Wasem Gawish ’22 chose Shenandoah University because of the Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy’s robust Pharm.D. program, which was primarily delivered online. Working as a full-time pharmacist, this program allowed Wasem to attend school to further his career.
“Shenandoah University is a beautiful school located in a picturesque town,” said Gawish. “It offers a fantastic pharmacy program to prepare you for a successful career. The professors are highly knowledgeable in their fields and go the extra mile to help students excel.”
Gawish’s fondest memories of Shenandoah were meeting his professors and classmates during the in-person portions of the Pharm.D. program.
Gawish is a congressional health policy fellow in the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Postdoctoral Scholar-Fellow program, with the academic rank of clinical assistant professor in the VCU School of Pharmacy. His role includes conducting extensive research and thorough analysis of health policy matters. Through his research and analysis, he has to stay up-to-date with the latest policy developments, scrutinizing the potential impact of proposed policies and contributing insights and suggestions to help shape these policies. Currently, his attention is primarily focused on the topic of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare. This work includes the potential benefits and risks, exploring the ethical implications and ensuring that the use of AI aligns with the goal of improving patient care and health outcomes.
During his fellowship, Gawish is working for U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM), handling health and health-related AI issues. As the co-chair of the U.S. Senate AI Caucus, Senator Heinrich’s office provides a unique platform for pharmacists like Gawish to directly contribute to policy formulation related to technological advancements in health care.
The most rewarding part of his career was being chosen as the ACCP/ASHP/VCU health policy fellow for 2023-2024. Other highlights from Gawish’s career include achieving a Pharmacotherapy Speciality Certification from the Board of Pharmacy Specialities and serving on the board of directors at the National Board of Medication Therapy Management. Gawish was also inducted into the Pharmacy Honor Society Rho Chi for academic achievement and good conduct.
Gawish believes his experience at the School of Pharmacy has profoundly influenced his career trajectory. “The well-designed and rigorous curriculum offered there, which integrates both academic study and real-world experiential learning, has equipped me with a robust foundational knowledge and skill set that I am confident will serve me well into the future,” said Gawish. “This comprehensive education has opened up a world of possibilities, preparing me to excel and adapt to any direction my career in the dynamic fields of healthcare and pharmacy might take me.”
Gawish’s advice for future and current students is: “Remain involved in your own education and never stop learning. The fields of healthcare in general, and pharmacy in particular are continually evolving. Remaining up to date in recent developments will set you apart and keep you competitive in the job market.”