During a week devoted to professionalism, the Phi Delta Chi pharmacy fraternity turned to the College鈥檚 chief executive for a lesson in leadership.
ACPHS President Toyin Tofade spoke to an assembly of students on Nov. 19, telling them to SOAR like eagles, using her characteristic approach of creating an acronym to impart her advice:
- Set goals
- Observe people who have gone before you
- Act
- Rejoice, relax and repeat
With each suggestion, President Tofade shared stories from her own life, especially her earlier career when she looked to more experienced professionals for guidance. Students later said these tales resonated with them.
鈥淭he stories really helped me to picture the factors she said were good to establish leadership,鈥� said Andy Tran, a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) student in his P1 year.
Tran and others agreed that President Tofade鈥檚 emphasis on mentorship hit the strongest chord. Under the 鈥淥鈥� (observe) category, she talked about people who saw her own strengths and helped nurture them. She urged students to look for six to eight mentors, taking note of the people who take note of them.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e individuals who will speak to you regarding different aspects of your life,鈥� she said.
PharmD student Mckayla Roberts picked up on the immediacy of the President鈥檚 message.
鈥淚 thought it was really informative on how to succeed later on,鈥� Roberts said, adding, 鈥渁nd to start now.鈥�
The session was one of several held during the Fall 2024 Professional Week and organized by fraternity member Alexander Campos, a junior studying public health on the pre-med track. President Tofade was a natural choice to invite to speak, he said.
鈥淪he has a lot of experience as a leader, and as a person who wanted to become a leader,鈥� Campos said.
Other events held by Phi Delta Chi this week included a discussion about being a resident with Associate Professor Dr. Matthew Yacobucci and a mock interview session for health professions graduate schools.
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