Board Profile: Kathy Komperda, ICHP Secretary
by Sheila Allen, Pharm.D., BCPS Coordinator, Academic Programs; Clinical Assistant Professor University of Illinois College of Pharmacy
February 17, 2009
This
article spotlights ICHP Board of Directors member Kathy Komperda (Fit).
Kathy is a new practitioner and is a recent elect to the office of
Secretary on the ICHP Board. Kathy is an example of what opportunities
await all ICHP new practitioners who are eager to get involved and make
a difference in pharmacy within Illinois. This is Kathy’s story of how
her involvement in ICHP has guided her career compass and kept her
passionate about the profession of pharmacy.
Where did you go to pharmacy school?I went to the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) College of Pharmacy and am a proud graduate of the class of 2004.
Trace your professional history since graduation: where have you trained/worked, any special accomplishments?After
graduation, I completed a Pharmacy Practice Residency with a Focus on
Education at Midwestern University (MWU) Chicago College of Pharmacy.
Upon completion of my residency, I took an Assistant Professor position
at Midwestern University in conjunction with a Clinical Pharmacist
position at Mercy Family Health Center. In 2006, I was Board Certified
in Pharmacotherapy.
What initially motivated you to get
involved, and what benefits do you see in being active in a
professional association such as ICHP?As a student I got
involved within ICHP and served as Chapter President of UIC’s student
chapter. I remember attending a Spring Meeting in St. Louis as a 1st
year pharmacy student. I was impressed with the interactions among the
Board members and flattered with the welcoming they offered a student.
I suppose I didn’t know the opportunities and professional connections
that awaited me, but I knew then that this was an organization that
listens to the voices of all members, and that appealed to me. I
actually have a St. Louis poster in my office from that trip, and I
have been asked many times if I am from there. I answer by explaining
that the poster is a memento from a meeting that I attended that
changed my view on who I could become within the profession of pharmacy.
After
graduation, I was encouraged by colleagues, fellow ICHP members and my
own passion for pharmacy to continue my involvement within ICHP. I
continued my involvement by serving as an executive member of the New
Practitioners Network (NPN) and volunteered to serve as Faculty Advisor
for MWU’s ICHP student chapter. Currently, I am actively involved in
the Division of Government Affairs and was recently elected to the
office of Secretary.
ICHP has played an intricate role in who I
am as a pharmacist and a professional today by providing many
opportunities to network with leaders in pharmacy from various
settings. In addition, connecting with other young pharmacy
professionals who want to make a difference within the profession has
influenced me to stay involved with ICHP. It has kept me current on the
issues that face pharmacy today and has provided me a voice within the
practice of pharmacy in Illinois.
What are the rewards and challenges of being a newer practitioner on the Board of ICHP?I
would say that the biggest reward is the opportunity to see “the behind
the scenes” of the organization. I believe it has given me a better
understanding for the rationale behind certain initiatives. A challenge
that I face is time commitment, a struggle for most new practitioners
wanting to become more involved. However, I believe the rewards that I
get out of serving on the Board is worth the value of my time, and it
is a small sacrifice that we all make on the Board in hopes to see the
organization and profession succeed.
What advice would you give to a new practitioner eager to become more involved within ICHP?Pick
a division that interests you. Get in contact with the Division
Director and dial in to their next conference call. Listen, voice your
opinions, and become an actively involved member. It doesn’t take much
more than initiative. It is a great way to learn about the organization
and will open the doors to many opportunities.
As a newer practitioner, what would you like to see accomplished within pharmacy?I
would like to witness the acquisition of provider status both state
wide and nationally. That would really put pharmacy on the map.
Do you have any special interests or hobbies outside of pharmacy?I
recently got married and purchased a home. My husband and I spend a lot
of free time in Home Depot; they actually know us by name. I enjoy
cooking, and lucky for me my husband doesn’t mind burnt food, or at
least as of yet. (Perhaps he does not have the heart to tell me.) I am
also starting to enjoy scrapbooking.
What is the most interesting/unique fact about yourself that few people know?I
am not sure if this is a unique rather than a random fact, but I am
taking my honeymoon this January although I got married in October due
to my husband’s work schedule. I admit I was a little disappointed
initially. We are going to St. Lucia and in hindsight, based on the
weather we have been enduring, it might have been the best luck ever. I
hope this good fortune continues to follow us.
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