November 2018 - Tiffany Hwang

Tiffany Hwang, a P4 member of The Rho Chi Honor Society, exemplifies the Rho Chi vision of advancing pharmacy through intellectual leadership. She grew up in Saratoga, CA, and went to the University of California, Berkeley for her undergraduate degree, attaining her Bachelor’s of Science in Chemical Engineering. During pharmacy school, she was the APSA Director of Legislative Affairs, which involves coordinating the school’s annual Legislative Day where distinguished speakers come to emphasize the importance of advocating for the profession of pharmacy. During her P2 year, Tiffany also held the position of Phi Delta Chi Director of Professional Projects, and was a CPhA Grassroots Committee Member. She is currently a member of the CPhA Policy Committee as well as an intern at Keck Hospital of USC. In addition to being a Rho Chi Honor Society Member, she has received the June & Allen Tamura Scholarship and the Bailey Scholarship. Her team won the local AMCP P&T Competition this year, achieving first place as well as placing as a semifinalist in the national competition. In addition, her team was a semifinalist in the 2018 ACCP Clinical Pharmacy Challenge. Tiffany and Thanh Vu, another Rho Chi Honor Society P4 member, won first place in the local and state level ASHP Clinical Skills Competition this year at the CSHP Conference in San Diego. In her spare time, she loves practicing yoga, traveling, and trying new restaurants. One of her most memorable vacations was in Cabo where she received her scuba diving certification. Through these incredible achievements, Tiffany is a model Rho Chi member that embodies the mission and vision of our honors society. We are privileged to have Tiffany as a Rho Chi member.

Q&A Interview

Q: What do you feel is one of your greatest accomplishments as a pharmacy student?

A: One of my greatest accomplishments was winning the school AMCP P&T Competition in 2017. After attempting the competition in 2016, my teammates and I worked hard to learn from our mistakes and develop our project. Through the project, I improved in my critical thinking skills, as well as my presentation skills. It was one of the most challenging projects I have ever worked on, and it was truly amazing to see our efforts rewarded.

Q: How did you prepare for the CSHP Clinical Skills Competition, and what are some important skills or experiences do you feel helped you excel in this competition?

A: My partner and I prepared for the CSHP Clinical Skills Competition by going through old cases, and practicing in a scenario as close to the actual competition as possible. We took the time to understand how to utilize the resources provided, so during the actual competition, we could focus on gathering the important information, rather than figuring out where it was. In addition to practicing, I felt that our rotation experience really helped us excel in the competition. We had each been on different rotations at the time, and therefore had a good baseline knowledge in a wide variety of topics.

Q: Please describe how being a member of the Rho Chi Society has impacted your time at school or your life in general.

A: I felt honored when I was invited to become a member of the Rho Chi Society in my P2 year, but I did not realize how involved the members of Rho Chi were in the school as well as the community. As a member of Rho Chi, I have had the opportunity to give back to the school as a Rho Chi tutor, and volunteer in the community by providing information on mental health disorders. I am grateful that I had the opportunity to be involved in Rho Chi as a student.

Q: What words of advice/encouragement do you have for the future pharmacists at the USC School of Pharmacy?

A: Be involved! Choose organizations and roles that you are passionate about. Don’t be afraid to try out for leadership roles or compete in competitions. Make sure you learn from your failures, and don’t let them discourage you from trying again.