Pfuma Gains Life, Career Skills Through Phi Theta Kappa
Elimika Pfuma
Elimika Pfuma, former Vice President of Scholarship and a graduate of the University of Houston and Lone Star College - North Harris, talks about the value of her Phi Theta Kappa experience as she embarks on a career in pharmacology.
As a native of Africa, how did you become interested in attending college in the U.S.?
I grew up on a farm as part of a family of 12 in the capital city of Zambia, Lusaka. It was a quiet area that allowed me to read a lot while at school. Once I was done with high school, I just really wanted to move from the farm to a big city anywhere.
How did you choose Lone Star College, and what did you study there?
I had several cousins living in Houston. Three of them were at Lone Star College and advised me to start my college education there for a number of good reasons. It was definitely more affordable than four-year tuition at a large university. It also offered smaller class sizes which would allow me to adjust to being in a different country. My cousin is a pharmacist, and I really admired his work and wanted to follow in his footsteps. I was a pre-pharmacy major at Lone Star College.
When did you join Phi Theta Kappa, and what about membership appealed to you?
I joined Phi Theta Kappa after my first year. I had received a letter inviting me to join, and Dr. Lynda Dodgen encouraged me to. The most important parts of my experience with Phi Theta Kappa were the great advisors and the friends I made. Most of the students in the organization are very focused and helped me adapt to the education system in the U.S. and college life in general. The advisors helped me grow in aspects such as leadership and assisted in finding schools and scholarships that I would not have been able to finish school without.
Describe your experiences as chapter officer and VP of Scholarship. Would you recommend those levels of involvement to other members?
It was a great experience. It allowed me to build skills in leadership, teamwork, time management and communication. These are skills that were extremely valuable during pharmacy school and graduate school. I am still using these skills in starting my new career. It also allowed me to take a large part in and help organize extracurricular activities which are always a great opportunity for growth and discovery.
In what ways has Phi Theta Kappa benefited your college and professional development?
The friends I made and Phi Theta Kappa advisors Dr. Lynda Dodgen and Laura Dupree helped guide me and build skills I needed for success. Leadership, time management, teamwork and communication are extremely valuable for success in any field and are life skills that can never be lost but only built upon.
What will you be doing in your new job with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration?
I am a clinical pharmacology reviewer for new oncology drug applications. When a new drug is discovered, I help ensure the companies are designing their clinical trials appropriately and that they can prove that the drug is both efficacious and reasonably safe before it can be marketed to the public. There is still so much to be done in cancer research, and I am so honored to be a part of the process of getting potentially life-saving treatments to patients.
