Jack Smith ’22: Pursuing Pharmacy, Research and Leadership
Jack Smith ’22 is making an impact in the field of pharmacy while pursuing his PharmD/MBA. Now a graduate student and researcher, Jack recently received a research grant from the AAPP Foundation for his project, “Addressing Pharmacy Student Mental Health through Peer-led Assessments of Psychosocial and Biological Mechanisms.” We caught up with Jack to learn more about his research, his time at FGR, and his plans for the future.
Tell us about your research project. How did it come together, and how did you get involved?
A professor at the College of Pharmacy reached out to me about joining his research project as the Student Principal Investigator. I’ll be helping coordinate communication, participant recruitment, and data collection.
The project focuses on mental health and stress among graduate students and will evaluate how these factors change throughout the semester using mental health screenings, biological measures, and dietary tracking.
Will this grant allow you to continue your research? What are your goals for the project?
The grant will allow us to begin data collection in Fall 2026. Over the past semester and summer, we were able to obtain IRB approval and the necessary funding, so we’re excited to move into the next phase of the project.
Thinking back to your time at FGR, what were some of your favorite classes or memories? Were there any teachers or coaches who made a positive impact?
Besides Sports and Rec, my favorite class was AP Chemistry with Sr. Laura. It was one of the first classes that really taught me how to study effectively and helped shape my interests going into college.
Looking back, I think it had a significant impact on the type of student I became and ultimately my decision to pursue pharmacy.
You’re currently a PharmD/MBA candidate. What do you plan to do after graduating, and what got you interested in this field?
I’m currently considering a residency in managed care or ambulatory care pharmacy, as well as a fellowship in the pharmaceutical industry. I’m especially interested in evaluating medications from clinical, safety, and cost perspectives and using that information to improve medication coverage and access.
Long term, I’d like to build on that experience and move into a management or administrative leadership role.
What advice would you like to share with current FGR students?
If you have a goal, make a plan and stay disciplined in working toward it. Plans will always change, but if the end goal remains the same, you can find ways to pivot, adapt, and keep moving forward.