Rowena Gan
Tell us briefly about your work or role in your current organisation.
I am currently a Provisionally Registered Pharmacist in Roche (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, a pharmaceutical company. Not only that, I am also the Corporate Relations Director of the Malaysian Pharmaceutical Society - Young Pharmacist Chapter (MPS-YPC) and the President of Monash Malaysia Pharmacy Alumni (MMPA) Network.
How has your study in Monash Malaysia helped prepare you for the working world?
Despite taking a different route than that of the conventional hospital pharmacist, many skills and core drug knowledge learnt in Monash Malaysia has helped me in my current position. Among the skills learnt that has helped me much are literature search, communication, problem solving, teamwork, and leadership skills. Many of these were learnt through group assignments and projects which the pharmacy course had put us through. Not only that, the basic drug knowledge I obtained helped me in understanding the company's product more, especially in relation to the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of the drug product.
While at Monash, what type of opportunities did you participate in?
I was very much involved with the Monash University Pharmacy Society (MUPhaS). I had participated in many of the events orgranised by MUPhaS and was in their committee as a Year Representative for 2 years. I was also the class representative for our batch for 2.5 years.
What was it about Monash that made you select this university in the first place?
One of the main reasons for choosing Monash was for its reputation and that its pharmacy course is one of the highest ranking pharmacy courses in the world.
What do you love most about your student life at Monash?
One thing I love the most about my student life was the people I met there. This includes my batchmates, lecturers, seniors and juniors. Each of them made my student life a greater experience. In fact, I still keep in touch with a lot of them. Being in the alumni committee has helped with this as well.
What is your advice to our current and future students?
For future students - there's always a reason for the school to be teaching you what they teach you. Each assignment, test, group work, etc, brings you different learnings. Though you may not see the sense in why you have been given certain tasks, try your best in all that you do. For you never know, those experience/skills/knowledge may come in handy when you're in the working world.
For current students - there are no wrong choices when choosing which line of pharmacy to go into, each have their specific set of learnings. Where you start does not determine your end point, it is what you do that determines it. Hence, no matter where you end up in (whether or not it's a choice of your liking), try your best and don't give up. Your attitude and achievements will be what takes you further to the position of your heart's desire.