Name: Priyam Mithawala

E-mail: mithawala.1@osu.edu

Pharmacy school: The Ohio State University

Undergraduate degree/institution: Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, India

Hobbies: Cooking, Gardening and Kick boxing

How did you get interested in the profession of pharmacy? I decided to pursue a pharmacy career in the beginning of my high school. I wanted to be a pharmacist for several reasons, but the main reason was the inspiration I obtained from my mother, who is also a pharmacist. Ever since I was a young kid, I recall family members and friends always calling my mother for advice on medications and treatments. I learned to appreciate the responsibilities pharmacists have in the community and the broad knowledge they possess to help people around them.

Why did you choose OPA as a rotation? I always wondered about the behind the scene stories of association management. OPA was the right rotation as it involved dealing with association management, journal publication and lobbying activities.

What was the most significant or surprising experience at OPA? Student Legislative day 2012 was an absolute surprise, as on this day I realized the importance of lobbying for the profession; as it has a huge impact on practice of pharmacy and wellbeing of the patients that we serve.

What other pharmacy associations/organizations do you belong to? AMCP (Academy of Managed care Pharmacy); FIP (International Pharmaceutical Federation)