1. As a women’s health clinical pharmacist working in a clinic that serves pregnant women who are medically underserved, what advice would you give to student pharmacists interested in pursuing a career in clinical pharmacy?
Dr. Forinash: I would encourage students to pick challenging rotations and get outside your comfort zone. These rotations give you more opportunities to learn and grow. Give yourself some grace, you’re still learning. Find good mentors and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Come prepared to your rotations. By that, I mean look things up and read articles related to the disease states and medications you see on the rotation. This allows you to have deeper conversations with your preceptor and/or solidify knowledge.
2. Can you highlight some of the key areas or topics within women’s health that you find particularly important for student pharmacists to be knowledgeable about?
Dr. Forinash: Medication safety during pregnancy and lactation. No matter where you end up working as a pharmacist, patients, family, and friends will always ask medication safety questions. Also, contraception since there are 29 states that allow pharmacist prescribing.
3. In your experience, what skills and qualities do you believe are essential for a student pharmacist aspiring to work in clinical pharmacy, specifically in women’s health and obstetrics?
Dr. Forinash: Come in prepared and question things to understand the “why” as this helps you grow. Have a positive attitude about learning opportunities and envision them as opportunities for growth. Time management is essential as this will continue to be challenged as you head into residency and in your career afterwards.
4. Interprofessional collaboration is crucial in health care. How do you actively engage with other health care professionals to enhance patient care, and what advice would you give to students on fostering effective collaboration?
Dr. Forinash: Work on justifying your decisions with literature, guidelines, and patient-specific factors. Try to anticipate questions that others may ask, so you can have answers ready for them. Try to find ways to support the team. Kindness and collegiality go a long way; remember that everybody on the team is important.
*The author would like to acknowledge that being an excellent baker doesn’t hurt.
5. Given the diverse patient population you serve, what cultural competence and sensitivity considerations do you think are important for student pharmacists to develop in clinical pharmacy?
Dr. Forinash: I think of it as being a good human, being kind, nonjudgmental, and putting yourself in your patients’ shoes to understand their challenges. Being open-minded and a good listener is important. Be sure to take advantage of the opportunities offered at your college of pharmacy to understand different cultures and viewpoints.
6. What role has ACCP played in your career?
Dr. Forinash: It has been instrumental in my career. I have been a member of the Women’s Health PRN since residency. Through it, I was able to network and meet other pharmacists interested in women’s health. It gave me the opportunity to serve as an officer in the PRN: as secretary, treasurer, chair-elect, chair, and past-chair. It has opened doors for me and provided writing and speaking opportunities and collaboration. Also, I very much enjoy seeing everyone at the PRN meeting every year.
7. What accomplishment are you most proud of in your career?
Dr. Forinash: Honestly, I feel very blessed with everything I’ve had in my career. Everything I’d ever dreamed of doing, I’m doing; writing for Briggs, starting and being part of the team for a high-risk obstetrics clinic. What am I most proud of? Directly helping patients and improving their care, because that’s why I’m here.
Alicia Forinash, Pharm.D., FCCP, BCPS, BCACP, is a professor at St. Louis College of Pharmacy at The University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy. She specialized in women’s health, including obstetrics, medication use during pregnancy and lactation, managing chronic medical conditions during pregnancy, gynecology, lactation, contraception, osteoporosis, postmenopausal hormones, and infertility. Her practice site is at SSM St. Mary’s Maternal-Fetal Care and Women and Infant Substance Help (WISH) Centers with a practice specialty of maternal-fetal medicine. She is a Fellow of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy and won the 2019 ACCP Clinical Practice Award. In her free time, she enjoys golfing, cooking, and spending time with her family.