Phyllisa Best, M.P.H. ’15, Pharm.D., is Driven by Helping Those Less Fortunate
Dr. Best’s Experience at NYMC Propelled Herself to the Pharmaceutical Industry Where She Hopes to Make an Impact on Underserved Communities
Phyllisa Best, M.P.H. ’15, Pharm.D., graduated from New York Medical College’s (NYMC) School of Health Sciences and Practice (SHSP) with a Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) in environmental health science in 2015 and has used her degree to bolster her career and pursue her dream of becoming a pediatric oncology pharmacist.
Originally from Bolton, North Carolina, she received her Bachelor of Science from North Carolina State University in 2012, before entering graduate school at NYMC and eventually earning her Doctor of Pharmacy from Florida A&M University College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Public Health in April 2021. Dr. Best has a long-standing devotion to helping under-resourced communities and she was able to learn how to do just that during her time NYMC. “I was rewarded the opportunity to work with a highly skilled multidisciplinary team at NYMC to help improve developing and undeveloped countries through the application of community action research,” Dr. Best said.
Dr. Best was able to analyze and approach several different scenarios that such communities could face, including lack of economic opportunities, air and water quality concerns and developing healthier living spaces for women and children. “I always had the passion to implement quality improvement projects for women and children to produce sustainable environments for these populations which is what led me to continue my education in public health with a focus on environmental science and research at NYMC,” she said.
Dr. Best is currently a pharmacy resident at the University of Arkansas School of Medical Sciences, where she takes part in the expansion of clinical services through Walmart Health and Wellness, and participates in various teaching activities, including training pharmacy and medical students for their Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) exams, which test their hands-on clinical skills. She also serves as the vice chair of Obstetrics and Women’s Health for the Pediatric Pharmacy Association and as a sub-committee member of the Education and Training Team for the American Pharmacists Association Academy of Pharmacy Practice and Management. Her time in NYMC’s M.P.H. program helped build a foundation for this type of work, she said, highlighting the mentorship she received from Hong-Duck Kim, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Public Health. “[Dr. Kim] exposed me to so many opportunities that I thought would be unreachable for me.”
Achieving what previously seemed unattainable is a central theme of Dr. Best’s professional aspirations, with her goal being to “reach the unreachable,” whether it’s giving back to her community or providing resources and education to those who may not have access to it. Dr. Best hopes her training as a resident will ultimately lead to her not only becoming a pediatric oncology pharmacist, but also become a well-rounded professional who advances women’s and pediatric care as a whole.
Dr. Best has consistently worked to become the best resource she can be for those in need and credits NYMC for helping her refine her skills along the way. “My graduate experience at NYMC helped pushed me to being the pharmacist that I am today. I not only make an impact in being a valuable health care team member, but I am resourceful in getting the right and safe treatment that patients need to improve their quality of life,” she said.
