Ayobami Balogun is ready to be a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD). As part of the North American-Trained PharmD (NTPD) program at CU Anschutz Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Balogun was able to get her PharmD not only online, but while she worked as a licensed pharmacist in the United States.
Why would she want a PharmD if she is already licensed? Balogun is originally from Nigeria, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm), After her move to the United States, she obtained her foreign pharmacy graduate certification (FPGEC) to be able to practice and then applied to CU Anschutz Pharmacy to earn her PharmD. A PharmD is the standard in the United States and opens the door to expanded clinical roles, residency training, and long-term career mobility.
“My goal is to complete a PGY1 residency to strengthen my clinical foundation,” she said. “I am also interested in pursuing PGY2 training in Health System Pharmacy Administration and Leadership (HSPAL) and obtaining board certifications.”
Balogun is currently in South Dakota, where she lives with her family, and was able to complete her rotations close to home. Her commitment to learning and patient care left a strong impression on her preceptors, with one describing her as “a joy to have as a student” and praising her exceptional enthusiasm for the profession.
“My professional interests include oncology, ambulatory care, and health-system pharmacy,” she said. “I particularly enjoyed my oncology rotation, where I engaged in interdisciplinary cancer care.
I also have a strong passion for chronic disease management, especially diabetes and anticoagulation, from my ambulatory care experience... Long-term, I am interested in combining clinical practice with leadership and system-level impact.”
Through her PharmD journey, she was supported by her husband, and her kids, who had to understand “that mum was busy sometimes.”
“Completing my PharmD online required a high level of discipline, adaptability, and self-directed learning,” she said. “I had to be intentional about engaging with coursework and translating didactic knowledge into clinical practice during rotations. This experience strengthened my ability to learn independently and apply evidence-based medicine in real-world settings.”
It also gave her a unique perspective on pharmacy practice at an international level, allowing her to compare healthcare systems, patient care approaches, and professional expectations through the lens of two degrees earned in two different countries. Balogun says that experience strengthened both her clinical skills and her understanding of how pharmacists can lead change across diverse healthcare settings.
“Transitioning as an internationally-trained pharmacist can be challenging, but persistence and intentional growth make a significant difference,” she said. “My journey has shaped me into a resilient, adaptable, and patient-centered pharmacist.”
With her PharmD complete, Balogun is focused on what comes next: residency training, leadership development, and advancing patient care through clinical practice. Her path reflects exactly what the NTPD program was designed to support; helping experienced pharmacists expand their impact and prepare for the future of the profession.
