Redefining a Career Path

Pharm.D. Candidate Julia Wheat is Advancing Pharmacy through Leadership and Bridging Communities

After her second semester studying biomedical engineering, Pharm.D. candidate Julia Wheat realized that the engineering career path wasn't for her. Still eager to pursue a profession that directly helps people, Wheat reached out to several physicians, nurses, and physician assistants. Hearing a pharmacist family friend share their journey and passion for the field piqued her interest.

“It wasn’t something I always had on my radar,” Wheat said. “But I was open to exploring it and could see myself doing this for the next four years and making a career out of it.”

Always relying on family support, she wanted to stay close to home and applied to several schools in Texas, ultimately choosing the University of Houston College of Pharmacy (UHCOP).

“When I picked UH, a huge factor was the fact that Houston is already such a big health care city,” Wheat said. “I knew that, come rotation time, I would have the opportunity to shadow a ton of amazing health care providers in the Texas Medical Center.”

Wheat had never held leadership positions during undergraduate school, but at UH, she was inspired by many leaders, including 2021 Phi Lambda Sigma President Jeanette Lahoud.

“She gave a speech during orientation, and I felt so inspired and motivated,” Wheat said. “I wanted to be that person for the next generation of students.”

Over the years, Wheat held many leadership positions in multiple organizations. She served as Lead Longitudinal Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (LAPPE) Student at Harris Health System, President of Phi Lambda Sigma (PLS), Lead Coordinator of the Student College of Clinical Pharmacy (SCCP) Operation Naloxone, Vice President of the Hispanic Pharmacy Student Association (HPSA), and Treasurer for UHCOP Class of 2025. Leadership, she says, is one of her biggest passions.

“I just really want to inspire people to continue to do their best and serve others,” Wheat said. “Being in leadership positions in different clubs helped me give back to the community and students, and it allowed me to network with the advisors and officers in the organizations.”

Growing up as a first-generation Venezuelan with Spanish as her first language, Wheat is proud of her background and experiences that shaped her.

“I wouldn't be where I am today without my parents, so I really have learned to appreciate my culture and roots,” Wheat said. “We have people of so many different backgrounds, so it's been great to feel proud to share my heritage.”

During her ambulatory care rotations, Wheat served a primarily Spanish-speaking patient population, where over 95 percent of patients did not speak English. Leading appointments in Spanish, Wheat built trust with patients, helping them feel heard and motivated to take better care of their health.

“Building a relationship with your patients where they trust your advice to be healthier versions of themselves made me feel like I’m making a real impact in the community, especially the Hispanic community,” Wheat said. “I just want to leave a lasting impact wherever I go.”

Initially interested in the clinical route, such as pediatric pharmacy, Wheat soon realized that she couldn't see herself pursuing that path long-term. One of her favorite rotations, however, was pharmacy administration.

“It just came so naturally to me to do project development, take the lead on projects and coordinate different logistics,” Wheat said. “I learned so much and really felt like a valuable asset to the team.”

Going to pharmacy school with an open mind, Wheat embraced every opportunity that came her way, including research. Though she had no prior experience, she contributed to a published paper by her P2 year.

“I jumped at the opportunity after hearing about it,” Wheat said. “Learning how to analyze numbers, taking data, and making sense out of it was valuable and I really loved the experience.”

Wheat also sought out additional research experience during her LAPPE program, where she collaborated with a mentor on a clinical research poster that she presented at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Midyear Clinical Meeting.

“Research equips you with essential skills you can use in everyday life,” Wheat said. “Even if you don’t plan to pursue it long-term, the experience is worth it. I appreciate having the chance to get published and present posters.”

After graduating, Wheat plans to pursue a managed care residency, where she can focus on population health and health care reform.

“I get to tie in my love for population-based care with the operational and analytical side of pharmacy,” Wheat said. “I can use my knowledge for quality improvement, be involved in health care reform, and help ensure that people receive their medications they need to be a healthier version of themselves.”

- Lauren Nguyen