Zak Key – Spotlight
- Class of 2014
- Enid, OK
- Pharmacist at Integris Bass Baptist Health Center in Chemo IV & Oncology
- Pharmacy Alumni Association Council – President Elect
When asked what made you choose pharmacy as your degree, Zak said,
“I knew from the 8th grade that I wanted to be a pharmacist. I chose pharmacy because growing up in a small town, we did not have a pharmacy. I believe you have a better response from your patients when you are connected with them and are a part of their community.”
Zak is a pharmacist at Integris Bass Baptist Health Center focusing on Chemo IV & Oncology. He stated, “after graduation, I worked at Walgreen’s in Enid, OK. Six years ago, I began working at Integris Bass Baptist Health Center. I primarily work in our chemo IV rooms and with our oncologist and oncology nurses.” He also is SWOSU Pharmacy Alumni Association’s President Elect. During his time at SWOSU, he was involved in APhA-ASP, serving as their President; OPhA Student representative; NCPA; and Phi Lambda Sigma. He came to SWOSU after his graduation from Vici High School. Now he resides in Enid, Oklahoma with his family Amanda Key (also a SWOSU Pharmacy Graduate, 2014), Parker Key (7), and Asher Key (4) as pictured. In 2016, Zak and Amanda established the Key Family Scholarship via the Southwestern Pharmacy Foundation to support SWOSU College of Pharmacy students. To learn more about Zak, read the information below.
| Hometown | Vici, OK |
| High School | Vici High School |
| Other College Degree(s) | MBA |
| Current work, plus primary work history timeline, since graduation | After graduation, I worked at Walgreen’s in Enid, OK. Six years ago, I began working at Integris Bass Baptist Health Center. I primarily work in our chemo IV rooms and with our oncologist and oncology nurses. |
| Current/Past involvement (memberships, committees, etc) with SWOSU and/or the College of Pharmacy (including Pharmacy Alumni Association or Pharmacy Foundation), since graduation | PAAC – member |
| Activities you were involved in at SWOSU | APHA-ASP – president OPHA – student representative PLS NCPA |
| What made you choose pharmacy as your degree? | I knew from the 8th grade that I wanted to be a pharmacist. I chose pharmacy because growing up in a small town, we did not have a pharmacy. Everyone had to have their prescriptions filled in the neighboring town 30 miles away. Even though that is where all of the physicians were as well, it would have been nice to have a local pharmacy to service the community. I believe you have a better response from your patients when you are connected with them and are a part of their community. They build a connection of trust with you and feel comfortable asking you questions about their medications. When patients have an understanding of what they are taking they are more apt to follow through. |
| What is the most interesting job you’ve had and why? | My current job is by far the most interesting job I have had. Not only do I do oncology work, but I am able to do management and administrative duties, train and maintain compliance in the non-hazardous and hazardous IV rooms, work and train as a staff/clinical pharmacist and work with IPPE/APPE students. |
| What do you like most about being a pharmacist? | For the past six years working in/with our oncology department at the hospital, what I would say I love most about oncology pharmacy specifically is the ability to provide individualized patient care to meet specific needs to create small but meaningful comfort for patients and families during some of their toughest days. |
| Who is your favorite and/or most memorable pharmacy teacher, and why? | Dr. Morris and Dr. Brooks. I worked very closely with them as they were APhA-ASP sponsors. They meant business in class but on APhA trips they were a ton of fun. |
| What is your best memory of your time at SWOSU? | Traveling to the APhA-ASP conferences. |
| What is your funniest memory of your time at SWOSU? | Some of the most fun memories were studying late at the school with our friends, or the times before and after evening tests. |
| What is the most important thing you learned in pharmacy school? | Just because you do not foresee yourself in a specific role in the pharmacy field, have an open mind about everything. All I ever wanted to do was retail pharmacy. Now in the clinical field, I absolutely love it. |
| What are your current hobbies/travels/activities? | My wife and I love to travel with our family. Our boys keep us on our toes with baseball, basketball and soccer. Hobbies include woodworking. I build tables and cutting boards for our friends and family. I have built my boys front end loader beds and have built my nieces dollhouses. |
| What is your proudest accomplishment since leaving SWOSU? | Going back to school to obtain my MBA. |
| What advice would you give a current pharmacy student? | Do the residency! Get the additional degree! I get being burnt out on school and just wanting to be done. That was me 100%. Looking back on it now, everyone that applies for a pharmacy job applies with a pharmacy degree, not everyone applies with a PGY1, PGY2 or other degrees/certificates. Set yourself apart! |
| List family members that also graduated from SWOSU: | Amanda Key PharmD (wife) Nik Key (brother) Dakota Key (brother) Josh Mayo (brother-in-law) |
| List immediate family names: | Amanda Key Parker Key (7) Asher Key (4) |
| Hometown | Vici, OK |
Posted: September 28, 2022
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