Class of 2019 Mark Nguyen serves as an emergency medicine pharmacist at Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, Utah. When he is not saving lives, he’s helping pharmacists around the country hone their skills through video tutorials on social media. As the founder of PharmWyze, Mark helps pharmacists access professional development opportunities for free. Follow his journey from starting as a pharmacy technician to pursuing a career in hospital pharmacy.
What do you do?
The best way to describe what an emergency medicine pharmacist does is that we serve as an on-demand, bedside consult service in the emergency department. We are significantly utilized for highly acute patients, including cardiac arrest, strokes, traumas, overdoses, etc. Our role is to be a general practitioner who is knowledgeable about a wide range of disease states since patients present with varying acuity and chief complaints. One of the greatest values we bring to the team is being familiar with pharmacotherapy agents that aren’t first-line treatments, and providing recommendations/interventions that are more patient-specific based on limited evidence.
Why did you choose to pursue your PharmD?
I chose to pursue a PharmD since I worked as a certified pharmacy technician in a community pharmacy for three years. During my time as a technician, I grew more interested in learning more about fields of pharmacy outside of the retail setting.
Why did you choose WSU for your PharmD?
WSU was my top choice over other universities because of what it means to be a Coug. The sense of community was much different than what I felt at other interviews. I couldn’t have made a better choice since my time as a student pharmacist was full of challenges. There was always a Cougar mentor to reach out to, who was knowledgeable and cared about my growth as a professional. The continued support I received from WSU is a huge reason I’ve gained the experiences and abilities to reach the position I’m in today.
The continued support I received from WSU is a huge reason I’ve gained the experiences and abilities to reach the position I’m in today.
Mark Nguyen, PharmD, Class of 2019
Can you tell us about your journey after graduation. What inspired you to do what you’re doing now?
After graduation, I completed a PGY1 pharmacy residency in Henderson, Nevada and continued my training through a PGY2 in emergency medicine in Murray, Utah. I would say my residency experience was atypical since both years were during the COVID pandemic. Training during this time was an invaluable learning experience given the high volume and acuity of patients. Becoming an emergency medicine pharmacist was always my goal during pharmacy school. The inspiration I received that solidified my passion for emergency medicine came from the stellar preceptors I trained under, where they’re advanced practice and thorough patient care fostered a mindset of being a life-long learner. One of the most rewarding parts of being an emergency medicine pharmacist is the relationship you develop with physicians and providers, earning their trust in direct patient-care, and becoming an invaluable on-demand clinical resource they can depend on.
Why did you create Pharmwyze and what is it?
The current issue with post-graduate health care professionals is limited opportunities to continue learning. Many of these learning experiences and curricula (certifications, credentials, etc) require an expensive fee or subscription to obtain whatever credentialing they are seeking. That is why I created PharmWyze, a modernized pharmacy-wide approach to patient-centered care. I’ve created a platform based on posting clinical pharmacotherapy content on social media through infographics, reels, and patient cases. I love teaching and precepting. PharmWyze allows me to scale my interest and provide informative, evidence-based education to a wider audience who simply want to learn more clinically and not have to pay for another badge. It is my hope that PharmWyze inspires the future generation of health care professionals to take the initiative in their learning and establish a new horizon through non-traditional pharmacy opportunities.
Can you tell us about your experience as a pharmacist? What was the most rewarding and difficult part about the job?
I love being a reliable medication expert. One of the most rewarding parts of being an emergency medicine pharmacist is the relationship you develop with physicians and providers, earning their trust in direct patient-care, and becoming an invaluable on-demand clinical resource they can depend on. The most difficult part about the job in the emergency department is having a short memory to tragic and emotional cases since there’s another patient coming in who is putting their health in your hands.
How did WSU impact your career?
Pharmacotherapy Professor Jennifer Robinson was a huge contributor to my overall success thus far. Having the opportunity to work alongside and learn from her through organizational and community involvement really changed my perspective on what can be achieved as a pharmacist. She is an excellent example of what it means to be a part of the Cougar family, and I cannot thank her enough for how much she challenged me to grow outside my shell to achieve the things I set out for.
What was the most positive and inspiring memory you had at the WSU College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences?
The most positive memory I have at the WSU College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences was becoming the APhA-ASP Chapter President. Saying yes to this opportunity opened up so many other experiences that were invaluable to my professional and personal development. Many of my most fond memories during pharmacy school were through APhA-ASP events on a chapter, regional, and national level.