Alumni of the Month
Dr. Kyle Higuchi
#24
Alpha Class
What is your favorite holiday?
These days I would say my favorite holiday is…
Dr. Sami Furutani
Where are you from? I am originally from Hilo.
What are your hobbies or interests? Lately, my hobbies include a lot of Netflix and Hulu. I also enjoy online shopping.
What is your favorite holiday? My favorite holiday is New Years because it's the one time of year my whole family comes to Hilo to celebrate together.
Describe your career and the responsibilities of your position. I am currently a float pharmacist for Safeway. I travel to 11 different stores on 4 different islands within the state. Besides the regular duties of a pharmacist, I have to keep track of where I'm supposed to be on what days and make sure I have proper travel arrangements booked for those days (air, car, hotel). Part of being a float is adjusting to each site. Every pharmacy is different and you have to be flexible as each can function a little differently depending on the pharmacists/techs and the clientele (patients).
List and describe the 3 best things about your job. The best things about my job: 1) The people. The techs and pharmacists at Safeway have all been super helpful and positive. It makes all the difference in how fast, slow, or chaotic the pharmacy can be. 2) In addition to the patients I see at the pharmacy, I also do a lot of Medication Therapy Management (MTM). I get to spend more time with patients to discuss their current medications and talk about what I can do to help them whether it's getting a 90 day supply of their medications, recommending a vaccine, or adjusting their diet. 3) I love administering vaccines. Vaccines are an important part of patient wellness and are also a good time to educate patients. Most vaccines can be administered at one time and patients are not aware of vaccines they may be eligible for so screening and education of available vaccines can be done when patients arrive at the pharmacy. Patients often times go unvaccinated because they are unaware of the immense benefits or do not know that they qualify to receive them.
What has been one of your biggest accomplishments since leaving DKICP? While it may sound cliche, my biggest accomplishment was passing the NAPLEX and MPJE. Your entire collegiate and pharmacy school career depends on passing these exams and even graduation doesn't feel complete knowing you still have to pass two exams before being able to practice pharmacy. Once you pass, it is terrifying and exciting but also feels final in the sense that you've finally reached a long term goal of becoming a fully licensed pharmacist.
What are your hobbies or interests? Lately, my hobbies include a lot of Netflix and Hulu. I also enjoy online shopping.
What is your favorite holiday? My favorite holiday is New Years because it's the one time of year my whole family comes to Hilo to celebrate together.
Describe your career and the responsibilities of your position. I am currently a float pharmacist for Safeway. I travel to 11 different stores on 4 different islands within the state. Besides the regular duties of a pharmacist, I have to keep track of where I'm supposed to be on what days and make sure I have proper travel arrangements booked for those days (air, car, hotel). Part of being a float is adjusting to each site. Every pharmacy is different and you have to be flexible as each can function a little differently depending on the pharmacists/techs and the clientele (patients).
List and describe the 3 best things about your job. The best things about my job: 1) The people. The techs and pharmacists at Safeway have all been super helpful and positive. It makes all the difference in how fast, slow, or chaotic the pharmacy can be. 2) In addition to the patients I see at the pharmacy, I also do a lot of Medication Therapy Management (MTM). I get to spend more time with patients to discuss their current medications and talk about what I can do to help them whether it's getting a 90 day supply of their medications, recommending a vaccine, or adjusting their diet. 3) I love administering vaccines. Vaccines are an important part of patient wellness and are also a good time to educate patients. Most vaccines can be administered at one time and patients are not aware of vaccines they may be eligible for so screening and education of available vaccines can be done when patients arrive at the pharmacy. Patients often times go unvaccinated because they are unaware of the immense benefits or do not know that they qualify to receive them.
What has been one of your biggest accomplishments since leaving DKICP? While it may sound cliche, my biggest accomplishment was passing the NAPLEX and MPJE. Your entire collegiate and pharmacy school career depends on passing these exams and even graduation doesn't feel complete knowing you still have to pass two exams before being able to practice pharmacy. Once you pass, it is terrifying and exciting but also feels final in the sense that you've finally reached a long term goal of becoming a fully licensed pharmacist.