Pharmacy Perspectives - Graduation 2017 - 11

G R A D UAT I O N 2 0 1 7

Chelsea, Maumi, Daniel and Sarah on vacation together

All in the
Family

H

"

aving my daughter and I
obtain doctorates at the
same time is a seminal
moment," says Maumi
Villarreal. She and her
husband, Daniel, are both first generation college
graduates and have modeled a college education
to their daughters - Sarah and Chelsea. "Our
parents are very proud of us," says Villarreal.
Villarreal passed on her love of pharmacy to
their eldest daughter, when Sarah would help
her mom at the local ASHP meetings.  
"When she was young, I'd take her to
the meetings and she'd help check people in
and sign them up for membership," recounts
Villarreal. "It was the ultimate 'Take Your

Lara Ann Greenhalgh
Samim Hasham
Hayman Khalil
Chung Woon Ma
Qing Ma
Dhanya Moonnumackal

Edith Amarachukwu
Nwaroh
Bhavna Rajesh Phulwani
Renuka Rajesh
Abduselam Said Salih
Ravina Sanghera

Family
Ties

Daughter to Work Day', and I had no idea that
that type of exposure might set her on a similar
path." Sarah graduated with a PharmD in 2010
from Texas Tech.
Maumi graduated in 1980 with a bachelor's
degree in pharmacy and has been a working
pharmacist ever since - holding several positions including as a faculty member at Texas
Tech and director of pharmacy at a hospital.
She decided to return to school to obtain her
PharmD when she took a Medical Liaison
position with Novo Nordisk, Inc., in 2011.
"They supported me greatly with their tuition
assistance program," says Villarreal.
While Maumi was earning her Doctor
of Pharmacy degree, Sarah was earning her
PhD from the University of Texas College of
Pharmacy (UT).  Both mother and daughter
will graduate with terminal degrees this year -
from two separate programs.  Instead of walking at UT, Sarah will be at CU to share her
mother's accomplishment. Commencement
is sure to be special when Sarah hoods her
mother and the two become Drs. Villarreal.

Edward Richard Saxon
Gloria Seto
Steven Frank Silverman
Mark James Sinclair
Darla Dee Spears
Michael Benjamin Taub

Seena Thomas
Joyce Cheuk-Chee Tsang
Maumi Ann Villarreal

The first student
to graduate from the
International Trained
PharmD (ITPD) program, Riham Elrefai is
an Egyptian pharmacist who works and
lives in Qatar.
Elrefai inherited
her love of healthcare
from her parents,
both physicians,
who steered her
into the field of
pharmacy. "They
were concerned with
the length of time
it takes to become
a physician, so they
helped me realize
that pharmacy was a
better choice. And I
love it," says Elrefai.
Practicing pharmacy in Egypt or the
Middle East is similar
to the U.S., however
requires a five-year
bachelor's degree,
not a doctorate.
"One of the biggest
differences is that
patients don't have to
have a prescription to
obtain a medication.
They can pick the
medication they want
at the pharmacy."
Elrefai obtained her
pharmacy degree in
2004 and after nearly
a decade of working
in the field, realized
that in order to
pursue a more clinical
path she would need
a doctorate.
So, three years
ago, she signed up
for the ITPD program. The first two
years of the program
entailed didactic

work that could be
completed online
back in Qatar. The
final year required
uprooting herself
from all she knew
- her husband who
is a pharmacy professor in Qatar, her
family, her culture
and language, and
moving to the U.S. to
complete rotations.
"It was quite a challenge, but worth it,"
says Elrefai.
After graduation,
Elrefai will return to
Qatar "with more
confidence to practice
in a clinical setting."

They were
concerned
with the
length of
time it takes
to become a
physician, so
they helped
me realize that
pharmacy
was a better
choice. And
I love it.
- R I H A M E L R E FA I

www.ucdenver.edu/pharmacy

11
http://www.ucdenver.edu/pharmacy
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pharmacy Perspectives - Graduation 2017
