Tell us about yourself: (school, chapter, work, hobbies, LKS activities, meetings attended, career plans)
My name is Nardine Karam. I am a fifth-year pharmacy student at Arnold & Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Long Island University. I belong to the Alpha Eta chapter of LKS. Currently, I work as a pharmacy intern at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital / Weill Cornell Medical Center. In my free time, I volunteer at my local church where I teach the violin to children. I also like to write poems and short stories. I have joined LKS two years ago, and I am currently the corresponding secretary of my chapter. This summer, I was fortunate to attend the virtual LKS annual convention, where I got to meet sisters from all over the nation. In the future, I plan to pursue post-graduate training and to become a clinical pharmacist at a hospital in New York.
Which of our core values (sisterhood, leadership, service, scholarship and integrity) do you feel you most strongly represent and how?
I strongly represent the core value of leadership. I am currently the president of a student organization at LIU named iGIVE, which stands for Initiation of Giving Internationally through Volunteer Experiences. I am also an active leader in LKS, Rho Chi Honor Society and American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP). I believe that a strong leader is someone who motivates and teaches others. In my organizations, I aim to get my e-board members as involved as possible in decision-making and event-planning. I also take the time to teach them their duties, so they know what to expect. I learned that leadership requires patience, communication, and a positive attitude.
What pharmacy or LKS related events are you looking forward to in this upcoming year?
I look forward to going to ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting this year. This would be my first time attending Midyear, and even though, it will be virtual, I hope to learn as much as I can from this opportunity.
What is your favorite chapter/school tradition?
Every year, my chapter hosts a breast cancer awareness talk with Dr. Brooke Fidler, one of our LIU faculty members and a fellow LKS sister. All our sisters also participate in the NYC Breast Cancer Walk.
Who do you see as your role model in LKS and why?
My role model in LKS is Amanda Clouser, who served as president for our LKS chapter two years ago. She was one of the first sisters I got to meet when I joined LKS. She is my role model because she truly represents all our core values. Not only does she succeed academically, but she possesses a great personality. She is friendly, approachable, and kind.
What makes you excited to be a ‘lamb for life?’
I am excited to be a “lamb for life,” because Lambda Kappa Sigma is the only fraternity in the nation with the mission of elevating women in pharmacy. There is a lot of reform that needs to take place in the US to increase women’s access to healthcare. As a young woman, I feel empowered to be part of LKS, and I hope that I can get involved in LKS on the national level as a student and, later, as a pharmacist.
