SNPhA Meeting Written by Relindis Ngwa, Immediate Past President of SNPhA
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) welcomed a
executive director for the National Pharmaceutical Association (NPhA)
new President in September 2018 with a pharmacy background and
for which SNPhA is the student affiliate. She served in that role for
her name is Dr. Heidi Anderson. As members of the Student National
15 years. She served on the Board of Directors for the Accreditation
Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA), we were curious to find out
Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). She served as a Provost on
about her career path and how she as a pharmacist became the
two occasions which led her to becoming the President of UMES.
president of UMES. To this end, an invitation was extended to her for a
Throughout her journey, she has demonstrated leadership skills
professional meeting with the School of Pharmacy students, where she
by following one of Nelson Mandela’s quote which states “It is better
could share with us her career path. Our invitation was accepted and
to lead from behind and to put others in front, especially when you
with great pleasure, we welcomed her for the professional meeting on
celebrate victories and when nice things occur. You take the front line
the 30th of April 2019 at 4:00 pm in Carver Hall.
when there is danger. Then people will appreciate your leadership.”
She was introduced by the President of SNPhA (Relindis Ngwa)
She ended the meeting by telling us the students that “your leadership
and the title of her presentation was “My Crossroads, My Journey, My
skills, your values and who you are, are within.” Throughout her
Story.” From her presentation, we learned how throughout her career
career she has had mentors and advised each of us to connect with
she has always held a leadership position. Her leadership career
mentors because they see things in us that we do not necessarily
started when she founded the first SNPhA chapter at Purdue University
see in ourselves. It was a great pleasure for the School of Pharmacy
where she earned her Ph.D. in Pharmacy Administration, M.S. in
through SNPhA to have welcomed Dr. Heidi Anderson that evening as
Education and B.S. in Pharmacy. She later became the first woman
we learned a lot from her career journey.
Back row, left to right: Chuchi, Loveline, Ankit, Kuele, Ludovic, Lorette Second row, left to write: Michael, Shahin, Dr. Wade, Sandra, Jennifer, Sylvia, Tasong First row, Left to right: Dr. Nonyel, Dr. Ayotunde-Jackson, Ms. Shawjohnson, Marianne, Ralphaelial, Relindis, Dr. Heidi, Elizabeth, Nancy, Noella, Douglas, Hope, Adit
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