Pippiana Voakes
For Pippiana Voakes, Pharmacy offered the perfect mix of science, problem-solving, and working closely with people to make a real difference in their everyday lives
“My dad suggested Pharmacy and at the time I didn’t really know much about it,” she says. “I really liked chemistry and biology, and I really liked talking to people.”
“Being a pharmacist is essentially using your understanding of the body and medicines, then communicating that with people,. The further I’ve progressed through the degree, the more I know I made the right choice.”
As she progressed through the Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) at WaipapaTaumata Rau, Pippiana quickly realised how closely the degree
aligned with her interests.
Pippiana says one of the things she values most aboutPharmacy is how practical and relevant the learning feels from the beginning.
“No matter what we’re learning, we’re also learning how and when to use it,” she says. “We apply what we learn straight away to real-life scenarios through workshops, labs, and placements.”
Placements have been a major highlight, giving students
early exposure to patient care and helping connect classroom learning to realhealthcare settings.
“We’re really lucky to go on placements from second year,” she says. “It’s the first taste we get of actually using our pharmacy knowledge in real situations.”
Looking ahead, Pippiana is excited by the wide range of opportunities within Pharmacy and the chance to make a meaningful difference through everyday patient care.
“I love that pharmacists get to build relationships with patients and support people on a regular basis,” she says. “It’s a career where you can make a real impact in people’s lives.”