Find it here: Exploring opportunities and building community as an undergrad
What’s next?
That has become the mantra for Isaiah Stokes, a fourth-year Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences (BSPS) student at The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy. In fact, his drive to seek out new opportunities is what led him to the pre-med track he is on today.
Stokes started his college career as a pre-nursing student but began to explore other possibilities in health care with help from student organizations and professional development opportunities he found along the way.
“My jumps between career paths were driven by groups that allowed me to explore my professional interests and understand my strengths,” Stokes explained. “When I think about the curiosity and relationship-building that comes with being a doctor, I’m confident that everything I’ve tried at Ohio State has prepared me for that.”
Stokes took introductory pharmacy courses, immersing himself in pharmacokinetics—the interactions between medications and the human body. He eventually enrolled in the BSPS program and took a job as a pharmacy technician.
“I fell in love with pharmacy’s undergraduate program because of the tight-knit community and how interesting it was to learn how a drug works in the body,” Stokes said. “Even as I found my way to the medical school track, pharmacy and the BSPS community have become my home.”
From mentoring fellow Scarlet and Gray Advantage program scholars to launching a student group that connects STEM undergraduates to principle investigators (PI), Stokes has shone as a true leader in the Buckeye community.
Here are some highlights of opportunities that brought Stokes to where he is today.
The Fuchs Lab
Stokes is a member of the Fuchs Lab at the College of Pharmacy and serves as a mentee of Daniel Adu-Ampratwum, PhD, research assistant professor.
"When Isaiah first joined the lab, he had to learn to communicate like a chemist and ask for help,” Dr. Adu-Ampratwum said. “But when he sets his mind to something, he will get it done. He has taken direction and learning experiences to become a much stronger communicator and scientist. Now, he can explain his work and break down how it fits into the work that the lab is doing.”
The drug development lab was a challenge for Stokes, requiring him to pick up new skills and make plenty of mistakes.
“Adjusting to the rigorous demands of this field was no easy feat, but I am incredibly grateful to everyone in the Fuchs Lab for their guidance, patience and unwavering support,” Stokes said. ”Bringing my understanding of therapeutics forward to med school will be really valuable.”
In addition to developing therapeutic molecules that effectively bind to the HIV virus, Stokes’ experience has bolstered the undergraduate research community, inspiring him to found the Undergraduate Students in Research organization.
Undergraduate Students in Research
Stokes founded the Undergraduate Students in Research student organization to partner other students with open lab positions. Through workshops and networking events, this group offers a space for student researchers to hone their skills and find peer support.
“Being an undergrad researcher has helped me to appreciate the time and effort that goes into research, particularly drug discovery,” Stokes emphasized. “I want to give other students that opportunity.”
The process of creating the student organization required Stokes to network with his peers and faculty across the university. To him, it’s well worth the effort to make research more accessible.
“Research has been a cornerstone of my undergraduate experience,” he said. “It’s made me a better problem-solver and communicator. Engaging in research helps us to develop critical thinking skills and become well-rounded individuals.”
Buckeye Pathways Summer Internship
The Buckeye Pathways Summer Internship pairs six undergraduate interns with executive directors at the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center (OSUWMC). For 10 weeks, Stokes shadowed Mike Martin, executive director of the Ross Heart Hospital.
Alongside Martin and other interns, Stokes shadowed physicians as they completed administrative and clinical work. Over the course of the internship, Stokes and Martin benchmarked operating room culture by interviewing professionals across the patient care team.
“I always thought that working in a hospital meant choosing between being a clinician or administrator, but this experience showed me that there are plenty of professionals who do both,” he said.
Black Student Association
The Black Student Association (BSA) provides a space where students can connect on a large campus and make their circle feel a bit more personal.
“The sense of community, belonging and joy that I felt in the space that this organization created was unparalleled,” Stokes said. “I owe a lot of my personal growth to BSA.”
First joining the organization as a casual attendee, he eventually moved up to an executive board position and then vice president. Stokes ran events supporting students’ self-care, connection and professional development, and he learned to be a role model for his fellow BSA members.
“The leadership and confidence that I gained from being someone that others look up to on campus was invaluable,” he said.