“I’m grateful for the time I have spent at UC Irvine,” shared Jennifer Prakaiphetkul, a BS in Pharmaceutical Sciences student who will graduate in June. “The pharmaceutical sciences major has been the perfect stepping stone for me on my path to attaining a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree, and I’ll cherish the connections I have made with my peers and professors.”
As the sister of a UCI alumnus who also studied pharmaceutical sciences, Prakaiphetkul had a personal connection to the university and a first-hand account of the benefits of the program.
“I was initially interested in pharmaceutical sciences because I always thought medications were fascinating,” she said. “I chose UCI because I knew that I would be exposed to all areas of the pharmacy field.”
Prakaiphetkul has served as a leader in the UCI School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, as both a co-coordinator of the Pharmaceutical Sciences Mentorship Program (PSMP) and the internal vice president of the Pre-Pharmacy Society (PPS).
“In PSMP, I oversee the mentor, mentee, and board applications and am able to share my knowledge of UCI and pre-pharmacy topics with others in the organization. In PPS, I coordinate pharmacy school visits for members to learn more about different programs, host the annual winter retreat, and mentor board interns,” she said. “I have been able to meet so many new people who share my interest in pharmacy!”
After graduating, Prakaiphetkul will be attending the University of Southern California (USC) in the fall, where she will be pursuing her PharmD degree.
“The classes I took and the pharmacy organizations I have been involved in at UCI have reaffirmed my decision to become a pharmacist,” she stated. “The field is very intriguing — there are so many specialties. This major has exposed me to many different aspects of pharmacy, helping me prepare to start my PharmD journey.”
