Pharmacy Students Make Connections at Career Fair
| As they move through their fourth and final year in pharmacy school, students often focus on the futures ahead of them — where they’ll go after graduation. With so many opportunities, it can be hard to choose. The career fair put on each year by the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences’ (UAMS) College of Pharmacy helps guide students towards those decisions.
Pilar Jeffrey (far left) and Corinne Ridgell (second from left) speak with a representative at the fair.
Fifty-two pharmacy students visited with representatives from 23 different organizations at this year’s fair, held March 31 in Little Rock at Pulaski Academy’s Meyer Student Pavilion.
On hand were Baptist Health Medical Center Little Rock, Walmart, St. Bernards Medical Center, Red River Pharmacy, Gammel’s Clinic Pharmacy, Arkansas Children’s, Ellison Family Pharmacy, Northwest Medical Center Springdale, CARTI, Butler Pharmacies, Walgreens, CHRISTUS Health, Ashford Advisors, Kroger, Hot Springs Pharmacy, Arcare, UAMS Inpatient Pharmacy, Mercy Hospital Fort Smith, CVS Health, Heartland Pharmacy, North Arkansas Regional Medical Center, Harps Pharmacy, and White River Medical Center.
“Each year, this career fair highlights the strength of Arkansas’ pharmacy community, connecting our students with employers committed to patient care and helping them envision their impact,” said Ashok Philip, Ph.D., the college’s associate dean for student services.
Among the rows of folding tables draped in colorful tablecloths, students chatted with representatives about potential career paths and made valuable contacts for the future.
For Pilar Simmons of Little Rock, the fair strengthened her commitment to the profession.
“Being born and raised in Little Rock, I take great pride in my roots and look forward to giving back and serving the same community that helped shape and mold me into who I am today,” she said. “This experience was both inspiring and beneficial, and it reinforced my excitement for what’s ahead in my career.”
(From left) Avery Dearworth, Emma Wooldridge and Emma Burton attended the fair to make contacts and think about their futures.
Landon Abernathy, a Benton native, valued the opportunity to connect directly with pharmacists from across the state.
“It’s helped me build professional relationships and gave me greater insight into what employers are looking for in candidates,” he said. “Overall it was an excellent platform for networking and exploring future career opportunities in pharmacy.”
The fair was a good place to make connections for the future, said Colby Cormell of Conway.
“As we students prepare to transition into pharmacists, I feel it is important to meet individuals who will soon be our colleagues,” he said. “Pharmacists in Arkansas are known for being a close-knit community, and this event was a great introduction to that network while helping me establish my presence within the profession.”
Monticello native Corinne Ridgell called the fair “where ambition meets opportunity.”
“It helped me connect what I’ve learned in the classroom to real-world practice, gain insight from professionals, and build meaningful relationships that can guide and shape my career long after graduation.”