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RAMPS: an Insider’s View By Miryoung Kim My RAMPS advisor, Dana Siu, is a clinical pharmacist at CPMC (California Pacific Medical Center). While I was shadowing her, I learned characteristics that pharmacists should possess. When most people think of a pharmacist, they picture someone with a white coat behind the counter of chain pharmacy store. Most people don’t know pharmacists work in a hospital right alongside physicians, nurses and other medical staff. Pharmacists are the ones they come to for advice on medications, dose adjustments and side effects. Dr. Sui taught me how clinical pharmacists can make a difference in patient care. I learned that through the pharmacist’s dedicated efforts to improve the quality of life, patients can find hope and assurance. Her enthusiasm for the profession was delightful and had an impact on my view of pharmacists. Dr. Sui’s day starts early in the morning by checking patient charts and labs. She reviews each patient’s progress and looks for any abnormalities. Then she checks to see if there are recommendations to make during rounds. Once on rounds, she becomes part of the discussion about each patient with the attending physician, nurse practitioner, nurse, etc. She acts as a consultant and medication specialist at this time. Then she meets with patients for medication counseling. It seems like a full day with lists of things to do but she is personable and kind to the patients. Most of all her enthusiasm for her work was contagious. She explained the pros and cons of working in a large hospital. I felt that I gained an insider’s view of the role of a clinical pharmacist. She explained to me the team effort that is involved in caring for individual patients. I look forward to continuing this mentorship opportunity with her. Miryoung Kim is a second-year pharmacy student.
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