Owning a Dog in Pharmacy School

BY: KENZIE KILMAN

CHIEF

As we progress in some of the most academically rigorous years of our lives, many of us look to find something unrelated from school to de-stress. Maybe it’ s a new workout routine or a new hobby. For me and many others, it was getting a dog. Animals are arguably one of the best ways to take our minds off the craziness of our lives. If you ’ re like me, I was terrified of having a dog while in school. I questioned if I’d be home enough or if I’d have time and energy to feed and walk him every day. Caring for another life takes an enormous amount of commitment and time management. I have taken mental notes over the past three years of dog ownership on what works best for our schedules. Hopefully, I can provide some more insight on what it’ s like to own a dog in pharmacy school.

To clarify, I got my dog when he was four years old and entirely trained. Getting an older shelter dog can often mean they are already house trained and know basic commands. This can save a ton of time and relieve feelings of guilt when leaving a puppy home. I have left my dog home alone for ten hours on occasion and that could never be done with a puppy. Puppies need twice as much attention and care compared to older dogs. Rescuing a dog will typically mean they are free or cost a small fee with all health requirements already taken care of. I am not saying getting a pure-bred, newborn puppy in pharmacy school is impossible to manage. However, I think it takes someone who has conquered the time management skills. When I thought about my friends that raised puppies, I realized that they were able to raise a puppy because they did not commit to a full-time pharmacy program. Unlike my friends, I did not have the extra time to raise a puppy with my work and school schedule.

If you ’ re contemplating where you will find the time to have a dog, try to think about all the times you sit on your phone looking at the never-ending abyss of irrelevant content for hours. Think about the ten minute break that turns into a three hours break in between watching lectures. Those are both examples of extra moments you can dedicate to your dog. With that extra time, you can take your dog to the park, lounge around with them, or teach them a new trick. If you are worried about the extra time it will take in the mornings to walk and feed them, add an extra 20 minutes to your morning and evening routines. You will find that you have a plethora of time for your dog.

As you spend time with a dog, money is quickly spent on their necessities. Before you decided to pick up your new pet, be sure you think about the cost of owning a dog. You should budget for food, vet bills (I highly recommend pet insurance), flea prevention, grooming, and an emergency fund. Once you know you can afford the necessities, see if there is wiggle room for things like dog parks or doggie daycares. Give yourself at least 6 months to actively think about getting a dog (I waited a year).

Again, it is a huge commitment, but it has been worth every moment and was the best decision I made.

Iraq Refugee to PharmD

How My Past Helps Me Connect to Patients

By Inas Mahdi

https://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-image-dustoff-iraq-war-image4132396

In my time

living in the United States, I have learned two things: opportunities are endless, and there is a holiday where people dress up and show up to your house demanding candy. On that particular holiday, the costume I chose to wear embodied bravery and breaking generational trauma. I come from the land of two rivers, rich with culture and thoughtful people, Iraq. Of course, that is not the image that pops in anyone's head when they think of Iraq. They think of war and violence. There is some truth to that, which is why at seven years old, I worried less about my favorite doll and more about whether my school will be there the next day and would not be burned to pieces. Actually, it did burn while my classmates and I were in the middle of math class. Thankfully everyone left in time to escape physical harm, but the incident had taken its emotional toll. Parents stopped sending their children to school out of fear, and even then, the school was in not in good enough condition to attend. PAGE 15

One thing all children of immigrant parents can agree on is that their parents are hard workers. My parents pushed through many obstacles to bring us to the United States. I am many things, but I am not someone who fails to seize an opportunity. Coming to the United States opened up a whole new world to me; I suddenly had more options in everything. I had fewer worries, and I could choose to pursue pharmacy with a clear mind. As a first-generation student, beginning a doctorate degree is a significant breakthrough for my family and me. My parents saw in me what they wanted for themselves and felt pride knowing I had a choice in my future. Freedom to choose their future is something they never had; they were forced into most decisions. My dad dropped out of college to take care of his two disabled brothers. My mom left school because everyone kept telling her that education was not worth it and that her husband would provide for the family. Now, my mom could not stop gushing about how "I am the doctor of the family" for weeks. In a way, starting my Pharm D. at twenty years old is an accomplishment in itself, but making my parents happy is the real deal.

Viewing the world from two different perspectives makes me a better student pharmacist. I understand others and relate to them because, in essence, we are not aware of what someone is going through unless they can express their concerns. A patient will only reveal their true feelings if the provider can be attentive and caring to create an environment where the patient is comfortable enough to share. There is a relationship to be built between a pharmacist and their patient. Cultivating this relationship with empathy and compassion significantly improves the patient's point of care. I urge all pharmacy students and pharmacists to find that spot in their hearts where they can express empathy and genuine concern for their patients and their patients' health.