Graduate Spotlight: Muna Said, with dual advanced degrees, will enter high-tech world of drug information
The Overton High School grad's career path was determined eight years ago in her high school pharmacological sciences course taught by Lipscomb pharmacy students.
Janel Shoun-Smith |
(At left) Muna Said (second from left) in 2015 on a visit to a pharmacy as part of the Overton pharmacological sciences class taught by Lipscomb pharmacy students, and (at right) Said today, having earned her pharmacy doctorate and informatics master's, on the Lipscomb campus.
When Overton High School senior Muna Said enrolled in her high school’s pharmacological sciences course in 2014, she knew she wanted to pursue a career in health care but wasn’t exactly sure in what field. Lipscomb’s student pharmacists, including now Lipscomb Assistant Professor Dr. Justin Kirby, helped her set her sights firmly on pharmacy.
Eight years later, on May 6, she became Dr. Said when she walked the stage at Allen Arena to receive her dual degree: a Doctor of Pharmacy and a Master of Health Care Informatics. Her Lipscomb journey concluded as she began a post-doctoral fellowship at InpharmD, a company on the cutting edge of technology that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to provide evidence-based drug information responses for providers.
Muna Said earned her Doctor of Pharmacy and her Master of Health Care Informatics at the same time through Lipscomb's dual degree program.
Back in 2014, Said was among the first group of Overton students to take a year-long pharmacological sciences course developed and taught by Lipscomb fourth-year pharmacy students. Lipscomb’s students completed one of their advanced pharmacy practice experiences by teaching the course, and the high school students learned everything they needed to pass the pharmacist’s technician exam for a chance at immediate employment upon graduation.
The College of Pharmacy became involved with the Healthcare Academy at John Overton High School through a partnership with the PENCIL Foundation of Nashville, said Kirby.
“Over the past decade, numerous Lipscomb student pharmacists have taught, mentored and encouraged Overton students enrolled in the class,” he said. “As of graduation this May, five Overton alumni have enrolled and completed their Doctor of Pharmacy degrees at Lipscomb. Many other Overton students who obtained their pharmacy technician certification have been inspired to pursue a professional degree in medicine, nursing, pharmacy, and other fields in the health care industry.”
Some Overton students in 2014-15 had the chance to shadow Kirby at Perkins Drugs in Gallatin, Tennessee. They made trips to various pharmacy locations such as the Walgreens Infusion Center, Southern Hills Hospital and Lipscomb’s sterile compounding lab, and learned from various hands-on experiences in the classroom.
Overton High School students, including Said (far left), learn various hands-on experiences in the pharmacological sciences course taught by Lipscomb pharmacy students in 2014-15.
Said drew on all those experiences as she worked to complete her pre-pharmacy undergraduate requirements at Lipscomb in 2018. She then worked as a pharmacy technician at Walgreens before enrolling in Lipscomb’s College of Pharmacy in 2019.
“Taking the pharmaceutical science course at Overton my senior year is what specifically got me interested in pharmacy. What sparked my interest in informatics was recognizing the fact that the health care industry is rapidly evolving, and the use of technology is becoming increasingly important,” Said said.
While studying at Lipscomb, Said authored an article on preparing pharmacy students for the digital health era that will be published in the May/June issue of the 2023 JAPhA Association Report. After her post-doctoral fellowship, she would like to pursue a career as a drug information pharmacist.
“My experience at Lipscomb has been amazing,” she said. “Throughout my pre-pharmacy and graduate studies, I have been able to grow both academically and personally and form some lifelong bonds.”
“Dr. Said is gifted with the rare combination of an analytical mind and a compassionate heart,” said Dr. Beth Breeden, associate professor and chair of the Master of Health Care Informatics program. “Her commitment to excellence is only surpassed by unwavering kindness and it has been a delight and honor to walk this journey to the dual PharmD/MHCI degrees with her. We are thrilled to see the impact she will have in drug information, serving as a voice of expertise for health care professionals and patients alike.”
“Dr. Breeden has been an amazing mentor for me and an incredible source of guidance and support,” Said said.
Including Said (center, right), six students from the Overton pharmacological sciences course have come to Lipscomb since 2015 to earn their Pharm.D. degrees and enter the health care field.
In addition, she named Dr. Kevin Clauson, Lipscomb professor of pharmacy practice who passed away last year, as one professor who had, “an immense impact on my career goals and provided me with a lot of advice when I told him I was interested in applying to fellowship programs. His legacy will continue to inspire me and many others!”
Today the College of Pharmacy continues to reach out to Overton High School students through the Pencil Partner program. Students visit the college facilities on campus, and Kirby and student pharmacists still go to the high school to inform about the pharmacy field.
In addition, “during her final advanced pharmacy practice experience in April, Muna spent time developing and facilitating an exam review for Overton students who were preparing to take their pharmacy technician certification examination. This year’s Overton class had the highest certification exam pass rate in the 10-year history of the course, and Muna played a vital role in that,” said Kirby.
“Muna embodies all the best qualities of Overton and Lipscomb alumni by being both an excellent student and a compassionate caregiver to her patients,” he said. “Her spirit of service encompasses the values of Lipscomb and reflects the tenets outlined in the Oath of a Pharmacist as well.”