Pharmacy Perspectives - Graduation 2019 - 7

G R A D UAT I O N 2 0 1 9

JESSICA JONES:
FINDING THE 'RIGHT' SPOT
BY SANDY GRAHAM

hen Jessica Jones
beg an looking at
pharmacy schools, she
didn't expect to leave
California , where
she'd grown up and
attended college. But something about CU
Pharmacy "felt right," she remembers.
During the past four years, that feeling of
"rightness" has grown into certainty. Now
about to graduate with her PharmD degree,
Jones looks back on her time at CU Pharmacy
as challenging and rewarding.
'I had a wonderful time at CU Pharmacy,"
she says. "I've had nothing but positive

interactions with my preceptors and the faculty ... It was stressful, but I'm really grateful
for all the opportunities."
Laura Borgelt, PharmD, associate dean for
administration and operations and a professor
in clinical pharmacy and family medicine, was
particularly supportive, Jones says. Dr. Borgelt
was Jones' adviser for her honors research
project and always encouraged her, especially
during the stressful times.
"Let the universe work for you; don't
stress," Borgelt repeatedly told Jones.
Another CU Pharmacy highlight for
Jones was volunteering for Comunidades
Unidas Peru (CU Peru), an interdisciplinary

nonprofit program that sends health sciences
students of all kinds, including pharmacy, to
the Amazon to instruct Peruvian community
health workers.
"I didn't expect to get so involved in global
health work," Jones says. "I feel very fortunate to
have such unique interdisciplinary interactions."
In summer 2017, she spent nearly a month in
Peru. Jones discovered that while she was still two
years from completing her degree, she had a solid
foundation of knowledge that allowed her to help
these community health workers in the remote
jungle communities.
"And," she says, "I learned just as much from
them as they did from me."
Jones, who is finishing her term as CU Peru
president, says she plans to continue her involvement with the program "from afar." In July, she
will begin a one-year acute care residency at the
University of California, San Diego.
Beyond that, Jones is uncertain what path her
career will take. She is interested in infectious
disease and solid organ transplant as well as
international health. She may pursue a career
in academia, which would allow her to teach,
research and be a preceptor.
Jones will miss Colorado's sunshine and snowboarding. "I never thought I'd come to love snow
so much," she says.

Clockwise from left: A clinic is set up in Peru during CU Peru's visit to the country; children walk along a path in Peru; a sunset in Peru is captured during CU's trip to the country. Photos provided by Jessica Jones.

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Pharmacy Perspectives - Graduation 2019

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