For sisters Miranda and Brenda Kilzi, pharmacy is a shared passion and a lifelong commitment to patient care. Growing up together, both highly valued their education and heard stories from their mother about her positive role in patients’ lives as a pharmacist. These stories ignited their desire to make the same impact on patients, and they then found Chapman University as an ideal institution to build their knowledge and grow into the professionals they aspired to be. 

As the older sister, Miranda was the first to enroll at CUSP and quickly distinguished herself among her peers outside the classroom as a leader. Serving as APhA’s VP of Patient Care, a CUSP Student Ambassador, and Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity Philanthropy Committee co-chair, her student activities grew both her interprofessional communication and prepared her for future opportunities in pharmacy besides practicing. 

During her capstone, Miranda investigated drug-drug interactions between cannabis and psychiatric medications. This academic pursuit sharpened her analytical skills, taught her what it meant to understand data (instead of simply producing it), and offered her an opportunity to be part of CUSP’s innovative research. 

Shared Journey

In 2022, the Kilzi sisters both started a new chapter of their lives– Miranda successfully passed her board exams following her graduation with a Doctor of Pharmacy Degree, while Brenda began her first trimester as a PharmD candidate at CUSP. 

 

Thanks to the strong foundation of professionalism she built at CUSP, Miranda started her career as a Center of Excellence pharmacist, where she ensured any medication orders the pharmacy received were within safe and efficacious patient care standards. She recalls, “it was very fulfilling to have one-on-one dedicated time to communicate with patients and apply my clinical knowledge on a daily basis.” After completing a PharmD program, many opportunities are available for new graduates. Some, like Miranda, begin working immediately, while others enter a residency or a fellowship.

That fall, Brenda began her PharmD at CUSP. 

At the beginning of her PharmD program, Brenda leaned on Miranda for guidance and encouragement. “Miranda gave me advice on joining organizations and getting involved outside of class, ensuring I made the most of my experience,” she says. “Sharing the same pharmacy school journey has given us a unique bond. We’ve been able to exchange insights about our clinical knowledge, discuss our different experiences, and support each other every step of the way.” 

Brenda, on track to graduate with her PharmD in 2025, has served as her cohort’s Student President for all three years of the accelerated program. She says this role allowed her “to collaborate closely with faculty members and professors as well as build meaningful connections with peers” to foster a supportive community for all students and grow in her interprofessional leadership style. 

Lifelong Bond

Throughout Brenda’s time at CUSP, her proud sister has watched and encouraged her along the way. “I am so impressed with Brenda! I like to think when I was in pharmacy school, I was ambitious, but Brenda has redefined what ambition looks like! I always tell her and everyone I talk to that she is the MVP of Chapman.” 

Their shared journey at CUSP reinforced their childhood values of the power of education and positioned them to fulfill their dream of making a positive impact on their patient’s livelihoods. Brenda and Miranda have the same advice to offer current pharmacy students; make the most of your time at Chapman, because it goes by fast. 

As Miranda continues her career and Brenda prepares to begin her own, their sisterly bond only brings them closer together. “Brenda and I were already very close before our pharmacy journey,” Miranda says. “Even though I am older than Brenda and graduated already, I still look to her for pharmacy-related questions or for her perspective on something in the field.” 

Chapman University has provided Miranda and Brenda with exceptional opportunities in education and deep personal connections. As the two sisters step into the next phase of their careers, the Kilzis will only grow further into compassionate leaders and impactful pharmacists.