Alumni Spotlight

Natasha Advani, PharmD ’11

Clinical Pharmacist
Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center

What are you most proud of regarding your career?

I am proud to be a preceptor and mentor to pharmacy students that come through my institution on rotation or work as interns on school breaks. I love to see the lightbulb come on when a concept they were struggling with finally clicks! I truly enjoy making a positive impact on future pharmacists and sharing little bits of wisdom along the way. From what I see, the future of pharmacy is bright as ever!

How was your RU Pharmacy experience foundational in where you are today?

During my time at Rutgers, I learned the importance and value of getting involved in professional organizations. By joining the conversation early in my career, I was able to understand the power these organizations can have in advocating and advancing the profession which sparked a lifelong commitment to staying actively involved. I will always remember annual visits to the NYC morning shows for Pharmacy Month. I remain a part of my local organization, having held leadership roles over the years and serve on committees to provide educational programs to members while continuing to advocate for the profession.

Are there any passion projects you’d like to share with other alums?

My passion project is medication and patient safety. I have incorporated safety concepts into my daily practice and am always educating those around me so that errors can be prevented. When working with pharmacy technicians or students, I explain the “why” behind a process to clarify that it is to protect patients and prevent harm, not to add a cumbersome process to workflow. I will often share safety stories to anyone who will listen so that we can all be aware of what could go wrong and be prepared to prevent it. I also advocate for reporting errors, especially near misses, as those are the prime opportunities to make systemic improvements.