2020 Grad Stories: Renzio Apostol
May 11, 2020
Caring for Kids in Pediatric Pharmacy
While building water infrastructure and sanitation systems for the impoverished areas of Nicaragua and Honduras on a college volunteer trip, Dr. Renzio Apostol, CHSU College of Pharmacy graduate and Sanger native, discovered his passion for serving the health care needs of the underprivileged. Watching children carrying buckets of unsanitary water, nearly the same size as their small bodies, back to their homes and communities stirred his heart towards a career in pediatric healthcare.
This was just one of the reasons Dr. Apostol has passionately pursued a career in pharmacy. He graduated from UC Irvine with his Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences and in 2016, he began his pharmacy doctoral education at California Health Sciences University (CHSU). Over the past four years he has served as his Class President for two years, was a lead ambassador and helped to start the CHSU Student Ambassador program, and was a mentor for the CHSU/CVS Health Próspero Program, a pathway program to prepare high school and undergraduate college students for a career in pharmacy.
He also held several leadership positions in student professional organizations on campus, like the California Pharmacists Association (CPhA), the American Pharmacist Association (APhA), the California Society of Health System Pharmacists (CSHP), and the American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP).
Dr. Apostol received several awards for his work as a pharmacy student, like the CPhA Executive Member Award, and has been awarded the CHSU Student Leadership Award two years in a row.
And while he has made many memories at CHSU, his favorite came from an early morning this past March, on a day called Match Day. This is when a pharmacy student “matches” with a residency program through the ASHP. Their chosen residency program will further their clinical pharmacy training in a specific specialty, while enabling the resident to practice as a licensed pharmacist.
“I was really excited. I was really nervous as well. I had my wife open my email and when she showed me, then I was just happy from there on out.”
He matched with his number one choice for residency programs – Valley Children’s Hospital. Dr. Apostol will be starting his PGY1 residency year shortly after graduation.
“I knew that I really wanted to go into pediatrics and being able to go to a pediatric specific or pediatric-only hospital. I knew I really wanted to work with this certain population that is really resilient.”
He credits that college volunteer trip to Nicaragua and Honduras for helping him decide to pursue a career in pediatric pharmacy. He plans to stay in the Central Valley and start his career helping kids in the community where he grew up and ensure kids get the health care they need.
“I think Valley Children’s Hospital does a really great job of caring for our pediatric community in the Central Valley and I’m really excited to be part of that team.”
Dr. Renzio Apostol will be graduating this Thursday, May 14, 2020 with his Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) from CHSU.
The 2020 Grad Stories is a series dedicated to honoring our California Health Sciences University (CHSU) Doctor of Pharmacy graduates and showcasing their accomplishments throughout their time at CHSU while earning their PharmD degree.
