Quynh Nguyen

Why are you a member of CDC?

I become a member of CDC because I want to develop my professionalism in the field of pharmacy.

How long have you served on the CDC?

I have served on the CDC for 3 years now since I was a second-year pre-pharmacy student.

Why did you choose to come to Purdue to study Pharmacy?

I chose to Purdue to study Pharmacy because Purdue is renowned for its robust pharmacy program, supportive faculty and staff, great value to cost, and unlimited opportunities inside and outside the classroom.

What year are you in the program?

I am a third-year professional student.

Where are you from?

I am from Vietnam.

What has been the most challenging point about school?

The most challenging point about school is to balance schoolwork with extracurricular activities and quality time for my loved ones as well as myself.

What has been the most rewarding?

The most rewarding is to be able to see myself grow personally and professionally, motivating me to be courageous about my future choices.

What activities are you involved with and why have you chosen to participate in them?

Outside of pharmacy school, I am the Vice President of Membership at Purdue Toastmasters. Toastmasters creates a place for me to learn how to tell my stories and to listen to stories by people from diverse backgrounds. Stories have always nourished my soul and motivated me to do what I want to do.

What professional experiences have your participated in in the summers?

After my P1 year, I did a study abroad in South Korea. During one short month, I visited cultural heritages and learned about the culture by working at a local pharmaceutical company. I learned a lot about regulations and business planning from a global viewpoint. This past summer after my P2 year, I interned at Alkermes, Inc. (Waltham, MA) in Medical Information and Medical Communications. I got to use what I learned in Therapeutics and Drug Info to perform my tasks and observed the dynamics in a corporate environment.

What are your future career aspirations?

I want to become a practicing pharmacist after graduation and eventually transition into industry. My end goal has always been industry and has been confirmed after my summer internship at Alkermes. However, I want to have clinical experience to understand what is on the practitioner and consumer end of a product prior to my career transition.

What one piece of advice do you give to younger students in the program?

Be curious. Walt Disney once said, “We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we are curious, and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.”

What do you enjoy doing outside of Pharmacy school?

I like to read. I am reading Families Among Us by Blake Kimzey. Franz Kafka, Haruki Murakami, and Toni Morrison are among my favorite writers. I also like to cook, especially Vietnamese food and desserts.

What is your favorite ice cream?

My favorite ice cream is blueberry cheesecake.