Tracie Balvanz, Pharm.D

Clinical Pharmacy Specialist
VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System

I became interested in the virtual mentor exchange during my third year of pharmacy school. Initially, I was interested in fostering relationships with established practitioners from other parts of the country. I desired to know how pharmacy was being practiced outside of Nebraska and what additional opportunities I would have after pharmacy school. After reviewing the mentor profiles on the ASHP website I knew these individuals were motivated to serve as a mentor and role model. I also saw the virtual mentor as a way to get more involved in ASHP, since my college of pharmacy did not have a local chapter. The virtual mentor exchange allowed me to become actively involved in ASHP at a level I was comfortable with as a student.

I choose to contact Cindi Brennan to be my mentor based on her career path and involvement in several professional organizations. Since Cindi and I were so far away geographically we initially corresponded via e-mail only. Cindi played a vital role in the development of my professional goals: to complete a pharmacy practice residency, primary care residency, and finally to obtain a position as an adjunct clinical faculty. She also stressed the importance of professional involvement. Since my college of pharmacy did not have an active ASHP chapter, Cindi encouraged me to get involved in ASHP through the New Practitioners Forum and directed me to the ASHP New Practitioners website. Cindi was able to provide me with guidance on how to evaluate residency programs and determine which programs were best suited to prepare me for a career in primary care. I found the mentorship especially helpful while I was going through the post match scramble where I found myself evaluating a program at another hospital in Seattle.

I was finally able to meet face to face with Cindi during the virtual mentor exchange reception at the 2003 ASHP Midyear Meeting. Since the establishment of our relationship, Cindi and I have tried to maintain contact through e-mail, telephone calls, and professional meetings. I ended up doing my PGY-1 at the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System. During that time I was asked to do a presentation on the New Practitioners Form for the residents attending the conference. I remember Cindi running up to me after my presentation saying, “When you were presenting I was telling the people around me, that is my mentee!” It was nice to receive her feedback on my presentation. I also sought out the advice of my mentor during my PGY-1 residency when I was contemplating a second year residency. Since Cindi was in administration she was able to give me the prospective of a potential boss.

I looked to Cindi for advice when deciding whether to pursue a brand new PGY-2 residency with the Sierra Pacific VA Health Care System. Cindi was also present at the Western State’s Residency Conference the following year and attended my presentation. It meant a lot to me to have her there. Cindi and I decided to keep our mentor/mentee relationship going after the 2 years that is recommended by ASHP. Our relationship has proved to be very rewarding for me. I appreciate having a mentor who is interested in both my personal and professional life and I feel comfortable going to her for advice throughout my career.