work environments began shifting to work-from-home. At this point, nobody knew what was coming or how to manage it. All we knew was that we had to stay home to stay safe. Starting pharmacy school in August, I had no idea what to expect out of the year. We did not attend an in-person orientation or have a white coat ceremony. Most of our classes were moved online and for the next nine months, I only saw my classmates' faces on Zoom.

Adjustments came to the workforce during this time as well. Pharmacists faced many challenges during the pandemic, but it also led to advancements in our profession. In April 2020, pharmacists were authorized to administer point-of-care testing for the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Pharmacies played a critical role in expanding the availability of COVID-19 testing due to increased patient access.

In Dec. 2020, vaccinations against COVID-19 were authorized for emergency use. Demand for the vaccine was overwhelming and pharmacy professionals were given another crucial role in the pandemic. Authorization of the vaccines gave hope to Americans that we would finally overcome the pandemic.

Cases slowly decreased in the next few months. The vaccinations allowed Michigan to pull back on some of the restrictions for social distancing, but masks were still required in indoor spaces. When school began in August, we could finally attend our white coat ceremony and return to in-person learning. At this point, I still had only seen my classmates’ faces on Zoom and their eyes over their mask while in class.

Although we had come quite a long way from where the pandemic began, things still did not feel normal at school. Adjusting to in-person classes and exams again was difficult, especially with an increasingly more challenging curriculum.

Over the next few months, more pressure was put on pharmacies as booster doses for the COVID-19 vaccines were approved. COVID-19 cases continued to fluctuate throughout the rest of 2021 and not much changed with regulations in Michigan. We finished the school year in 2022, still behind masks. We mastered several topics in pharmacotherapy throughout the year and continued to adjust to new learning and teaching styles.

In July 2022, pharmacists were authorized to prescribe PaxlovidTM to eligible patients. Expanding access to timely treatment of COVID-19 was huge for patients, but it meant even more pressure for pharmacists. A lot changed in the profession throughout the pandemic, and although it was overwhelming for us while it was happening, we can look back at it now and appreciate how much our profession has grown due to COVID-19. Four months into 2023, things are beginning to feel normal again. The resolution of the pandemic is on the horizon, with news that the public health emergency will end in May. Teachers, students and pharmacists have adjusted to our new normal. We can look back now and appreciate all the positive things the pandemic brought to the world of pharmacy, despite the challenges it presented.

I look forward to the continued growth of our profession that COVID-19 kick-started for us. Pharmacists and future pharmacists need to continue to do our part to advocate for our profession and prove the valuable skills and knowledge that we bring to the healthcare table.