Taylor Shepeard, Third Year Concordia School of Pharmacy Student What is a day in the life like for a third year pharmacy student?
Are you wondering what it’s like to be a third-year pharmacy student?
Taylor M. Shepeard is a third-year pharmacy student at Concordia University Wisconsin. Taylor shares what a typical day is like for her.
This day in the life is part of a series. Also check out what it’s like to be a third-year pharmacy student from Vinny Rotunno. Additionally, read what it’s like to be a second-year pharmacy student from Nicole LaPlante.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
My name is Taylor Shepeard, and I am from Lake Linden, Michigan (a small town in the Upper Peninsula). I am currently a third year pharmacy student at Concordia University Wisconsin. I’m finishing up my last semester of didactic learning before moving back to Michigan for my clinical rotations in May. During my fourth and final year of pharmacy school, I will also be completing my MBA with a concentration in Healthcare Administration.
What are you involved with on campus?
One of my passions is getting to know people. I’ve found several opportunities to do that while being at Concordia over the past three years. I’m currently the President of the Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA), an Operation Diabetes co-chair for the American Pharmacists Association-Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP). I’m also a member of Phi Lambda Sigma – Pharmacy Leadership Society. Lastly, I’m the secretary for the Concordia Student Pharmacists Association. Each of those positions has given me the opportunity to collaborate with other students on projects, fundraisers, and so much more.
In addition to my involvement with several organizations, I’m also a teaching assistant. I assist for both the Pharmaceutics Compounding lab and Applied Patient Care labs. Being able to teach first-year students about “pharmacist skills” has been an invaluable experience, and has taught me so much as well.
What is a typical day like for you?
As a third-year student, my schedule tends to vary each day. But, throughout the week, I typically have classes from as early as 7:30 a.m. to as late as 6:00 p.m. Since I’m a teaching assistant, I find myself in lab a few times per week. I also hold office hours once a week for students to stop by and ask questions over the lunch hour.
In addition to classes, I tend to spend most of my free time and free lunch periods planning or attending organization meetings. for the groups that I hold positions in. as well as the other organizations that spark my interests!
Specifically, as the Concordia Student Pharmacists Association secretary, I manage an Outlook calendar with all of the events that are going on in the School of Pharmacy.
One of my passions is independent pharmacy, and specifically, the ownership roles possible within it. For this semester, I decided to enroll in an elective rotation experience at an independent pharmacy. Each Friday, I go to North Shore Pharmacy in Shorewood to assist with administering COVID-19 vaccinations. Here, I get to interact with patients and learn the ropes for how to own and successfully run an independent pharmacy.
What do you do when you’re not studying?
When I’m not studying (which isn’t very often), I try to make trips home to Michigan to visit family, my boyfriend and spend time with my dog, Bear. When I don’t get to make the long trip home, I love spending time with friends here in Wisconsin! Although COVID has slowed us down, we still try to get out safely to go bowling, grab dinner, or go on outdoor adventures.
What has your experience been like as a student in Concordia’s School of Pharmacy?
My experience at Concordia has been better than I ever could have imagined. For me, it has been the students and the professors that have surrounded me that have made the largest impact. I have made several lifelong friends, and build relationships with so many amazing future pharmacists.
Additionally, working with faculty that have such an immense desire to help the patients that they care for in their practices each day really rubs off on us. The faculty at Concordia truly have made a difference in my schooling thus far, and have most definitely impacted how I will practice as a pharmacist, how I will treat others, and how I will care for my future patients. At Concordia, they truly go the extra mile to ensure that we are knowledgeable, patient-centered pharmacists.
Feeling inspired?
If you’d like to know more about Concordia University Wisconsin’s School of Pharmacy, click here.
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