The co-op application process has finally come to an end. After strategically turning down offers, setting up interviews, and a little luck; I have a co-op job for this summer. I have accepted a position at the Dana Farber Institute of Cancer. This was the job that I wanted the most, and I am very excited to begin working at such a prestigious institution of health care. The three hospitals I applied to are all very great hospitals in their own right, and I am very lucky to get the opportunity to work in the best Cancer facility in the New England area. At Dana Farber, I will be preparing intravenous solutions, with aseptic technique for various forms of cancer. I have had previous experience making IV solutions, but working with cytotoxic and harmful medications will be a new and exciting task to undertake. Chemotherapy preparation can be harmful if it is not handled with care, so there’s a lot of responsibility for me to take the necessary precautions while working. The location of this hospital is also in an ideal area. Dana Farber is in the heart of the Longwood Medical area, which is a ten minute walk from my apartment. I am also very excited about the fact that there are only 3 weeks of classes left until summer. A four month vacation from studying, writing lab reports, taking tests, and going to classes, will certainly be a relief. The 40 hour a week deal might get boring, but the money will certainly not. The cost of living in a big city like Boston can be overwhelming sometimes, but it has been well worth the money. I hope to take a lot out of this first co-op experience, which I can utilize in the classroom. I find that this real world opportunity is the best experience a pharmacy student can receive. We get the chance to perform real tasks and play a vital role in the outcome of the patient’s recovery. Responsibility, honestly, and respect are all very important attribute that will be tested during this period. Preparing the IV’s correctly is the number one concern for pharmacy interns, so trusting your co-workers is vital. The only thing that stands in front of me before my co-op is finals week. In a little over three weeks, I will be relaxing and enjoying my summer in Boston.

Posted by Neil Labak at 4:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

March is not only filled with college basketball games, it is also full of tests. The next five weeks of school are going to be very hectic, due to the mass amount of work that needs to be done. In addition to the work load, the interviewing process is also very hectic. I have interviewed at Children's Hospital, and the Dana Farber Institute of Cancer so far, and I have another interview with Shriner's this Friday. I hope to hear from Dana Farber at the end of this week, because it is my number one choice. In addition to the interviewing process, I have my portfolio to complete. This portfolio consists of events, ideas, and reflections on my progression in the pharmacy program, and it is a good way to keep track of goals and accomplishments. The objective of this project is to gather ideas and information, that will help with our decisions for the future after school. With all of this going on, it is still spring, which means that summer is just around the corner! The summer should consist of relaxing and rejuvenating my brain from after this semester. Although I will be working 40 hours a week at my co-op job this summer, I will still enjoy the time off from school. With the completion of this semester, I will begin my "professional" years.Years 3-6 are known as the profession years because they are directly related to pharmacy and all require a grade of at least a C to pass. This may seem easy to some of you, but with courses like pharmacology/med chem and pharmaceutics, it may seem near impossible at times to me. However, I am very excited to start learning about information directly related to pharmacy. As for now, I will prepare for my interview on Friday morning, and also finish up my bracket for march madness. Have a great day an enjoy the weather as it becomes more enjoyable!

Posted by Neil Labak at 5:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

The advantage of attending Northeastern, (beyond the educational experience, coop, and everything else it has to offer) is a very early spring break. It may just be the beginning of March to most college students, but to NU students, it is known as spring break. Unfortunately, some of the co-op students do not get this coveted week off, but for everyone else, it is utterly fantastic. Before I get into my spring break activities, I wish to talk about Early Action day that took place on February 23rd.
Early Action day two years ago made my decision on what college I wanted to attend. This is the main reason I like to help out at these types of events. I had the chance to listen to real college students provide information about their lives at NU, and I feel that I should return the favor to future college students. Seeing excited seniors in high school really showed me how fast college moves. It seemed like I was sitting in their seats just yesterday, but in reality I was on stage telling these eager teenagers my experiences thus far in college. Choosing Northeastern was the best decision I have ever made, and discussing my experiences after only three semesters, really makes me feel good about my decision.
The endless opportunities that Boston and Northeastern offer someone in the health field give you the best environment in which to thrive and excel in your discipline. At no other school would I even have the chance to apply to places like the Dana Farber Institute of Cancer, Children's Hospital ,and Shriner's. Spending four months at such remarkable facilities will certainly increase my motivation towards my field and my education. In a future entry I will discuss which hospital I will work at and talk about the co-op and everything that it entails. For now I will talk about my spring break.

A full week off from most school work is exactly what all students need to push through the rest of the semester. I am no different. Although I will take full advantage of this gift, work still has to be done. I have 4 tests waiting for my arrival back to school next week. Spending your spring break in a library is not what spring break is about, but sometimes you have to make decisions that will benefit your education. I have spent a decent amount of time this week to prepare for upcoming exams and to finish lab reports that are due, but I also have a trip to Montreal to look forward to at the end of this week. Hard work makes relaxing much more rewarding in my mind, so I'm excited for the weekend I will spend with my friends in Canada. Last year I spent this week on the beautiful, sunny beaches of the Bahamas, but this year I will be in a freezing environment of Canada. Anywhere you spend your spring break will be well worth it, because the 8am labs cannot follow you.

Hope all is well and have a good day!

Posted by Neil Labak at 9:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)