Downers Grove, IL Program	Glendale, AZ Program

What past pharmacy students have to say about Midwestern University...

Doug Mazewski, Pharm.D., College of Pharmacy, Downers Grove Campus, Class of 2021
“Midwestern University has always been a second home for me. The relationships and memories I made on campus will last a lifetime. Being a student was challenging but so rewarding…I am so grateful for the College of Pharmacy and the amount of time and energy they devoted to my education. The support we got from the college was incredible. I am proud of all my volunteer work throughout my time in pharmacy school. I have already worked with such a diverse background of patients and have provided them with education and counseling.”

Justin Koa Ma, Pharm.D., College of Pharmacy, Glendale Campus, Class of 2020
“I chose to be a pharmacist because I have always wanted to make an impact on other people’s lives. In pharmacy, I fell in love with the ideas of patient interactions, such as counseling and medication education, and patient empowerment, a process of shared patient decision-making that allows patients to take charge of their health. Midwestern University provided many opportunities for continuous learning and self-development and the perfect environment for community involvement and leadership. There is a strong support group from both fellow classmates and professors. Being a student at MWU will require hard work, but the experience will be rewarding. I had the opportunity to interact with students from other programs and was able to hear their perspectives on patient cases, as well as real-life interdisciplinary interactions with students and practicing providers through our community service clinics.”

Haresh Desai, Pharm.D., College of Pharmacy, Downers Grove Campus, Class of 2014
“I originally chose pharmacy because I wanted to help patients with affordable healthcare and medications, and I felt the pharmacist was the most accessible healthcare provider. Midwestern was my first choice, because I wanted to learn alongside other healthcare professionals to better care for patients holistically. I had the opportunity to participate in many different activities with other healthcare providers, as well as grow my own leadership styles as Class President, Resident Assistant, etc. I’m most thankful for the learning environment of everyone leaning in together as we grew in our knowledge and experience. Like all programs, I encourage potential students to research what organizations and groups you want to participate in outside of regular classwork to fully maximize your time and experience.”

Ryan Gries, Pharm.D., College of Pharmacy, Glendale Campus, Class of 2014
“I chose pharmacy as an excellent intersection of the sciences and patient care,” explained Dr. Gries. He also was “pleasantly surprised by the vast amount of opportunities and specialties that are available.” Dr. Gries found that CPGC gave him the best foundation possible for his career in healthcare and offered superior training. “The intense, fast-paced, and year-round program worked in my favor when pursuing post-graduate residency training and upon becoming a new practitioner.” He mentioned that the best two aspects of MWU, and CPGC in particular, were the commitment of the instructors to their students and the environment in and around campus of a close-knit community. “MWU is literally a family.”

Liz Van Dril, Pharm.D., BCPS, College of Pharmacy, Downers Grove Campus, Class of 2016
Dr. Van Dril completed her residency in Ambulatory Care Pharmacy. As a student of the College of Pharmacy, Downers Grove Campus, she found it to be a nurturing environment where “the access to professors was the most valuable asset.” She chose pharmacy in order to pursue a fulfilling career and most enjoyed the relationships she built with patients during her residency. Overall, she remarked that “the most rewarding part was seeing mentees and the other students grow.”

Alexandra Maga, Pharm.D., College of Pharmacy, Glendale Campus, Class of 2019
Dr. Maga became interested in pharmacy after a family member was diagnosed with autism and was presented with a multitude of medications for managing the disorder. As an MWU student, Dr. Maga noted, "I loved how many opportunities I had to get involved. I advocated for our profession to our state legislature; I was involved in a pharmacy fraternity which allowed me to network extensively; I was involved in various research projects with CPG faculty; and I attended professional conferences and met incredible leaders in pharmacy." One of the most surprising things she discovered was how many paths there are in pharmacy. "I had only thought of career opportunities in the community setting and in the hospital setting," explained Dr. Maga. "It turned out that you can be a nuclear pharmacist, a clinical infectious disease pharmacist, a managed care pharmacist, an IT pharmacist--and that is only scratching the surface."

Amanda Page, Pharm.D., College of Pharmacy, Downers Grove Campus, Class of 2019
As a student at Midwestern University, Dr. Page felt “constantly supported by teachers. They are interested in your success, each and every one of them.” While the program was challenging, “You know you’re getting a quality education… I looked forward to coming to classes and felt rewarded. We celebrated the little successes and felt like we accomplished something.” She was surprised by “how much the students depend on each other as a class. You’re leaning on these people as much as they’re leaning on you.” Dr. Page enjoyed having the opportunity to learn from a “student body that encompasses more than just pharmacy.”