Featured Senior: Sweta Bharech (Andrews) M’03, Pharm.D.’14

Major: Pharmacy
Hometown: Bangalore, India
For Sweta Bharech, UF has always felt like a home away from home. She feels that the special relationships students develop with friends and professors sets UF apart from other colleges.
Bharech decided to pursue an education in pharmacy after receiving a Master of Business Administration from UF in 2003. “I worked as a pharmacy tech and really enjoyed the interaction with people,” she said.
“It was a hard transition for me, as I was working full time for a logistics firm after completing my MBA and was working part time in a pharmacy for a retail chain when I decided to join pharmacy school,” said Bharech. “Dean Stansloski has been my academic advisor since the day I joined pharmacy school. It was through his guidance, encouragement and support that I continued to do so.”
Bharech began her journey in the doctor of pharmacy program as a part-time student and transitioned to a full-time student in her fourth semester.
“It was a hard transition, and at times, it seemed like I wasn’t going to be able to continue,” said Bharech. “It was Stansloski, my hard work and determination that helped me.”
During Bharech’s time at UF, she had the opportunity to experience different cultures when she traveled to Dubai and Ras-al-Khaimah in United Arab Emirates through a study abroad program. “It has made me into a more thoughtful and caring person with a broader perspective,” she said.
In Bharech’s fourth year in the pharmacy program, she shadowed Debra Parker, Ph.D., at her practice site. “Her enthusiasm to teach both in class and outside of class was truly inspiring,” she said.
She also worked with other students and Charles Mosler, assistant professor of pharmacy practice, to research a project, “Unnecessary Medications in Hospice Patients. He helped us take our raw data and transform it into a meaningful conclusion.”
“I completed an academic rotation with Dr. Richard Dudley. At the end of this rotation, with his guidance and mentorship, I felt strongly about pursuing a career in academia,” said Bharech. “He has made a real difference in shaping my academic formation. I hope to be able to teach someday as I was taught.”
Bharech says that every day at Findlay has been enjoyable. While her classmates looked forward to holidays and going home, she looked forward to the day they were coming back.
“One of my best memories that will remain ever in my heart is Oct. 3, 2013, when I became a naturalized citizen of this great nation,” said Bharech. “The College of Pharmacy hosted a special ceremony to welcome me as a part of this country. It was an honor to receive an American flag from Mrs. Patricia Stansloski on behalf of the Ohio Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Fort Findlay Chapter.”
Bharech feels that her time as a student at UF and experience in pharmacy has helped her develop interpersonal skills to be able to care for a diverse patient population and work effectively with health care professionals. “The faculty at UF will do what ever it takes to provide us with not only the best classroom education, but with many opportunities to be able to apply what we learn in the classroom setting,” she said.
This summer, Bharech will begin a one-year community residency at the University of Oklahoma. She plans to practice pharmacy in a community retail setting and hopes to join the field of academia someday.
“My advice to students is to do whatever it takes to understand the material and concepts instead of blindly memorizing them. If you don’t understand something, get help right away,” said Bharech. “Today, I feel I am ready to step out of my comfort zone and help advance the profession of pharmacy and contribute to creating leaders in the field of pharmacy.”