After its launch in 2021, the Inaugural Anteaters in Pharmacy Mentorship Program celebrated its first year connecting UCI pharmaceutical science and PharmD students with alumni mentors. The program successfully recruited 35 mentors to connect with 44 eager mentees. Twenty undergraduate students and 24 student pharmacists signed up to connect with a mentor willing to share their wealth of knowledge and working experience in the field of pharmacy or pharmaceutical sciences.
The Inaugural Anteaters in Pharmacy Mentorship Program is a voluntary program for students to explore career interests and engage in mutually beneficial, professionally-oriented relationships with alumni and community members. All UC Irvine School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to participate in the program.
“As a mentee, connecting with established UCI alumni in the field of pharmacy was very beneficial to my career trajectory,” says Ryan Kwok, a student in the bachelor of science pharmaceutical sciences program. “Through mentorship, I found reassurance regarding my career goals, and it was also great to network with other mentors at events hosted throughout the year.”
For more than 50 years, the UCI Alumni Association has prioritized enriching the lives of alumni and engaging them in the lifelong advancement of our university. At the UCI School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, our engaged alumni contribute to our sustained growth as a new school.
The Anteaters in Pharmacy executive board created the mentorship program to help students find success with the help of community. This program pairs alumni and community professionals with students that share similar interests. Mentors provide academic and career guidance, networking opportunities, and insights into the working world. They can help students answer questions like: What can I do with my degree? Should I go to graduate or professional school? Where do I see myself in five years?
The mentorship program gives our students an edge and enables them to distinguish themselves as they pursue graduate school or enter the workforce. Partnerships with industry and community members are invaluable in helping us educate students to become the world-changers of tomorrow.
“Being a mentor with Anteaters in Pharmacy has been a rewarding experience,” says Lauren Law ’13, a medical science liaison for AbbVie. “As an alumna, it’s been great to share real-world experiences and advice, meet ambitious students exploring career paths, and give back to the university that laid the foundation for me.”
Our alumni mentors help support the mission of the UCI School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences: to be a driving force for advancing the health and wellness of individuals and society. We believe that plurality of experiences, accomplishments, and values leads to greater innovation and creativity.
The mentorship program begins in the fall and lasts through the following May for eight months of mentorship. All mentors and students must complete profile forms to enroll in the program identifying their education, career path/goals, professional background, and personal interests.
Anteaters in Pharmacy is the official UCI alumni chapter dedicated to pharmacy, pharmaceutical sciences, and the overall sector. Members engage in our community, build their networks, volunteer together, and contribute to UCI. Visit our alumni page here. If you would like to join the waitlist for next year, please email m.kwok@uci.edu to be added to the list.
