For many, the path to a PharmD begins with a moment of realization: they need more time, more preparation, or more confidence before taking the next step. For Jay Samson, PharmD ’26, Mariah Foley, PharmD ’21, RPh, and Sara Shaikh, PharmD ’21, that turning point was the UCSF School of Pharmacy’s Post-Baccalaureate Program.

Designed for students seeking additional academic preparation, professional development, and exposure to the health care profession, the program helps aspiring pharmacists strengthen the skills needed to succeed in pharmacy school and beyond.  

Today, Samson is preparing to begin a health-system pharmacy administration and leadership residency at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford, Foley is a clinical pharmacist at Cottage Health in Santa Barbara, and Shaikh is a transitions of care pharmacist at UCSF Health.

Though their careers have taken different paths, all three say the Post-Bacc Program provided something essential: the confidence, discipline, and perspective to move forward when the next step wasn't yet clear.

Pivotal preparation

Samson’s path illustrates the role the Post-Bacc Program can play for learners who know where they want to go but need additional preparation before taking the next step.

“At the time, I had actually already been accepted into a pharmacy program,” Samson said. “But after reflecting on where I was personally and professionally, I decided not to move forward.”

Instead, Samson enrolled in the Post-Bacc Program, where he built a stronger foundation for pharmacy school. He later entered the UCSF PharmD program and successfully completed its rigorous three-year curriculum, graduating in May. This summer, he will begin a combined postgraduate year 1/2 health-system pharmacy administration and leadership residency at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford, while also pursuing a Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Administration.

Building confidence and finding direction  

During his undergrad studies, Samson faced significant academic and financial challenges, including academic probation and periods where he had to work full time to support himself. Those experiences left him questioning whether pharmacy school was within reach.  

He credits the UCSF Post-Bacc Program with helping him develop a foundation of discipline and support that made earning a PharmD degree and his upcoming residency possible.

“The Post-Bacc Program gave me the support and structure I needed,” Samson said. “I knew I needed more time to strengthen my communication skills, study habits, and professionalism so I could succeed in pharmacy school.”

Through interdisciplinary projects alongside students pursuing medicine, dentistry, and other health professions, Samson said he also developed skills in teamwork and leadership that prepared him to contribute in collaborative health care environments. He also worked closely with teaching specialists who helped him build study strategies that would later prove invaluable in pharmacy school.

One affirmation stands out most in his mind. “After receiving my first semester grades and realizing I had done very well, something clicked for me,” he said. “That moment gave me a sense of confidence I had not always felt before.”

Adaptability in practice

That theme of resilience resonates with fellow post-bacc graduates Mariah Foley, PharmD, RPh, and Sara Shaikh, PharmD, both members of the UCSF School of Pharmacy Class of 2021. Their professional journeys have taken different directions, while sharing a common thread of adaptability and genuine friendship.

Foley now works as a clinical pharmacist at Cottage Health in Santa Barbara, where she practices across internal medicine, critical care, oncology, and central operations. But her career path included unexpected turns.  

Foley said the Post-Bacc Program gave her the opportunity to gain a broader perspective on pharmacy. “When I first entered the program, all I knew was that I enjoyed learning about pathophysiology related to animals and drugs while I worked as a veterinary assistant,” she said. “I especially enjoyed the interdisciplinary projects with dental and medical post-bacc students, which helped us prepare for working in various teams with people who are trained with a different eye.”  

After completing the Post-Bacc Program, Foley was accepted into the UCSF School of Pharmacy as part of its inaugural three-year PharmD cohort.

“After I got my license, I applied nonstop to clinical and staff pharmacist positions across the state,” Foley said.  She eventually secured a position through a staffing agency at Los Angeles General Medical Center, where she spent two and a half years further honing essential clinical skills before moving into her current role.

“Everything works out how it’s supposed to,” she said. “Just don’t give up hope if your original plan doesn’t line up.”

Critical thinking and taking initiative

Shaikh found her footing with both adult and pediatric populations by training across UCSF’s Parnassus and Mission Bay campuses. She now serves as a transitions of care pharmacist at UCSF Health, helping to ensure continuity and safety as patients move between care settings.

For Shaikh, the Post-Bacc Program pushed her to be disciplined, shaping how she approached both pharmacy school and her work as a pharmacist. “The biggest thing was learning how to think critically and manage a rigorous workload,” she said.

Shaikh, who also precepts pharmacy students, paying forward the mentorship she once received, said her advice to future pharmacists is to focus on being consistent and intentional.  

“It’s about showing growth, building relationships, and really understanding why you want to go into pharmacy,” she said. “Taking initiative, asking questions, and being engaged will naturally help you stand out.”

The value of community

Confidence, resilience, and professional growth were recurring themes in each alumnus' experience, but all three also pointed to another lasting benefit of the Post-Bacc Program: community.

Foley and Shaikh remain close friends years later, while Samson said the program created a lasting network of peers who understood the challenges and ambitions that brought them there.

“There’s something meaningful about sharing that kind of journey with people who understand what it took to get through it,” said Samson, referencing a quote that inspired a motivational tattoo on his left arm: “An arrow can only be shot by being pulled back.”