2020 Grad Stories: Vu Nguyen
May 13, 2020
From Pharmacy Clerk to Doctor of Pharmacy
For Dr. Vu Nguyen, College of Pharmacy graduate and Sacramento native, going to pharmacy school was the perfect next step in his career. He had started at CVS Pharmacy in Sacramento as a pharmacy clerk and had worked his way up to a pharmacy tech. He then decided to apply to CHSU and he was accepted into the PharmD program.
During his time at CHSU he became involved in California Pharmacists Association (CPhA), the Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA) and Phi Delta Chi. He also became 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 was particularly interested in the Próspero program because he wanted to return the favor and help the local Fresno community that had helped him grow. Community service has always been a big part of his life and he believes that everyone should consider giving back if they’re able.
Growing up in Sacramento, he was exposed to a large, diverse community with many cultures and languages. He attended University of California, Davis and earned his Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology. As a first generation immigrant, he recognized that he could become a valuable member of the health care system and give back to the underserved communities.
“Becoming a pharmacist is important to me because it gives me the capability to actually give back and help my community in a meaningful way.”
Looking back on his time at CHSU, he fondly remembers the late nights studying on campus with his colleagues.
“I want to thank my classmates for the past three years especially Peng, Kenya and Brittany. Those three have been my rock at CHSU.”
After graduation, Dr. Nguyen will be working as a community pharmacist at CVS Pharmacy in Sacramento. He hopes to eventually work in a hospital pharmacy aiding doctors and nurses in applying drug therapy to patients with more complicated conditions than those in an ambulatory care setting.
Dr. Vu Nguyen 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.
