From Undecided to Determined

After Discovering Her Purpose, Alyssa Glass Committed to Driving Change in Pharmacy

When third-year Pharm.D. student Alyssa Glass began her college education, she was unsure what career path to pursue. It wasn't until she attended a health science class featuring guest speakers from various health care careers that Glass said she found her calling.

"One day they brought in a pharmacist who talked about the crucial role they play in health care and all the different specialties in pharmacy," Glass said. "From that day forward, I knew I wanted to be a pharmacist."

With strong determination, Glass completed her pharmacy prerequisites at her undergraduate school in Missouri and applied to pharmacy school. She researched extensively to find the right school for her pharmacy journey, including the University of Houston College of Pharmacy (UHCOP).

"During the interviews, I had an outstanding experience with the professors, the clinical faculty and the advisor," Glass said. "It felt like they really cared about me, which was important because I wanted to choose faculty who would invest in me and who I would have good relationships with."

Ultimately, Glass decided UHCOP would be an excellent place to begin her pharmacy education, given its high rankings program and strong reputation.

"I feel like there couldn't have been a better place for me," Glass said. "I'm very glad I chose to go here for pharmacy school."

Regrettably, Glass wasn't actively involved in organizations during undergraduate studies. Pharmacy school was her second chance to become more engaged, and she eagerly took on leadership roles in several student organizations.

Glass is a member of organizations such as the Student College of Clinical Pharmacy (SCCP), American Pharmacists Association-Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP), and Texas Pharmacy Association - Academy of Student Pharmacists (TPA-ASP). Within these organizations she holds leadership positions such as SCCP president, APhA-ASP substance use disorder chair, and TPA-ASP patient care vice-chair. Notably, Glass also serves as TPA-ASP chair-elect, bringing her leadership to both state and national levels.

"I started getting involved with TPA-ASP because I realized that if we get students together now and advance pharmacy, then when I'm a pharmacist, we'll have already made strides toward achieving great things," Glass said. "And I want students to realize their voice matters."

With aspirations of becoming a clinical pharmacist, Glass found herself desiring research experience. Her decision to attend a research faculty roundtable has resulted in a poster presentation at the Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association (HOPA) conference in 2025.

Researching oncology is particularly fulfilling to Glass because of her family's history with cancer.

"My aunt has struggled with breast cancer for most of my life, always in and out of remission," Glass said. "Doing cancer research makes me feel like I'm helping and contributing to her cause."

Although Glass initially planned for a typical hospital experience, she was placed with a neonatal pharmacist. She spent four weeks in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), where babies were born prematurely or faced other challenges.

"It was sad and emotional," Glass said. "It was challenging to separate my feelings from treating patients, let alone neonates."

Despite these emotional challenges, Glass learned the importance of an interdisciplinary team and the role pharmacists play in clinical settings.

"I didn't think I'd be able to make much of an impact during my rotations, but it was surprising how many recommendations I made that the doctors accepted," Glass said.

Glass is passionate about serving underserved communities, a passion rooted in her mother's work as a superintendent.

"Growing up, I watched her serve kids who weren't the most privileged," Glass said. "She would take my old clothes and other things I didn't need and give them to students who didn't have winter clothes or needed extra food."

This passion is reflected in her work at a 340B pharmacy, which helps eligible health care organizations purchase medication at reduced prices, serving many patients who can't afford them.

However, Glass also witnesses the challenges some patients face with substance use.

"We often have people experiencing homelessness who are misusing medications or suffering from overdoses," Glass said. "I want to educate others on how we can prevent substance use disorders because it can happen to anyone."

Her commitment to patient care also led her to learn Spanish, as many of her patients only speak Spanish. This skill allows her to communicate more effectively and ensure that her patients receive the best possible care.

One instance that made Glass feel she had made a difference involved a diabetic patient asking about lifestyle changes. After the patient mentioned how frequently she eats ice cream, Glass explained – to the patient's surprise – how ice cream raises blood sugar and choosing healthier options could help manage her condition.

"People don't have the health literacy we may assume they do," Glass said. "We might think it's common knowledge, but not everyone grows up in the same circumstances we do."

Through her leadership roles and diverse experiences, Glass transformed her early uncertainty into a clear, purposeful vision for her career in pharmacy.

"I realized that if I wanted to make a change in pharmacy, it starts with me," Glass said.