Having guest speakers that work in the healthcare field into the classroom is always a highlight for Ross Medical Education Center students. It gives them the opportunity to hear from more than their instructors, also experienced healthcare professionals, about what a day in the life of someone in the field is really like. They are able to ask questions, get employment advice, and network with potential employers. The Pharmacy Technician students in both the morning and evening classes at the Davison campus had the privilege of guest speakers coming in to share experiences with them.
In late July, Diana Benham, RPh, PhD, visited the Pharmacy Technician class. Diana is a clinical pharmacist for Genesys Regional Medical Center in Grand Blanc. She came to meet and talk with the morning class, and she spoke to the students about her role in the hospital and some of the differences between working in the hospital setting versus a retail setting. She then had a nice question and answer session with the students. She was able to give them a good idea about the different duties a pharmacy technician can have in the hospital and what to expect should they decide to pursue employment in the hospital setting.
In early August, the campus had two former students come in as guest speakers from Creative Compounding Center in Imlay City. Megan Castle and Tiffany McMullin were students last year at the Davison campus. They talked to the current class about the different types of compounding their facility does which included hormone therapies, antibiotics, topical and flavored to accommodate the various patients they serve. They do quite a bit of compounding for local veterinarians and send as far out as New York. It was nice for our students to see how they skills they are learning now can be applied to real life work. They also talked to the students about making sure their math skills were top notch for this type of practice setting. Students were engaged and asked a lot of questions. Michelle Lambaria-Robson, Assistant Campus Director of Education, shared about the experience, “it was a great visit not only for current students, but also for the faculty to see out graduates out in the field working.”