Timofey Shimko ’24, PharmD does not have to imagine the challenges early-career pharmacists face; he experiences them every day as a PGY2 resident at Kaiser Permanente Northern California Pharmacy Operations in Oakland. As the newly elected New Practitioner Director for the California Society of Health-System Pharmacists (CSHP), he is uniquely positioned to pursue his goal in helping “new practitioners recognize their impact, build confidence and feel empowered to shape the future of pharmacy.”

The New Practitioner Director leads a committee comprised of pharmacy residents and pharmacists who are at the start of their careers. Creating opportunities for connection, engagement and mentorship helps new pharmacists gain tools to navigate their careers with confidence.

“Pharmacy students acquire extensive clinical knowledge and skills, but the transition into full professional responsibility can still feel overwhelming,” said Dr. Shimko. “At the same time, health care is changing rapidly, with new technology, policy changes and evolving pharmacist roles. It can be difficult to keep up while also learning how to practice independently. One of my goals is to help new practitioners become more aware of these changes and feel connected to the larger community of pharmacists.”

In addition, this executive position serves on the CSHP Board of Directors, representing the voice of early-career pharmacists while helping guide the organization’s broader goals and initiatives.

Dr. Shimko shared candidly that as a PharmD student he ran unsuccessfully for a leadership position with the CSHP-Pacific student chapter. Instead of allowing disappointment to define the moment, the experience helped shape his approach to leadership and motivated him to explore other professional organizations.

“The experience taught me not to take failure personally,” he shared. “I learned that setbacks are not a reflection of your worth or ability but a natural part of growth.”

Dr. Shimko went on to serve as treasurer of the Student College of Clinical Pharmacy chapter, which became a core experience of his time at Pacific.

“Our team worked hard, led impactful projects and developed strong team dynamics under the leadership of our president, whose reliability and work ethic set a high standard for the group,” he said.

Those experiences strengthened his ability to collaborate and communicate, skills that will serve him well throughout his career, especially now that health care is at an inflection point driven by artificial intelligence.

“Pharmacists sit at the intersection of science, technology and patient care, which puts us in a unique position to shape how health care evolves,” he said. “Technology is not here to replace pharmacists, but to support better, safer decisions. When used well, it can help us identify risks earlier, personalize care and improve access for more patients.”

Raising awareness of pharmacists’ clinical expertise and unparalleled patient accessibility is central to the ongoing work of CSHP — and Dr. Shimko joins a rich legacy of alumni who have served the organization in key leadership roles.