Adrianna Cody ’24

When it comes to medications, there are an endless number of questions that might bubble up in a patient’s mind. Do I need to take this medication with food? Can it be combined with my other medications? How do I need to store it? What are the side effects?

Adrianna Cody first found this to be true when she was living with her grandparents; they would often ask questions about their own medications, and she would dutifully do the research to help get them answers. This experience sparked a realization: when empowering people to understand their medications, they would be more likely to take the medications as prescribed. This, in turn, could prevent health decline caused by fear of the unknown or simply misunderstanding.

“By spending just a few minutes with a person, a pharmacist is able to completely change the patient’s perspective of their health and medications,” says Cody. “This gives a person more confidence to take charge of their health. I can help people help themselves, and that makes me happy.”

Cody is a double graduate of PC; before enrolling in the Presbyterian College School of Pharmacy, she completed her undergraduate degree at PC in biology with a minor in chemistry, graduating in 2020. She says she was drawn to PC because of the small town feel, where you can truly get to know your classmates and professors. 

“There is a focus on service [at PC] and there are plenty of opportunities to complete community service while helping to teach the community about common health conditions,” says Cody.

While in pharmacy school, Cody had the opportunity to work on a research project with Dr. Giuseppe Gumina, dean of the Presbyterian College School of Pharmacy, and with Dr. Amy Messersmith, professor of pharmaceutical sciences. Together they completed a multi-step chemical synthesis to produce a compound that was chemically stable, had antimicrobial activity, but was less nephrotoxic than the compound being mimicked. 

“It was always exciting to step into the lab and away from my classes,” says Cody. “Running antimicrobial assays and watching solvent as it evaporated away from the final chemical product were highlights of my time completing the research project.”

Cody presented these research findings at different stages and was one of three recipients of the “Best Student Pharmacist Trainee Poster” award at the annual meeting for the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy.

Cody will be completing a year-long postgraduate residency through the University of South Carolina at HopeHealth in Florence, SC. 

“Take advantage of your opportunities,” says Cody, reflecting on her time in pharmacy school. “Meet people, take on leadership positions, and challenge yourself to grow. The saying is that ‘pharmacy is a small world,’ and that is a true statement. The connections you make in pharmacy school will undoubtedly help you in the future once you get out of school.”