A pharmacy education provides diverse opportunities, ranging from patient care and research to education. Truly, no one path looks the same and there is no better example than Dr. Lindsey Moseley who found her passion for teaching and education whilst pursuing her Pharm.D. degree.
Facing An Identity Crisis
Dr. Lindsey Moseley is the Curricular Coordinator and a faculty member at Auburn University Harrison College of Pharmacy. It wasn’t until her 4th year in her Pharm.D. program at Auburn that she realized that her passion lay with teaching students and supporting their learning, saying “I knew I wanted to be an educator during an academia-focused rotation my 4th year in pharmacy school that changed my trajectory. It lit a fire! From that point forward, I knew I wanted to work with pharmacy students.”. Embracing this change meant navigating an initial identity crisis, given her prior patient-focused training. Despite the initial challenges, Dr. Moseley has dedicated 11 years to education, thriving in her role.
Expanding Her Skills
Many Pharm.D. graduates pursue additional degrees like a Master of Science, Master of Public Health, or Master of Business degree, often facilitated by dual degree programs in pharmacy schools. Dr. Moseley went on to pursue a Master of Education (M.Ed.) and a PhD in higher education and educational leadership respectively to gain additional skills and knowledge to grow in her role as an educator. About this path she says, “I feel I am unique because these degrees are outside of the realm of pharmacy, yet synergistic to my role/expertise.”.
A Day In The Life
While her career path diverges from traditional pharmacy roles, Dr. Moseley finds fulfillment in the dynamic nature of her daily responsibilities. From meeting with and mentoring first-year students, supporting faculty in their teaching, precepting 4th year students on their academic rotation to attending meetings and engaging in educational scholarship, no day is ever boring! “My days have structure yet enough diversity to keep me stimulated.”
Facing Challenges
Despite not directly dealing with patients, Dr. Moseley acknowledges the challenges inherent in her path, especially given her compassionate nature. She finds meaning in working with students but acknowledges the emotional toll when faced with complex situations or unsuccessful efforts.
“I find a lot of meaning working with students. However, it can be challenging when your efforts are not successful or the situation a student is navigating is very complex or concerning. I take some ownership when a student is struggling personally or professionally and I am unable to help them be successful. It can be challenging to have emotional boundaries when I am so invested in my role.”
Nevertheless, the small, meaningful moments with students make the challenges worthwhile.
Finding Happiness
Dr. Moseley encourages others to find happiness as their driving force, emphasizing the significance of personal fulfillment over financial or prestige-driven motivations. Her unconventional career path has been a source of joy, even during unclear moments or necessary sacrifices.
“Let happiness be your driving force. It is easy to be motivated by money or prestige, but that leads to empty fulfillment. I have a non-traditional role/career but I have loved every step of this unique path, even when the path forward was unclear or I had to make sacrifices.”.
The underlying message is clear: Follow your passion, overcome uncertainties, and embrace a unique and fulfilling journey! We thank Dr. Moseley for taking the time to share her unique path with us. And if you’re interested in a similar path, explore the Pharm4Me website for more information on becoming a pharmacist and discover additional inspirational stories on the Pharm4Me Blog.