Tamara Mihic
Why did you decide to pursue a graduate degree?
After I completed my post-graduate PharmD in 2016, I worked as a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist at St. Paul's Hospital initially in acute mental health (where the majority of our patients also had a concurrent substance use disorder) and then in 2020 I helped implement and lead a new Opioid Stewardship Program at St. Paul's. It was incredibly rewarding to work with patients directly, but it also opened my eyes to a number of challenges within our healthcare system and systemic barriers that limit access to care. Research has always been something I have been passionate about as a tool to evaluate and improve patient care, and I made the decision to go back to graduate school to gain the knowledge and skills required to conduct research that could address the challenges I was seeing in clinical practice.
Why did you decide to study at UBC?
Not only is UBC a top-ranked University globally with excellence in research and teaching, but the campus is beautiful, the student body is diverse and there are so many opportunities for learning and growth even outside of the classroom. BC is also a leader in research and innovation in addiction medicine worldwide, and with my goal to conduct research to improve clinical care for individuals with substance use disorder, it was an obvious choice to do my PhD at UBC.
What is it specifically, that your program offers, that attracted you?
The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences has a wide breadth of research areas including Nanomedicine and Chemical Biology, Molecular and Systems Pharmacology, Health Outcomes and Pharmacy Education Research. My research includes epidemiology and health outcomes, and as a pharmacist it was important to me to conduct research that stays true to my clinical training and work experience. Being able to work within the Collaboration for Outcomes Research and Evaluation in Pharmaceutical Sciences and learn from experts in this space was a huge draw, as well as being exposed to research from the other areas in pharmaceutical sciences.
What was the best surprise about UBC or life in Vancouver?
It has been amazing to see how much the campus has changed since my last degree and to explore all of the new areas. There are so many new food places to explore and dedicated spaces for graduate students. It's a whole new experience!
What aspects of your life or career before now have best prepared you for your UBC graduate program?
My clinical training and work in mental health and substance use have definitely prepared me for conducting research that is clinically relevant and addresses real challenges faced by patients and clinicians. Also, having done a research fellowship with the BC Centre on Substance Use was an invaluable experience working with large health data sets, expert clinician scientists and data analysts. It inspired my return back to graduate studies to be able to delve deeper and gain the skills required to conduct more sophisticated epidemiological research.
What do you like to do for fun or relaxation?
I enjoy spending time with my husband, son and our dog. We are always looking for new activities to do and spaces to explore throughout the Lower Mainland.
What advice do you have for new graduate students?
Coming back to school after working for a number of years has been amazing. I am so grateful for every learning opportunity and opportunities to make connections with others conducting research within my field. I recommend to new graduate students to not lose sight of what a wonderful gift it is to have dedicated time to learn, to develop intellectually and professionally, and to meet others who may go on to be lifelong friends and collaborators. The time truly flies by, so try to take advantage of every opportunity you can and make the most of your time here.