2003 alumna Hilda Bi Ndikum has experienced several transitions in the growth of the CU Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. As a student in the Doctor of Pharmacy program, she first took pharmacy courses when the School was located on the University of Colorado campus at Ninth Avenue and Colorado Boulevard. She joined the faculty when the School relocated to the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, operating out of the Academic Office Building. She continues in her faculty role today with the School now in its own dedicated building at Anschutz.
That evolution has spanned 20 years, and the School’s growth has matched Hilda’s own growth as a Pharmacy profession and an award-wining faculty member. She was recognized in 2020 as Educator of the Year for the School’s International-Trained PharmD (ITPD) Program.
In honor of Women's History Month, we celebrate Hilda’s accomplishments and the many other women who have made the CU Pharmacy programs what they are today.
What are you currently doing as a pharmacy professional and how did you progress to where you are today?Hilda Bi Ndikum, PharmD '03I’m currently a Senior Instructor at the Skaggs School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences. I’m also working as a Clinical Pharmacist at Kaiser Permanente. After graduation, I completed a 2-year fellowship in teaching and learning at the CU Skaggs School of Pharmacy and this prepared me for my current position as Senior Instructor at the School.
What is different about the person you are today compared to the person you were while in school?Over the last 20 years, I have learned a lot about the changing profession of pharmacy. We have been through many transitions, our role as pharmacists is ever-changing and the pandemic has taught us innovative ways of providing pharmacy services to our patients and teaching pharmacy students remotely.
What has been a defining moment for you as a seasoned professional?A defining moment for me was a medical mission to Ecuador, where I served as a preceptor for the pharmacy students on the trip. My experiences during that trip motivated me to complete a Master's degree in Public Health, an opportunity that has enabled me to participate in many more global health projects. As the current president of the Cameroonian Pharmacists Association in the United States (CAMPhA-USA), my colleagues and I are making a difference in the communities we serve locally as well as the global community at large.
What inspired you to attend the CU Pharmacy program and what was your experience while in the program?CU has always provided a place where you can express your view and your opinions are heard. The diverse opportunities that CU offers to its staff and students are attractive.
What is your proudest moment and your favorite thing about working in the pharmacy profession?Every year in May during graduation, I love to see the smiling faces of our graduates and their families. It is amazing watching them grow from their P1 year through their journey in the School of Pharmacy. My proudest moment is joining them in celebrating their achievements and sharing stories and challenges along the way.
What sage advice would you pass on to current and future students that was helpful for you in preparing for the job market?Resilience is key! I will tell current and future students that the curriculum has changed and is more robust, compared to 20 years ago when I went through the program. The improved curriculum prepares them for the changing role of pharmacists in the healthcare community. Do not limit yourself to what you already know about career opportunities in Pharmacy. There are a lot more opportunities after graduation and you have to prepare yourself to be competitive in the market.
Original source can be found here.
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