Mentors Make a Difference 

9th Annual Residency Mentoring Social Draws Nearly 150 UH/TSU Students, Residency Program Representatives from Across Houston-Galveston Region 

"Find a mentor and be a mentor." That was the advice and request of Stephen J. Davis, Pharm.D., M.S., pharmacy manager at Texas Children’s Hospital, as the keynote speaker at the 9th Annual Residency Mentoring Social at UH Jan. 21. 

Above, Texas Health Spring residency director and UHCOP alumnus Omar Serna, Pharm.D., gives advice to UHCOP student Yuanli Li. Below, Davis is presented with a plaque by TSU SSHP President Jerrad Logue.

The event at the UH Alumni Center drew nearly 150 UH College of Pharmacy and Texas Southern University Pharm.D. students and residents, residency program directors and preceptors representing 16 programs from across the Houston-Galveston region.  

With financial support from the Gulf Coast Society of Health-System Pharmacists and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists' Speakers Bureau, the annual event is coordinated by the Society of Student Health-System Pharmacists chapters of UHCOP and TSU.

In his address entitled "Establishing the Vision for your Life and Career," Davis also encouraged students to establish - and regularly revisit - their career and professional goals.

"But don't be afraid, discouraged or surprised if they change over time," said Davis, who also serves as the TCH residency director for the concurrent M.S./PGY1-PGY2 pharmacy administration program with UHCOP. "The important thing is to set those goals and develop a plan of how you will work toward achieving them. I keep my list of goals in my phone, so whenever I need to remind myself or consider a decision, they're right there." 

Following Davis' presentation, students participated in "round-robin" sessions with the residency program representatives to learn about specific opportunities, what program directors look for, how to find the best fit, and other tips and advice for landing and making the most of a residency.