Local Start, Global Target

Part-time Job Sets Tyler Trinh on Path to Student Leadership Role, Industry Goal

Originally set on a career in law, Pharm.D. candidate Tyler Trinh had his professional aspirations transformed by his early experiences working part-time in community pharmacy, taking on statewide leadership roles as a pharmacy student and, with graduation on the horizon, preparing to make a global impact within the pharmaceutical industry.

COVID Clarity

Trinh’s initial career goal was to attend law school, but a pivotal experience working at CVS during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic changed his trajectory. Witnessing the pharmacist’s unwavering dedication to patient care, even in the most challenging circumstances, motivated Trinh to pursue a career in pharmacy.

"She served as both a mentor and an inspiration because she went above and beyond with patient care and would make sure patients receive the best attention needed during the pandemic," Trinh said.

This experience made Trinh recognize how the community pharmacy setting-serves as "health hubs" and the important role pharmacists play in the health care system.

"I wanted to provide the same level of care as my pharmacist did for future patients," Trinh said.

Studying at UH

Trinh's academic journey started as a public health undergraduate student at UH, which he completed during his first year (P1) of pharmacy school at UHCOP.

Now in his fourth year (P4) of pharmacy school, Trinh’s perspective on his career has evolved. He credits his professors for their extraordinary support, who have significantly contributed to his professional growth and development.

"Many schools advertise their commitment to diversity and faculty support, but at UHCOP I have truly experienced this firsthand," Trinh said. "The professors here genuinely go out of their way to help their students succeed and push them to achieve more."

Going the Extra Mile for Patients

His decision to become a pharmacist was reaffirmed during his internship at Houston Methodist Hospital in Sugar Land.

There was a patient that could not get discharged to home hospice care until she had appropriate pain management regimen on hand. According to Trinh, the patient’s order was for around 540 tablets of morphine.

"They would call pharmacies and ask for the prescription and they would immediately get rejected," Trinh said. "But having worked at CVS I knew this was a strategy they typically use since this is a policy to prevent fraudulent prescriptions."

Trinh was able to bridge the communication gap between the patient and her family with the pharmacy and helped them get the medication they needed for the patient to be discharged home for comfort care. Having completed a public health internship in hospice care, Trinh understood the urgency of the situation for the family.

"I coordinated with the pharmacist, and I was able to assist during the transition-of-care period, which was a really fulfilling experience for me as a P2," Trinh said.

Advocacy and Leadership

As a P2, Trinh was elected to the board of directors of the Texas Pharmacy Association Academy of Student Pharmacists. Under the auspices of the state’s largest professional pharmacy organization, the TPA-ASP comprises two representatives from each of the nine pharmacy schools/colleges in the state who serve as liaisons between students at their respective institutions and TPA.

"We would meet once a month and discuss what’s going on at school and what we could do to elevate the profession," Trinh said.

Trinh would then be elected Chair-elect of the TPA-ASP Policy Committee, which energized his interest in the intersection of regulatory affairs, professional development, and leadership. During this time, he also penned a guest column in TPA’s Texas Pharmacy magazine on his experience participating in the organization’s Pharmacy Day at the Capitol event in which practitioners and pharmacy students engage with state legislators on policy issues affecting the profession and patient care.

"I learned a lot about patient advocacy initiatives (while on the committee), and I got further involved with the TPA," he said.

Then Trinh took his experiences and knowledge to the next step, with this election to 2023-24 Chair-elect of TPA-ASP. He was among the UHCOP student attendees at the inaugural TPA Leadership Institute in April 2024 and will begin his term as 2024-25 TPA-ASP Chair at the 2024 TPA Annual Meeting.

"Leadership is definitely something I developed over time," Trinh said. "The previous chair and my professors encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone at TPA, then it naturally developed into something more."

Trinh’s service and commitment to TPA, fellow students and the profession have earned him consecutive scholarships from the Texas Pharmacy Foundation.

Global Goals

Currently pursuing a master's degree in Health Care Administration alongside his Pharm.D., Trinh aims to secure a postdoctoral fellowship in the pharmaceutical /biotechnology industry following completion of his academic studies. Inspired by his time at TPA, Trinh wants to become a leader in the pharmaceutical industry.

"I want to be able to make a global impact by playing a part in getting innovative drugs to the market while upholding patient safety," Trinh said.