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Hello ASHP Community!

My name is Delaney McGuirt and I am one of the two ASHP summer interns (you’ve already met my co-intern, Ella, here). I am a rising P2 at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy in Baltimore and I am excited to bring you weekly blogs cataloging my (virtual) internship experience.

A little about myself, I took a nontraditional path to pharmacy. I graduated with my BS in Radiologic Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill before spending four years working in medical imaging and clinical research at UNC and then the NIH. During that time, I remained active in my state professional societies and learned the importance of professional engagement in advancing one’s field. I carried this appreciation with me as my interest in chemistry and passion for patient care led me to pharmacy school. I joined my school’s SSHP chapter and being in Baltimore, had the unique opportunity to attend a site visit at ASHP National Headquarters in Bethesda, MD. It was there that I met Dr. Karly Low, Director of Membership Development. I eagerly absorbed everything she shared with us about ASHP’s mission, advocacy work, Practice Advancement Initiatives, and resources for students. When I learned about the ASHP Summer internship, I knew this would be a unique and enriching experience.

It is now six months later, and I am so grateful to find myself in the second week of my internship. Faced with COVID-19 and the myriad of changes it brought, ASHP made the innovative decision to offer their first virtual student internship. These are challenging times, to say the least, as we learn to navigate a world of distance learning and collaboration whilst coping with the individual ways coronavirus impacts us all. Yet during this pandemic, pharmacists have seen their profession rise to the forefront of international current events. In response, ASHP is working tirelessly to produce and disseminate up-to-date resources and advocate for pharmacist scope of practice in coronavirus testing, medication shortage management, telehealth, and more. As a student interested in policy and engaging in current issues facing the world of pharmacy, I cannot envision a more impactful place to spend my summer (even if it is technically from my home desk).

In just these first two weeks, I virtually met and networked with many members of the ASHP team. Any trepidation over a potentially isolating virtual experience was promptly assuaged after experiencing genuine excitement and overwhelming kindness from every individual. (A special thanks to Dr. Christina Martin, Director of New Practitioners Forum, for recommending me some life-saving blue light filtering glasses.) This sense of caring for student pharmacists was further echoed in one of my first projects, evaluating the ASHP Student Membership & You website and material. ASHP values student input in the very resources developed for us. Additionally, I love hearing everyone’s unique journeys that led them to ASHP. This breadth of opportunity that initially attracted me to the field of pharmacy is reflected in the varied expertise and experiences of ASHP leadership.

In a virtual space where engagement and camaraderie can be difficult, ASHP actively fosters an environment embracing its interns. I cannot wait to see what I will accomplish and how I will grow this summer – stay tuned!