Pursuing an Interest That Began in a Cancer Biology Class

Until then, Lowe knew she wanted a career in healthcare but had not settled on a specific profession. After graduating with a double major in biology and Italian studies and a minor in chemistry, she spent a gap year shadowing pharmacists in hospital settings.

"They loved what they did," she said.

When it came time to choose a pharmacy school, Lowe wanted to remain in New York City. She was drawn to the Touro College of Pharmacy's smaller size and close-knit atmosphere.

"All my life I've been going to smaller schools," she said. "It was important that I got to know my classmates and professors and they got to know me."

The interest in oncology that began at Wesleyan continued at TCOP. Lowe's research focused on colorectal cancer, where she examined proteins that may play a role in the disease's development. The project led to opportunities to present her work at professional conferences, including the American Association for Cancer Research.

Along the way, she gained a broader understanding of the pharmacy profession.

"I wasn't aware of how many fields of pharmacy there were," Lowe said. "I didn't realize there were pharmacists who worked with veterinarians. I didn't know that was a thing."

She learned about specialties ranging from transplant and nuclear pharmacy to military pharmacy while becoming involved in programs and organizations across TCOP.

Lowe was a member of the university’s Center of Excellence program, which aims to increase the number of pharmacy students, graduates and faculty trained to provide patient-centered care and improve general health outcomes in communities.

"It's a great resource for students, to not only connect with one another, but be introduced to professionals within the field," she said.

She also served as a TCOP Admissions Ambassador and was selected as a member of the first cohort of Pharm4Me Ambassadors through the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, speaking with college students about careers in pharmacy and answering questions about the profession. During her time at TCOP, she was inducted into Rho Chi, the national pharmacy honor society, and was part of a two-person team that won an ASHP Clinical Skills Brain Bowl competition.

The connection between pharmacy and cancer care became even clearer during Lowe's Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiential rotations. She spent six weeks at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston on a medication safety rotation.

"There, I saw firsthand the impact medication safety has on healthcare in general and on cancer care in particular," she said.

At Dana-Farber, Lowe worked alongside pharmacists and other healthcare professionals focused on the safe use of medications in cancer treatment. During the rotation, she completed 105 chart reviews as part of a hypersensitivity reaction project, analyzed medication safety data, participated in adverse event reviews, and helped identify findings that warranted further investigation, including a possible increase in reactions associated with the cancer drug obinutuzumab.

She also delivered presentations on hypersensitivity reactions in anti-cancer therapy and medication safety strategies, as well as a medication error case study examining root cause analysis and prevention measures.

The experience left a strong impression on her supervisor.

"Both of her presentations far exceeded that of a P3 student and were more at the level of what I would have expected of a PGY-1 resident," said Emily Messing, PharmD, BCPS, CPPS, Medication Safety Officer at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and a TCOP alumna (’17).

Messing said Lowe demonstrated strong critical thinking, professionalism, and collaboration throughout the rotation while contributing to several medication safety projects.

For Lowe, the experience reinforced both her interest in oncology and her appreciation for the systems that support patient care.

"On one hand, I aspire to be a resource of knowledge on the many types of medications used in the oncology setting," she said. "At the same time, I want to understand the seriousness and consequences that surround the use of these medications in patients' care."

Lowe plans to pursue a residency after graduation and hopes to build a career in oncology pharmacy.

"My goal is to be accepted to a residency and specialize in oncology," she said.

For students considering pharmacy school, Lowe believes it's important to understand both the challenges and rewards of the profession.

"Be aware that it's a doctorate program, it's going to be difficult and require a lot of your time," she said. "But the outcome, as well as the experience, is highly rewarding. Go into it with open eyes and excitement. It's going to be an experience you will cherish."