With University of California, Irvine providing the foundation for the start of Dr. Karolina Kapustova’s career journey, she is thrilled to give back to UCI students in her new role as President of the Anteaters in Pharmacy alumni chapter.
In reflecting on her time at UCI, Dr. Kapustova remembers the opportunities she had to interact with alumni.
“When the pharmacy students and pharmacists, many of them alumni, would present about their specific niche of pharmacy, they gave us the freedom of possibility by showing us how impactful a PharmD career can be,” she said. “That is why many alumni are inspired to give back to a university that played such a pivotal role in their career development, and where they gained so many of the first mentors for their career.”
Dr. Kapustova, who is originally from the Czech Republic and was born in Finland, earned her Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences from UCI in 2017. She then received her PharmD degree from the University of Southern California School of Pharmacy in 2021. Currently, Dr. Kapustova is a PGY-1 Pharmacy Resident with the Riverside University Health System Medical Center.
Dr. Kapustova’s favorite memory from UCI was serving as the Secretary and Vice President for the Pre-Pharmacy Society, which she says helped her build essential leadership qualities, gain valuable insights into the pharmacy profession, and create long-lasting relationships. Through planning and attending events, Kapustova met various pharmaceutical professionals who passed along invaluable experiences and wisdom.
“Throughout my time at UCI, I was always eager to be of service to my pharmacy community,” she said. “I wanted my strengths and leadership qualities outside of the classroom to leave a positive impact. If we can create unique opportunities for student development by providing a form of alumni support to all of the UCI School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences students, then that is the ultimate goal.”
One of Dr. Kapustova’s goals as President of the Anteaters in Pharmacy chapter is to ensure that UCI’s current pharmacy students have the opportunity to learn from alumni. She plans to grow and strengthen the UCI School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences alumni network so that it provides long-lasting support to future generations of pharmacy students.
“We are so fortunate to have Dr. Karolina Kapustova in this role as our second alumni chapter president leading a board of six talented and energetic individuals,” said Director of Alumni Relations Meredith Kwok. “She, along with her fellow board members, care deeply about impacting students; especially our inaugural PharmD cohort.
“The Anteaters in Pharmacy leadership hopes the chapter can serve as a support system for these students through new endeavors such as our Anteaters in Pharmacy mentorship program, and existing traditions such as career panels and our annual alumni supported student scholarship. I can’t wait to see what they will accomplish!”