Pharmacy student follows in her mother’s footsteps

Our first teachers in life are usually our parents; they teach us how to walk, talk and navigate everyday life. Sometimes these same teachers show us more than the basics and inspire us to follow in their footsteps.

Take for instance Shanee Patel, a Class of 2022 Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences (BSPS) student and Class of 2025 Doctor of Pharmacy student at The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy, and her mother Sangita Patel, RPh, owner of Clinic Pharmacy in Columbus.

Sangita has worked as a community pharmacist for over 25 years. Shanee basically grew up in the pharmacy profession, especially since she spent time within the walls of her mother’s small business when she was younger.

“I remember when I was young, sitting in the pharmacy while my mom worked,” Shanee said. “It was my first introduction to the field and I got to see how everything operated in the background. I remember my mom showing me what different medications looked like.”

As Shanee got older, she became more curious about pharmacy and decided to try the profession herself as a pharmacy technician in her mother’s pharmacy. Shanee gained pharmacy knowledge from her mom in addition to a more hands-on experience. All these experiences with pharmacy culminated in Shanee officially deciding to become a pharmacist. She applied to the Early Assurance Program (EAP) at the College of Pharmacy in 2018.

“Growing up, I feel my mother fueled my curiosity in pharmacy,” Shanee said. “I always saw her working hard to help all her patients and loving what she did. It made me excited to follow her same path.”

Shanee decided Ohio State was the best option for her because not only could she get a well-rounded pharmacy education, but she could stay in Columbus to be close to her mother—her first pharmacy mentor—and continue to help her mother’s business by working as a pharmacy technician.

“When I got my acceptance letter, my mom was ecstatic for me,” Shanee said. “She knew that I wanted to be a pharmacist just like her and this was the first step to becoming one.”

As for Shanee’s future, she is keeping her mind open but says she wouldn’t mind keeping Clinic Pharmacy in the family or potentially opening her own pharmacy one day.

“My mom and I are really close,” Shanee said. “She is my best friend and greatest role model. I’m so thankful for the experiences I’ve had with her and the influence she has had in my life as my first teacher.”