Alumna Charges PharmD 2029 to Serve Well

Dr. Mitra Najmi, PharmD Class of 2021, gave the keynote address. She spoke of her time at TUC while encouraging the assembled first-year student pharmacists to become the pharmacist they would want to treat themselves or a loved one.

“Some of the greatest opportunities I have had in my professional life began during my time as a student here,” Najmi said. “The education I received, the relationships I built, and perhaps most importantly, the opportunities I had to learn, make mistakes, ask questions, and improve helped shape the pharmacist I am today.”

Alum Encourages Class to Build Best Selves

Najmi asked: What qualities and values are necessary to become a great pharmacist?

“Of course, knowledge is essential, but I believe this is only the beginning,” she said. She asked other professional and heard various responses:

• “Do the right thing when no one is watching,” she said.
• “Remember every patient is more than a diagnosis, a medication list, or lab results,” she said. “That really stayed with me because some day you as a pharmacist may be sitting across from someone who is scared, frustrated, embarrassed, and simply exhausted of being sick. That person may not remember everything you talked to them about the medications, but they will remember how you made them feel.”
• Be curious. Never stop learning. “I completely agree with that,” she said. “Medicine and pharmacy are constantly changing. The knowledge you have when you graduate won’t be enough for the rest of your career. Ask questions. Read. Challenge what you think you know. And be willing to say, ‘I don’t know. I will figure that out and get back to you.’ There’s no weakness in not knowing stuff, but the weakness is being unwilling to learn.”
• Be dependable. “Be the person your team can count on. Show up. Follow through.”

“These qualities may sound simple but over the course of your career, they will define what kind of pharmacist you are,” Najmi said.

She encouraged the assembled first-year student pharmacists:

• Build knowledge but also build curiosity.
• Build confidence but also build humility.
• Build independence but also learn how to be a great team member.
• Build clinical skills, but don’t forget to build empathy.
• Build your resume, but more importantly, build your character.

“Years from now, people may not remember every grade you received or every exam you passed, but they will remember whether you were trustworthy, whether you listened, whether you helped, whether you showed up when people needed you, and whether you made a difference,” she said.

Najmi serves as an ambulatory care clinical pharmacist at Kaiser Permanente in San Rafael. She is a Board-Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist and a California Advanced Practice Pharmacist with clinical expertise in weight management, geriatrics, and chronic disease management.

Najmi collaborated with TUC faculty on research and scholarly publications throughout her time at Touro and during her PGY-1 pharmacy residency year on campus. She began her clinical career in oncology before joining the Geriatric Medicine team at Kaiser Permanente, where in 2023 she led the development and implementation of Kaiser’s pilot pharmacist-led Weight Loss program clinic.

The clinic’s success contributed to the program’s expansion across the healthcare organization.

Najmi remains actively involved in advancing pharmacist-let clinical services and is committed to mentoring student pharmacists and pharmacy residents while fostering the next generation of pharmacy leaders.

Program Grads Offer Words of Encouragement

Several members of the College of Pharmacy alumni community offered written words of encouragement to the first-year student pharmacists.

“A white coat ceremony marks the moment your dedication becomes visible to the world,” wrote Dr. Kristin Wong, PharmD Class of 2013. “As you step into this milestone, remember that you’ve earned every bit of it through persistence, curiosity, and heart.”

“That coat represents compassion, responsibility, and the trust your future patients will place in you,” Wong wrote. “Let it strengthen you on challenging days and inspire you on the meaningful ones. You’re entering a profession built on service and impact, and you’re ready to rise to it. Celebrate this achievement – you’ve worked hard, and an incredible journey is unfolding ahead.”

“Congratulations on reaching this incredible milestone! Putting on this white coat symbolizes the dedication, hard work, and passion that brought you to pharmacy school,” wrote Dr. Jamila Beckford, PharmD Class of 2026. “It represents not just the knowledge you’ve built, but the deep trust and care you’ll offer your future patients every single day. Wear it with pride, embrace every step of the journey, and know that you are going to make an extraordinary difference in healthcare.”

“When you approach subjects from a place of curiosity, and ask questions to dive deeper, you’ll be surprised at what you can learn,” wrote Dr. Eryn Whitaker, PharmD Charter Class of 2029. “Never stop learning. No one knows everything.”

“Congratulations to the College of Pharmacy, Class of 2029, on the beginning of an incredible journey,” wrote Dr. Natasha Ly Shih, Dual PharmD/MPH Class of 2022. “Learn and lead with a genuine heart. Serve your patients with purpose. Let excellence be your standard.”