“In a pharmacy setting, and depending on the pharmacist, patients are treated as more than just prescriptions; they are valued and made to feel comfortable enough to ask any question or voice any concerns."

Aya Aboualaywi is earning her Doctor of Pharmacy degree at the University of Michigan. Fueled by her father’s unwavering belief that she could be a catalyst for positive change in society and her parents’ sacrifices to seek better opportunities, Aya dedicated herself to her studies and dream of pursuing a career in the medical field when her family immigrated to the United States from Lebanon. Soon after graduating from high school, however, Aya faced a medical hurdle that shaped her decision to become a pharmacist. From the start, Aya’s pharmacist explained every medication that was prescribed to her, made herself available by phone, and helped Aya to become more understanding. Aya reflects, “In a pharmacy setting, and depending on the pharmacist, patients are treated as more than just prescriptions; they are valued and made to feel comfortable enough to ask any question or voice any concerns, knowing that they will receive the necessary support without enduring the hassle of being placed on hold for extended periods.”

Now, Aya is paying it forward as an experienced pharmacy student with seven years of expertise. She continuously strives to improve patient outcomes and make a positive impact on the healthcare system. Her current research at U-M is focused on helping multilingual individuals obtain their appropriate medication label from the pharmacy in their native language, with emphasis on the Latinx community. Throughout her career working at multiple pharmacy hospitals, Aya is committed to make a positive impact on patient care and healthcare outcomes by focusing on medication safety, patient education, and advocacy for pharmacy services.

CEW+ applauds Aya’s commitment to making a difference as a pharmacist and names her the Margaret E. Gnegy Scholar.