Nicola Wood

School of Pharmacy

I was born in Westerly, Rhode Island and raised in Mystic, Connecticut. I have completed a bachelor’s in animal science, and I am currently completing my pharmacy bachelor’s degree.

I volunteered at an after-hours school program for elementary- and middle-school aged children whose parents could not pick them up at the exact end of the school day. This program provided a safe, supervised area for children after school ended where they could do their homework or take part in other activities; I was a friend and mentor to these children. I have also worked as a chemistry peer tutor. In this role, I helped students understand the material and break down difficult, overwhelming concepts. I also mentored my students on good study habits and work life balance and answered their questions about campus life.

I applied to the Urban Service Track/AHEC Scholars Program to learn how to provide underserved populations with adequate healthcare. It is important that I, as a future health care provider, learn how to help such populations overcome their healthcare disparities. I would also like to strengthen my interprofessional communication skills by working with and mutually educating other healthcare professionals, so that we can all become better providers. Through the UST/AS Program, I want to work closely with patients in a primary care setting to improve their health through drug therapies that best fit each patient. Finally, I want to spread awareness that pharmacists have fulfill complex, diverse roles in areas beyond community pharmacies.