By Maureen Ochola
Placement & Career Services (PACS) Department in collaboration with faculty and the Electoral College representatives of the School of Pharmacy & Health Sciences hosted an impactful mentorship session for students and alumni.

The event brought together solid technocrats from industry and research who shared their experiences in the corporate, research and teaching fields. The guests included: Dr. Anthony Yiaile - Consultant Pharmacist and Lecturer of Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Dr. Gladys Njoroge - Assistant Professor and a researcher in Biostatistics, Dr. Lucy Ng'ang'a - Epidemiologist and Public Health Practitioner, Dr. Naftaly Githaka - Senor Scientist & Team Leader at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Dr. Vitalis Wekesa - Head of Production at Bioline Agrosciences Africa trading in Kenya as Dudutech IPM Limited, and Dr. Calvin Omolo – Chair of Department, Pharmaceutics & Pharmacy Practice, USIU-Africa.

The speakers emphasized that discipline and skills development were vital for success in job searches and career advancement. Students were encouraged to leverage on technology to access knowledge through online courses some of which are available at no cost.

The audience was challenged to be proactive in managing their careers and build networks with their peers, faculty and relevant professional associations in order to have visibility over changes and developments taking place in their careers of interest.

Alumni of the Bachelor of Pharmacy, Class of 2021 weighed in on discussions and attributed their success to the education they acquired at USIU-Africa. The students were assured that indeed USIU-Africa education takes them places.

Dr. Victor Boiyo, the Deputy Vice Chancellor-Student Life and the Dean of the School of Pharmacy & Health Sciences both graced the occasion. The overarching take home message was ‘in order to see far, stand on the shoulders of a giant by finding a mentor’.