Pharmacy offers a remarkably wide range of career opportunities — and clinical hospital pharmacy is one of the most impactful. Sara Kurd-Misto, a Clinical Pharmacist at Sharp Memorial Hospital in San Diego, who joined Chapman as an APEx student and earned her Pharm.D. with CUSP (Chapman University School of Pharmacy). Her journey from Orange County student to published clinical researcher illustrates what a CUSP pharmacy education can make possible.

Pharm.D. to Residency

After graduating from CUSP, Sara completed a PGY-1 pharmacy residency at Kaiser Permanente in Sacramento, followed by a competitive PGY-2 residency in Medication-Use Safety and Policy at City of Hope. Residency training — while not required for all pharmacists — is a common pathway for those seeking clinical roles in hospital and health-system settings.

Today, Sara’s work at Sharp Memorial Hospital reflects the depth of that preparation. “My day-to-day involves reviewing and verifying medication orders, ensuring safe and appropriate medication use, and collaborating closely with the broader healthcare team to optimize patient care. We care for a diverse patient population with a wide range of acute and chronic conditions, and we see everything from complex medical cases to emergent situations. What excites me most about being a pharmacist is the opportunity to contribute to safe, thoughtful patient care in a meaningful way. Even small interventions can make a big difference, and I find that really rewarding.”

Pharmacy Research and Publication

During her PGY-2 residency at City of Hope, Sara completed a research project evaluating the incidence and potential risk factors for hospital-onset infections in cancer patients. That work was published in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology with Sara as first author, a significant milestone in her early career and a testament to the research opportunities pharmacy residency programs provide.

The Role of Mentorship in Pharmacy Education

Mentorship is central to CUSP’s approach to pharmacy education, and Sara’s career reflects that philosophy at every stage. She credits her IPPE preceptor, Dr. Eddie Wong, as a foundational influence on her commitment to service and giving back to the profession.

Her APPE rotation experience further deepened her clinical thinking. “I had the opportunity to work with CUSP’s Dr. Coco Yang as an APPE preceptor for my oncology elective at CHOC. Her rotation challenged me to think more comprehensively and pushed me to a deeper level of clinical reasoning. Dr. Yang is an amazing faculty member, preceptor, and mentor.”

For Sara, the most meaningful parts of both residency programs were the relationships she built along the way, a reminder that pharmacy is, at its core, a service-oriented and people-centered profession.

Giving Back: CUSP’s Alumni Advisory Board

Sara now serves as president of CUSP’s Alumni Advisory Board (AAB), where she supports current Pharm.D. students and fellow graduates navigating their own career paths. “My experience at Chapman was such a meaningful growth period for me. Along that journey, I learned a lot about navigating challenges. Being AAB president has given me the opportunity to show current students and fellow alumni that it’s okay if your path doesn’t follow a traditional plan.”

The AAB is a valuable resource for CUSP students looking to build professional connections, gain career guidance, and learn from those who have already walked the path.

Advice for Pharm.D. Students and Recent Graduates

When asked what she’d tell current pharmacy students and new graduates, Sara offered two clear pieces of advice:

Get involved with the Alumni Advisory Board. Engaging with CUSP’s alumni community is one of the most direct ways to build your professional network and gain perspective on the many directions a pharmacy career can take.

Say yes to unexpected opportunities. “Take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way, even if it doesn’t initially align with what you think your path will be. I never saw myself pursuing residency or working in a hospital, but you never really know where you’ll end up in pharmacy!”

Interested in earning your Pharm.D. at CUSP? Click here to learn more.

This article was co-written by Silas Fernandes.