Ms. Cedona Watts is currently a fourth-year student pharmacist at the University of Southern California (USC) School of Pharmacy and is expected to graduate in May 2014. She recently completed her first advanced pharmacy practice experience in ambulatory care, during which she gained experience managing patients with cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and HIV. She is also an intern pharmacist at City of Hope, a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated comprehensive cancer center. Last summer, Watts completed a 10-week research internship at the NCI, part of the National Institutes of Health, where she assisted in developing an assay to detect endocrine-disrupting chemicals in water sources. At USC, Watts was the recipient of two research scholarships to study the use of CXCR1/2 antagonists in the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer. Before joining USC, Watts earned a B.S. degree in biological sciences with a minor in chemistry and a B.A. degree in philosophy from the University of Alabama in Huntsville.

Watts applied to pharmacy school to become a clinical pharmacist, and her goal is to become a faculty member. She was intrigued by clinical pharmacy after shadowing a clinical pharmacist. This experience provided her the opportunity to learn about the role of clinical pharmacists in recommending appropriate drug therapy and precepting students and residents as part of a multidisciplinary health care team. Although she is aware of the many areas of pharmacy practice, she is particularly interested in learning more about oncology. Watts’ career choices were influenced the most by the faculty at USC and the pharmacists at City of Hope—experts in their respective fields and leaders in the pharmacy profession. Her experience in research helped her understand the basic science behind therapeutics, and her experience in cardiology led her to realize the importance of looking at the patient as a whole before making clinical decisions.

Watts joined ACCP during her second year of pharmacy school and attended “Emerge from the Crowd: How to Become a Standout Residency Candidate” at the ACCP spring meeting in Reno, Nevada. Her favorite part of the conference was the workshop in which she learned the importance of scholarly activities and the ways in which students can get involved during pharmacy school. She also participated in the online CV review service, from which she learned great tips for improving her CV. This year, Watts is excited to serve on the ACCP National Student Network Advisory Committee as a member-at-large.

Despite her busy schedule, Watts finds time for community service. She participates in organizing health fairs for the underserved patient population, where students not only screen for blood pressure, provide immunizations, and counsel patients, but also develop an appreciation for cultural competency. Watts is currently assisting in organizing a student conference for undergraduate, graduate, and professional students to promote diversity in higher education.

Finally, people would be surprised to know that Cedona Watts wanted to be a foreign correspondent before starting college!