A little savings can yield large rewards. Pharmacy students often accumulate significant debt by the end of their education, and any help to offset their expenses is invaluable. Enter the UI College of Pharmacy Student Travel Enhancement Program (STEP). STEP offers unique opportunities for students to engage with alumni, broaden their horizons, and grow their professional network.

Through the  STEP program, students save on out-of-pocket travel expenses during residency and job interviews and engage with fellow pharmacy alumni. Conversely, alumni who host students get to “talk shop” with up-and-coming pharmacists. 

To apply for STEP, pharmacy students preparing for residency, fellowship, or job interviews simply fill out an online survey. The survey is then used to match them with an alumnus in the city where they are planning to travel. Students can spend one to two nights in the alum’s home, ultimately saving expenses. 

Kylie Juenger, who’s in her final year at the UI College of Pharmacy, is one such student. She found out about STEP through a collegiate staff member. 

“They reached out prior to interview season and mentioned that STEP could help ease the burden associated with traveling on-site for interviews,” Juenger said. 

Two of her in-person interviews were in Aurora, Colorado, and Augusta, Georgia. Although some institutions Juenger interviewed at provided discounted hotel rates, they were still expensive options for a final-year rotation student. 

“Through my experience in STEP, I was reminded how close-knit the Hawkeye family is,” she said. “Each mentor I stayed with not only provided housing, but they also showed me around the potential city I could be living in and gave me an honest insight into their experiences living there. I am forever grateful for their kindness and hope to pay it forward to students when I am a practicing pharmacist.”

Juenger especially enjoyed the chance to talk with her hosts — Dr. Islam Shata Elhelf, a 2019 Carver College of Medicine graduate, and Francesca Milavetz, '19 MPH, '20 PharmD, about what the pharmacy profession is like in other states. 

“Pharmacists are a great asset to the health care team, and it was evident through traveling across states how invaluable pharmacists are to patient care,” she said. 

Savannah Anderson, who’s also in her final year at the UI College of Pharmacy, took part in STEP as well. She was hosted by alumni in Houston and San Francisco. 

“Both of my experiences were absolutely fantastic,” Anderson said. “I was initially introduced to each of my hosts via email through [Alumni Manager] Kayla Sanders, who oversees the program. After exchanging contact information, I texted back and forth with my hosts to coordinate my travels, and both were so kind as to offer to stock up on what I would want for breakfast the day of my interview.” 

In Houston, Anderson was hosted by Amy Alonzo, '03 PharmD. It was Anderson’s first residency interview, so she naturally had a lot of nerves going into the day. 

The morning of her interview, Alonzo drove Anderson to the Texas Medical Center campus and walked with her to the exact spot she needed to be. 

“Having her help and guidance relieved so many of my nerves and stresses going into the day, especially considering this was my very first interview,” Anderson said. “Fast forward to just a couple of weeks ago, Amy and her family were back in Iowa visiting family and friends, and we got together to have dinner and catch up just before Match results came out.”

For her time in San Francisco, Anderson stayed with Michelle Fouts, '96 PharmD, and her partner, Anne. After Anderson arrived back to their home from her interview, the three chatted for hours about all-things pharmacy, medicine, San Francisco, and life.

“Both having successful careers in medicine, they had lots of advice to offer to me as I prepare to begin my own career, and I genuinely had so much fun getting to know them as people,” Anderson said. “I could not have gotten luckier regarding who I was connected with. Amy and Michelle both had unique journeys within pharmacy that gave me new perspective on the outlook of my own career and what I was capable of. I am so grateful to have met them both, along with their families.”

Fouts took a lot away from her experience with STEP, too. 

“I think it is a brilliant idea to both support students and engage alumni,” she said. 

Throughout their time together, Fouts was able to share advice and insights with Anderson.

“Although my entry into pharmacy was with a focus on clinical pharmacy, I ended up being a director of pharmacy for the final 12 years of my career,” Fouts said. “Savannah was interviewing for an admin/pharmacy leadership residency, so we had lots to talk about. I was so impressed with her communication skills, thoughts on leadership, and the challenges in health care. We also had a chance to chat about favorite areas in Iowa City, the excitement of Iowa women’s basketball, and pickleball.”

For Fouts, connecting with Anderson was inspiring — a connection that will endure. 

“To unwind after a long day of interviews, Savannah joined us at the puzzle table,” she said. “She is a master puzzler, clearly some good visual spatial skills. I’ve connected with Savannah to see where she matched. I’m thrilled that she will be in the program she wanted, but a small part of me had hoped she’d end up out here so we could build on our new friendship.”

Fouts added, “Savannah certainly makes me feel good about the pharmacy program at UI.”