Personal Experience Inspires Pharmacy Student to Help Others

Personal Experience Inspires Pharmacy Student to Help Others

Emma Simons has seen firsthand how important proper medical care is.

"When my grandma was hospitalized in April of 2020, I witnessed her decline from improper medication regimen," Simons said. "I also witnessed the medical team revamp her entire regimen, taking her from constant adverse effects to better control of her health than ever before. I knew I wanted to make a positive impact like this in other people's lives every day, igniting my passion to become a pharmacist."

Simons, who is from Kirtland, Ohio, was accepted into UToledo's Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) program, which allows students interested in the pharmaceutical industry to graduate in six years instead of eight, which is the standard for many pharmacy schools.

Now in her senior year, Simons will graduate Saturday, May 3, with her bachelor of science in pharmaceutical sciences.

In another two years, she will complete her doctorate at UToledo.

"I came to UToledo for the Pharm.D. program as it provided the unique opportunity to graduate early," Simons said. "This significantly reduced the cost and time it would take to reach my educational goals."

While progressing through the pharmacy program, Simons also became involved in a multitude of organizations at UToledo. She has served on the pharmacy student council in a number of roles including vice president and an Honors Ambassador for the Jesup Scott Honors College. She has been a member of the Student College of Clinical Pharamcy, Phi Lambda Sigma Pharmacy Leadership Society, KLAR leadership Academy, UToledo College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Admissions Committe, and a team captain of UToledo's ACCP Clinical Research Challenge Team.

She also is the chapter president of Alpha Zeta Omega (AZO) Pharmaceutical Fraternity, a co-ed professional pharmacy fraternity.

"My greatest success at UToledo was receiving the Simon I. Sless Award through AZO. I was awarded this in March 2023 for outstanding service to the fraternity at a local level as decided by my fellow members of the Sigma chapter," she said. "Joining AZO is one of the best decisions I have made as it has given me more confidence in my leadership capabilities and provided me with friends, roommates and great memories."

Dr. Michelle Seegert, associate dean for admissions and enrollment management in the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, said Simons exemplifies exceptional leadership skills.

"Emma is a leader in multiple student organizations, where she has not only held key roles but has also led impactful community service projects," Seegert said. "Her dedication to service, academic excellence and research has strengthened connections between the University and the community while inspiring those around her to strive for their best."

While studying pharmacy at UToledo, Simons also worked as a pharmacy intern at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center. In the future, she said she would like to work in hospitals directly with patients.

"I absolutely love my job," Simons said. "It has provided me with so many amazing opportunities including staffing in the inpatient pharmacy, outpatient pharmacy and anticoagulation clinic, giving presentations, shadowing pharmacists and even helping with the creation of inpatient order sets."

Simons said the faculty and staff at the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences helped her get where she is today.

"The faculty are some of the most kind, genuine and caring people I have ever met. They all love helping students and care about us both as students and as people," she said. "Additionally, getting involved in student organizations is one of the best decisions I have ever made as it has allowed me to form close relationships with students, faculty, and staff, and pushed me to grow both personally and professionally."