Andrew DaRosa

Why did you choose UTHSC College of Pharmacy?

I chose UTHSC College of Pharmacy for multiple reasons. First off, and most practically, the low cost of tuition in comparison to other pharmacy schools immediately made it stand out. After looking into the school further, the strength of the curriculum and the faculty was clear, making my decision easy.

What is your favorite memory or experience from pharmacy school?

My favorite memory from pharmacy school was a volunteering event I took part in this year. The MidSouth Mission of Mercy is a massive, free dental clinic that is put on once a year where underserved populations can come to get dental care they need at no cost. I volunteered as a member of the pharmacy triage team, and was helping these people get the care they needed and deserved. The absolute scale of the event is what really solidified it in my memory. In the two days the event was held, well over 1000 people were able to receive care.

How has the UTHSC College of Pharmacy helped or prepared you for your career goals?

The UTHSC College of Pharmacy has helped me prepare for my career goals with the strength of the experiential learning program. Throughout your first few years at the UTHSC CoP, you have multiple instances of learning that takes place in hospitals or pharmacies in the community. These opportunities allow you to apply the classroom knowledge you are gaining in a real world setting and helped solidify my goals of going into a psychiatric pharmacy residency.

What advice do you have for prospective students?

Prospective students should think about how what you are learning as early as your first classes is the knowledge you will be using for the rest of your career. Working hard to truly learn and apply what you are doing in the classroom will help you for the rest of your life.