1. Name: Dr. Itotia Elizabeth
2. Nationality: Kenyan 🇰🇪
3. Age: Lol. 16
4. Universities Attended: Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University(South Africa),University of Nairobi(Kenya)
5. Year of graduation: University of Nairobi, class of 2017
6. One thing you love to do: Read. I read a lot 📚📚
7. One thing we don’t know about you: I play chess ♟♟ at a professional level
8. Do you love being a pharmacist? YES
9. Places Worked:
Ram Pharmacy, Kenyatta National Hospital, Autosterile, Generics Africa, Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital.
10. Why RadioPharmacy? Is it something you have always wanted to do?
Actually, no. I’ve always thought I’d do Pharmaceutical Chemistry or Industrial Pharmacy. But to be honest, I didn’t know about Radiopharmacy till 2019.
11. Where did you study Radiopharmacy, and for how long?
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria, South Africa. How long? I’m still not done yet.
12. Briefly tell us what being a Radiopharmacist entails
This could take a whole page. But the short version is: Radiopharmaceuticals are the agents used for nuclear medicine imaging. However, unlike other drugs, these agents are manufactured in real time owing to their short half-life. The work of a radio pharmacist is, therefore, mainly to do daily production and related QC of the said drugs
13. What is the Kenyan and Global Job market with regard to radiopharmacy?
Extremely new field. So I’m happy to be among the pioneers. Globally, including South Africa, it’s marketable and rewarding. Kenya has only two centres currently practising nuclear medicine. So we wait and see
14. How does it feel being the 2nd Radiopharmacist and 1st female Radiopharmacist in Kenya?
Exciting. Mainly because I love the field. It’s different from the norm.
15. What has been your biggest struggle in the Pharmacy field?
Tarmacking immediately after internship.
16. How do you think you have positively contributed to the Pharmacy field?
Haha. I’m still a baby in the field since I joined my master’s almost immediately after my internship. I’ve helped a number of people though understand more about radiopharmacy. I also mentor and encourage anyone referred to me. I’ll do more now that I’m back 😊
17. If you were to change one thing about the profession, what would it be?
Advocate more for the role of a pharmacist. It makes a lot of difference in therapeutic outcomes if you have a pharmacist as part of the team
18. Advice to other pharmacists:
If you don’t ask, the answer will always be NO. Don’t be scared to go for what you truly believe in.
Hello. I really enjoyed reading this piece. I’d be really interested in a mentor ship session with you to get to know more about pharmacy and radiopharmacy . I’d really love to meet you .
Keep up the good work .
Hello Anitah. This is possible. Sending you more details on your number. Thank you.
A really interesting piece, though short. I am encouraged to pursue this noble course.
It was nice to meet you Wangari at a trip organized by our department of medical imaging science