When I received my APPE rotation schedule and saw I would be wrapping up my P4 year doing an Association Management rotation with Texas Pharmacy Association CEO Debbie Garza, I never imagined it would be completely virtual.

As a student pharmacist just six weeks shy of completing the Pharm.D. program requirements, the COVID-19 pandemic brought much uncertainty. Would we be able to finish our rotations? Would we be able to graduate? Would we be able to sit for board exams?

Fortunately, TPA was able to help ease my uncertainty by allowing me to complete a virtual rotation while also emphasizing its dedication to the profession of pharmacy amidst a pandemic.

I spent six weeks working with the TPA staff, yet never saw them in person. Because of my involvement as a student member of TPA, I was familiar with the Association’s structure and was quickly able to jump on board with projects. Debbie held virtual meetings via the Zoom platform allowing the staff to utilize video conferencing to meet multiple times a week. Through these meetings, I was able to put names to faces which helped make up for the lack of in-person interactions. From sharing fun facts to hosting themed birthday celebrations, the virtual platform allowed me to build rapport with the staff while still adhering to the work-from-home mandate.

While the staff was not directly on the front lines of the pandemic like many pharmacists were, they still worked tirelessly behind the scenes and greatly contributed on many different levels. They ensured their website and social media platforms had the most up-to-date information from both a public health and clinical perspective. They helped connect local news stations with pharmacists to highlight their efforts in the community. Most importantly, they worked closely with the Texas State Board of Pharmacy and the Governor’s office to advocate for changes that would help pharmacists, interns, and technicians better meet the needs of their patients during the pandemic.

Although the rotation was virtual, I was amazed at how much I learned and grew professionally during the six weeks. The structure of the rotation allowed me to work on skills such as effective telephone communication, email etiquette, and self-discipline. Fine-tuning these qualities helped prepare me to transition into a workforce that has largely shifted to remote work using virtual platforms.

Although the rotation did not look how I expected it to, it was a very unique and valuable learning experience that I will never forget.

Alvarez completed a six-week rotation with the Texas Pharmacy Association during April and May of 2020.