PQA provides healthcare quality experience to students from a wide variety of disciplines. This summer, we are hosting three students through our PQA Summer Executive Internship sponsored by Pharmacy Quality Solutions.
They are adding medication safety, adherence and appropriate use experience to their professional training. We recently invited them to answer five questions about the work they are doing, where they're going in their careers and how they hope to apply their PQA knowledge to their professional advancement.
Name: Tonisha Gaitor
School: University of Georgia
Major/Degree Program: PharmD/MBA
Anticipated Year of Graduation: 2026
What drew you to PQA and our work to improve medication use safety, adherence, and appropriate use?
I was drawn to PQA because I admire its efforts to improve medication use safety and its commitment to optimize patient outcomes. I am passionate about providing impactful health care to underserved communities and believe in the power of a pharmacist’s knowledge and educational abilities to drive positive health outcomes. I am excited to be exposed to skills and experiences that will allow me to have a greater influence on a patient's health. This opportunity will contribute to my future as a healthcare provider, where I can apply the knowledge and insights gained from working with PQA to become a voice for patients.
What are your goals for your time at PQA?
My goal during my time at PQA is to understand how PQA’S measures are utilized in the healthcare system and their direct impact on improving medication use. Additionally, I hope to improve my written communication skills to convey concepts, promote collaboration, and contribute to impactful healthcare initiatives.
Where would you like to see yourself in five years?
In five years, I envision myself utilizing my skillset as a pharmacist to promote beneficial health outcomes, particularly in underserved communities. I aspire to educate and foster public engagement about positive changes that can be implemented to improve overall well-being.
What do you hope to learn this summer at PQA to take back with you to school this fall?
This summer, I hope to become an expert on the correlation between PQA’s quality measures and their impact on patient care improvement. I am to enhance my ability to identify healthcare needs in diverse patient populations and propose effective programs to address them.
Tell us something interesting about yourself that’s not work related.
I enjoy attending group fitness classes, and so far, Pilates is my favorite!
Name: Elena Haley
School: George Mason University
Major/Degree Program: Communications
Anticipated Year of Graduation: 2025
What drew you to PQA and our work to improve medication use safety, adherence, and appropriate use?
Something that drew me to work for PQA was my increased interest in the Health Communications field, as well as my passion for everyone having access to equitable health care. I found PQA’s dedication to value-based care and ensure the safe use of medication to be very inspiring, and I wanted to become involved.
What are your goals for your time at PQA?
My primary goal for my time at PQA is to become more acquainted with how the healthcare system and the communications field intersect and how those intersections can be navigated for positive outcomes for patients. Other goals I have include strengthening my writing skills and getting more familiar with the technical writing common in the communications field.
Where would you like to see yourself in five years?
In five years, I would like to see myself working in the public relations field, with a priority in nonprofit public relations. I also hope to be working on more writing-based projects and experimenting with working as a freelance public relations consultant.
What do you hope to learn this summer at PQA to take back with you to school this fall?
The main thing I want to learn this summer with PQA is how communications can be used in relation to healthcare. Another thing I’d like to learn is how communication plays a role in collaborative spheres with other, non-communication-based areas.
Tell us something interesting about yourself that’s not work related.
I can type a hundred words per minute.