“The educational opportunities are what brought me here,” says Faizan Ali, a P3 pharmacy major of the Nesbitt School of Pharmacy who is also pursuing the MBA program at Wilkes University. “I loved the idea of earning three degrees in six years – a bachelor’s, a master’s and a doctorate.”
Ali is a first-generation student and was featured as a student speaker at Wilkes University’s Founders Gala in 2022, an event that raises money for the First Generation Scholarship Fund. Born in Lahore, Pakistan, he was raised in Tower City, Pennsylvania, after his family emigrated to the United States. Now, his family lives in Queens. In the hot summers amid the sweltering concrete, Ali is a union construction worker at Local 1 Bricklayer and Allied Craftworkers NYC to help pay for his education.
Not only is Ali’s hope to impact people’s lives with better healthcare and medicine, but it is also his passion to continue in the military as an officer.
“I wasn’t born in this country, but I associate the military with core values that I believe in,” says Ali. “People put their lives on the line, and that has had a profound effect on me.”
Last December, Ali was commissioned as second lieutenant by the United States Air Force in a commissioning ceremony held on campus and was recognized during a Senate Town Hall. Ali will go on to serve as an Air Force pharmacist and will be promoted to captain upon his graduation. Cody Morcom PharmD ‘20, chief of satellite pharmacy at Travis Air Force Base and one of Ali’s mentors, participated in the ceremony.
Ali applied for the Health Professions Scholarship Program and was one of four pharmacists nationwide to be accepted. Morcom took him under his wing, and guided him through the application process. HPSP is a highly competitive program offered by the Air Force designed to award scholarships to students who want to serve and are pursuing a medical education.
“I am incredibly inspired by Cody. If it wasn’t for him, I may not have had this opportunity,” says Ali. “I strive to be like him.”
For Ali, Morcom is more than a mentor; he’s a role model. Morcom is someone Ali feels always lends his hand in support to current Wilkes pharmacy students of all backgrounds by showing the many possibilities, demonstrating what great leadership can do and transforming pharmacy with best practices, which are ever-evolving.
In addition to Morcom assisting and guiding Ali as a candidate, they co-authored the article, “A Pharmacist’s Guide To Naloxone,” which was published in Pharmacist Consult in 2022. The article, promoting educational awareness around opioid stigmas, was part of Script Your Future – a national consumer education campaign that raises awareness about the importance of medication adherence.
“Since meeting Faizan nearly five years ago, I’ve been able to see his exponential growth from a pre-pharmacy student to now, a second lieutenant and soon-to-be captain in the Air Force upon his graduation. Faizan is a go-getter and doesn’t give up,” says Morcom. “He shines above his peers, as evidenced by his selection as one of only four students from across the United States chosen to the HPSP. I’m proud to be a Wilkes Colonel, and I’m even more proud to be working alongside Faizan in the future.”
To be an Air Force pharmacist is Ali’s long-term ambition – both personally and professionally. His goal is to be a military healthcare leader, providing care to all those in the military and to their families, and become a board-certified pharmacotherapy specialist. He hopes to transition into a leadership role within the Military Health System of the Defense Health Agency.
“It would be a great honor and a privilege to serve those who defend our nation, fulfilling my ambition to be part of something greater than myself,” says Ali.
As part of the current curriculum, Ali works at local clinics and pharmacy rotations at community drugstores, diving deep into the workflow and adding that all Wilkes preceptors (a practicing pharmacist or other health care provider who mentors and teaches pharmacy students in a real-world setting) have been encouraging and supportive. Ali has taken great interest in critical care in helping patients who most need it.
“You make real-time decisions that benefit the patient right in front of you. It’s incredibly rewarding to see them physically become better and to work with a team in such a dynamic setting,” adds Ali.
Previously, Ali has worked as a pharmacist intern at CVS Pharmacy and as a certified clinical pharmacy technician at CHS Wilkes-Barre General Hospital, which provided him with hands-on experience in managing pharmacy operations, coordinating patient care and supporting frontline vaccine rollouts in December 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. In his time outside of studies, he is involved with Wilkes University’s AFROTC, was president of the Veterans Council and involved in student government.
He also volunteers his time to the local community when he can through food programs for families in need. He coordinated testing efforts at Wilkes University, participated in vaccination programs at long-term care facilities, was involved with Kisses 2 Cancer 5K and more. He has also received several awards and scholarships: Federal Recognition for Leadership in Presenting Korean War Ambassador for Peace Medals for Veterans Day, Student Veteran Association Student Leadership Recognition, William Hearst Endowed Scholarship, CVS Health Professional Scholarship and Pennsylvania Ready to Succeed Scholarship, to name a few.
In balancing all these aspirations, accomplishments, workload and activities, advice from another one of his mentors, Marie Roke Thomas, PhD (professor and chair of pharmaceutical sciences), resounds for him. She reminds him to never let fear dictate his decisions, to let his purpose guide the way; to stay adamant to who you are and keep believing in your passion and purpose.
“Faizan’s passion for serving his country has been evident from the start. Adaptability and discipline are two key qualities that Faizan possesses in abundance. He has shown time and again his ability to handle challenges with a level-headed approach and a strong sense of responsibility,” says Roke Thomas. “He has gone above and beyond to prepare for this opportunity, and his genuine commitment to making a difference through service makes him a great fit for the military and for pharmacy.” She also praised Ali for his kind and compassionate mannerisms that makes him a joy to have in class and to work alongside.
Needless to say, the future is an open sky of opportunities for Ali. With the support of his family, network, mentors and the opportunities afforded by the military and at Wilkes University, he is more than excited to embark on the continued path to helping patients and transforming pharmaceutical healthcare in the military.
“At Wilkes, I will continue to strive for excellence, embrace opportunities to lead and dedicate myself to making a positive impact both in the classroom and beyond,” says a determined and hopeful Ali.
