Future Pharmacist Races Toward Bigger Goals

Growing up in San Diego, Ca., Henry learned about Duquesne through relatives who reside in nearby Aliquippa, Pa. His passion for the medical field and chemistry combined with a tour of campus solidified his decision to head across the country to attend pharmacy school.
 
“I fell in love with campus, the people and the city,” he said. “I knew pharmacy was for me because I love the impact pharmacists have in their communities.”
 
Henry has served others through various rotations in the Pittsburgh region in hospital and pharmacy settings, using compassion and empathy to walk alongside neighbors and break down health care barriers. He’s also participated in community health events by conducting blood pressure and blood glucose screenings.
 
“There are a lot of people who don’t have health care resources,” he said. “Through these events we can spread as much knowledge as possible and get people thinking about their health.”
 
Henry enjoys sharing knowledge and providing support. “Pharmacies are accessible,” he said. “You can walk in and bounce questions off the pharmacist; they are a frontline resource for people to get accurate health information.”
 
These interactions also empower individuals to manage their health and advocate for themselves, according to Henry. He prides himself on providing others with the knowledge needed to understand symptoms or changes they may experience. “They’re able to report to their doctors or pharmacists and have a greater sense of self-empowerment related to what medications they’re taking and what’s going on with their body,” he said.
 
Through Henry’s studies in the School of Pharmacy, he has learned to value the relationship between physician and pharmacist, and he realizes how these fields connect in meaningful, productive ways. Thinking across disciplines enables students in health care fields to connect ideas and reach beyond what’s familiar.
 
“The opening of Duquesne’s College of Osteopathic Medicine is a great opportunity for collaboration,” Henry said. “Pharmacy students can hear different patient cases and collaborate with a team of medical students, nursing students and pharmacy students–just like in the hospital setting.”
 
Henry also recognizes that this type of collaboration will lead to greater professional understanding, as physicians and pharmacists can become more aware of their peers’ training, clinical work and treatment approaches. This is the perspective Henry needs to make an even bigger impact on his profession and on the people he serves.
 
The West Coast native is proud to learn these lessons at Duquesne. “Pittsburgh is a health care city,” he said. “It’s a great place to study the history of health care, and it’s a very welcoming community in general.”
 
Following graduation, Henry plans to pursue a fellowship in the pharmaceutical industry. Whether he’s running a race or meeting academic and professional goals, Henry is prepared for anything as he pushes toward the finish line without narrowing his ambitions.
 
“Training for the Pittsburgh Marathon is something I've always wanted to do, and I decided this year is going to be the year I do it,” he said. “I'm also going to finish pharmacy school off strong and not take my foot off the gas until I'm done.”