After seeing firsthand how chronic illness can affect patients and families, Charday Norris, PharmD ‘26, found herself drawn to a career focused on medication management, patient education and long-term care support.
Her interest in the profession began to take shape after starting her career as a pharmacy technician in 2009.
“My interest deepened in 2012 when my mother was diagnosed with lupus, which showed me how complex medication therapy can be and how important pharmacist support is in patient care,” Norris said.
Another defining moment came during the pharmacy school interview process when her father was hospitalized with elevated blood sugar. This experience, she explained, further reinforced the importance of chronic disease management and patient education.
“Working alongside encouraging pharmacists throughout these experiences helped me realize pharmacy was more than a job—it was a profession where I could meaningfully support patients and their families,” Norris said.
Norris first learned about PCOM School of Pharmacy while working as a senior pharmacy technician at Walgreens, where she helped train and support pharmacy interns completing APPE and IPPE rotations.
“What I like best about the PharmD program is the sense of community and support from both my classmates and faculty.”
Charday Norris, PharmD ‘26
“Through working closely with these students and assisting in their training, I became familiar with PCOM and developed a strong impression of the school and its commitment to preparing future pharmacists,” she said.
When it came time to choose a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program, Norris said the genuine sense of care and support she experienced during the admissions process helped solidify her decision.
“After sharing a personal situation involving my father’s hospitalization, a member of the PCOM team personally followed up to check on him, which left a lasting impression on me,” she said.
She also cited the class sizes and supportive learning environment as major factors in choosing PCOM.
“The school’s smaller class sizes and family-like environment stood out, as it felt like a place where students are known and supported individually rather than just being numbers,” she said.
Throughout the PharmD program, the collaborative relationship between students and faculty has been one of the most meaningful parts of Norris' experience.
“What I like best about the PharmD program is the sense of community and support from both my classmates and faculty,” Norris said. “I’ve appreciated building relationships with classmates who are going through the same challenges, which makes the journey feel more manageable.”
She also described faculty interactions that extended beyond academics alone.
“My interactions with program faculty have been very genuine and supportive,” Norris said. “There’s been a clear effort from some faculty members to understand what students are going through personally and how that may be impacting us academically, rather than just focusing on performance alone.”
Norris said that level of compassion and understanding has made a difference.
“Overall, that level of care and human connection has made it easier to stay engaged and push through challenging moments in the program,” she explained.
Norris hopes to build a career as a NICU pharmacist, caring for vulnerable neonatal patient patients and supporting complex medication therapy needs. In the meantime, she continues gaining experience in community pharmacy through her work at Walgreens while developing a strong interest in mentorship and education.
“I hope to give back by helping train and support future pharmacists as I continue to grow in my career,” Norris said.
Looking back on her experience so far, Norris described pharmacy school as both demanding and rewarding.
“It has pushed me academically and personally, while also helping me grow more confident in my abilities as a future pharmacist,” she said. “I’ve appreciated the sense of community among my classmates and the support from faculty, which has made the journey feel more manageable. Despite the difficult moments, I feel proud of how far I’ve come and grateful for the experiences that are shaping me into the pharmacist I am becoming.”
Norris encourages future pharmacy students to understand their personal motivation before starting pharmacy school, as the journey can be challenging and requires a great deal of perseverance.
“Lean on your support system, and don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it,” she advised. “Also, take advantage of every opportunity to learn from pharmacists and real patient experiences, because those moments will help keep you grounded and motivated. Lastly, stay open to growth—pharmacy school will stretch you, but it will also shape you in ways you may not expect if you stay committed.”
© 2026 Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
