In pharmacy, knowledge is only part of the formula for success. How you present yourself—and define your professional identity—can make all the difference.
This message anchored a presentation by Arrington D. Mason-Callaway, PharmD, MBA, during the February 11, 2026 session of the Career Development Series at the PCOM School of Pharmacy. The series, open to first-, second-, and third-year students, focuses on internship strategy, postgraduate planning, networking, interviewing, and professional communication—factors that directly influence residency placement and employment outcomes.
Mason-Callaway challenged students to think beyond grades and begin defining how they will function within the profession as part of a candid and strategic conversation about what separates pharmacy graduates who compete from those who stand out.
“Packaging yourself isn't about being inauthentic,” Mason-Callaway explained. “It's about understanding your unique value proposition and communicating it effectively to potential employers, residency programs and professional colleagues.”
Mason-Callaway speaks from experience. He serves as a pharmacy administrator and Pharmacy Student Intern Program Coordinator at Emory University Hospital Midtown. A graduate of Morehouse College and PCOM School of Pharmacy, he completed two years of residency training with Wellstar Health System and later earned an MBA from Saint Joseph’s University. His career has included clinical pharmacy, operational leadership and financial oversight within a major academic medical center. In addition to administrative responsibilities, he oversees the development of pharmacy student interns, giving him direct insight into what distinguishes prepared candidates.
According to Mason-Callaway, personal success is built on four foundational pillars:
He also advised students to remain open to multiple career pathways. “Know what you don’t like and what you like,” he said, noting that pharmacy education provides exposure to clinical services, administration, operations and specialty practice areas.
Mason-Callaway encouraged students to use their time in pharmacy school to discover where their interests and strengths truly align, rather than committing prematurely to a single path. This exploration, he added, can lead to a more rewarding career and contribute to personal success.
He further urged students to begin following his four-pillar blueprint while still in school.
“The students who begin 'packaging themselves' early and who understand their professional identity, will be best positioned to succeed in an evolving healthcare landscape,” he said.
The Career Development Series reflects a broader priority at PCOM School of Pharmacy—career readiness is integrated into the student experience rather than deferred to the final year. Academic instruction is paired with structured professional development, access to practicing leaders, and deliberate preparation for postgraduate placement. Through this programming, PCOM School of Pharmacy aims to help students earn a degree and enter the pharmacy profession with direction, preparation, and a clearly defined professional identity.
© 2026 Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
