LKS spotlights student and alumni members that are making a difference in their chapters, in their communities, and in the field of pharmacy.
Tell us about yourself: (school, chapter, work, hobbies, LKS activities, meetings attended, career plans)
I’m Ami Patel, a current third-year student at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy. We represent the Delta Chapter. I currently work at UPMC Pinnacle, a hospital in the central Pennsylvania region which is where I am from. Outside of pharmacy, I love to do workout classes (especially yoga!), travel as much as I can, and spend time with friends and family. My favorite activity with LKS is definitely our formal. I look forward to it every year; it is always such a fun time to escape from the stressors of school and spend time with other sisters. I had the opportunity to attend LKS Convention in Milwaukee over the summer and had such a great time. I bonded with so many sisters (shout out to Alpha Phi at Wilkes!) and was able to bring so much back to the Delta chapter to strengthen our sisterhood. In terms of career goals, I would love to complete both a PGY-1 pharmacy practice residency and a PGY-2 to specialize. My clinical interests include cardiology, critical care, and transplant. I see myself being a clinical specialist, precepting students regularly, and serving as a residency program director.
Which of our core values (sisterhood, leadership, service, scholarship and integrity) do you feel you most strongly represent and how?
I would say I strongly represent leadership. I truly enjoy being involved in pharmacy organizations and would like to continue to be involved after graduation. I am the current secretary for the Delta Chapter, past recruitment co-chair, current Vice President of the Student Society of Health-System Pharmacists (SSHP), and also serve on the appointed member of the National Pharmacy Student Forum for the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). These roles have helped me develop my leadership skills by influencing other students to reach their full potential and crush their goals.
What pharmacy or LKS related events are you looking forward to in this upcoming year?
Formal! It is always such a blast. Our social chairs do a fantastic job of organizing it!
What is your favorite chapter/school tradition
We celebrate Founder’s Day by holding a Spaghetti dinner, cooked for us by the P1 Potential New Members. It is a lovely bonding experience getting to know our future sisters.
Who do you see as your role model in LKS and why?
I have met so many wonderful women in LKS, but the one that stands out the most is our past president, Carson Shoemaker, who is a current P4 . She has gone above and beyond in running the chapter, encouraging our sisterhood, and even mentoring sisters to help them reach their goals and aspirations. I am so thankful that LKS brought us together! Being able to grow, personally and professionally, alongside all of the wonderful sisters I have gotten to know is definitely the most exciting. These friendships will last a lifetime!
What makes you excited to be a ‘lamb for life?’
Being able to grow, personally and professionally, alongside all of the wonderful sisters I have gotten to know is definitely the most exciting. These friendships will last a lifetime!