Meet the Students

KEARA CAUGHMAN, CLASS OF 2024

As an undergrad at Binghamton University, Keara Caughman, Class of 2024, was pre-med. But after obtaining her Masters of Public Health at Drexel University, working for Memorial Sloan Kettering and completing the Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine M.S. program, plans took a different turn. “I wanted to impact patients and the community from the beginning stages through drug information and research,” says Caughman, who is serving as vice president of the Student Government Association. A TCOP highlight has been learning about career options. “I never knew how endless they were.” Long term, Caughman wants to help students of color through mentorship. “I want to let those that aren't typically exposed to careers like pharmacy know that their options are endless, regardless of where they came from.” A word of advice for those considering pharmacy? “Most important is putting yourself out there. Speak to a local pharmacist or any family members or friends who are pharmacists. Work at a pharmacy, intern for a pharmaceutical company or shadow a hospital pharmacist. The pharmacy world is small, so making these connections early is essential.”

WILL WANG, CLASS OF 2023

Will Wang, Class of 2023, president of both the TCOP American Society of HealthSystem Pharmacists—Student Society of Health-System Pharmacy and the New Jersey Pharmacist Association, plans to seek a career in the pharmaceutical industry. The native Californian says the wide variety of career opportunities available to PharmDs appealed to him in formulating a career path, but that’s not what came first. “I wanted to have the ability to take care of my family’s health,” he says. Wang earned his B.S. in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Studies, and M.S. in Global Medicine from the University of Southern California. TCOP’s campus in Harlem held great appeal. “As a student, I’ve really enjoyed the supportive professors,” he says. His advice for anyone considering a pharmacy career? “Stay motivated, do your research to make sure this is a field for you.”

DIVYA SARVAIYA, CLASS OF 2022

Divya Sarvaiya, Class of 2022, came to the United States from India in 2016 to pursue her master’s in industrial pharmacy. Shadowing a pharmacist at an independent pharmacy in Brooklyn captivated her imagination. After earning her PharmD, Sarvaiya, who serves as president of the Pharmacists Society of the State of New York’s student chapter, hopes to complete a fellowship in industry. “My interest in the industry stems from the knowledge and skills developed through my education. I love to work collaboratively and work towards achieving common goals. In the long run, I see myself as a leader at an organization and an educator, so I can pass on the knowledge and skills I’ve developed. There is no bigger gift than the gift of knowledge.” Her advice for others about a career in pharmacy? “Pharmacy requires a lot of passion, perseverance and smart work. Students should set high goals, work towards achieving them and take advantage of as many opportunities as they can at pharmacy school.”