Zayden Hill ’27 Builds Career in Medicine with CVS Internship

Some people know from a young age exactly what their passion is. This was the case for Zayden Hill ’27, who has always dreamed of working in medicine. A first-generation college student, Hill is studying Biology with a minor in chemistry. She’s also completing an internship with CVS Pharmacy as part of her studies. She shared more about her JWU experience, her internship and her future goals.

How did you learn about JWU, and what made you want to come here?

Student Zayden Hill in Gaebe Commons I actually came to JWU as a senior in high school through the Early Enrollment Program. I received a pamphlet in the mail and saw an opportunity that I could not pass up. I toured over spring break and did my due diligence to be accepted into the program. Then I did orientation at only 16 years old and moved in for classes in the fall of 2023!

Tell me more about being in the Early Enrollment Program — what was it like to start college ahead of your peers? 

Being able to leave my hometown in Western Massachusetts and move on to campus as a high school senior was a blessing. I was able to start my college experience and get courses done while still finishing high school. This put me in a place where I'd be able to graduate college earlier, apply to graduate school earlier and hop into my career sooner than my peers. I want to be a physician's assistant, which requires intensive undergraduate and graduate schooling, so being able to do my senior year of high school and first year of college at the same time was extremely beneficial.

What made you interested in studying Biology?

I have always wanted to go into the medical field. In fact, I was a doctor for Halloween for seven years straight because “I couldn't see myself as anything else” according to my mom. When I first started at JWU, I was a Health Science major, but I soon realized that I needed more hands-on science. Biology with a minor in chemistry was the perfect switch.

How has your experience been in the Biology program?

Most of the professors are very accommodating and understand our heavy course loads. They all have such great academic and life advice that have helped me succeed in this program. My favorite part is you're never alone. You always have a classmate or a professor you know in the same room with you. It is truly such an amazing environment for such a difficult major.

Outside of your studies, how do you get involved on campus?

I've been doing cheerleading since I was five years old, but when I first came to JWU, there wasn't a cheer team so I decided to join the gymnastics team. Now that the Cheerleading team has become a club, I have put a lot of dedication, time and effort into it. Being involved in a club like this has been amazing from a social standpoint as well as a responsibility standpoint. I know there's always people I can depend on, and they know they can depend on me.

You’re currently balancing school, cheerleading and an internship with CVS Pharmacy. How did you learn about the internship?

It was actually my job at the time — I was a pharmacy technician after getting a trainee license and going through the training program offered by CVS. I had a conversation with my boss about whether we could make this my internship for school credit and, after discussing the details, she was more than happy to grant me the opportunity.

Walk me through a day at your internship — what is your role and responsibilities?

A typical day at my internship involves rotations. Each day is a little different but typically stations rotate every two hours. The first station is pick-up, where I check people in, gather their prescriptions, and check them out. I also answer any questions about one's medication, how to use them, storage directions or even possible side effects. The drive-thru station is very similar in that the process is the same, it is just through a window rather than face-to-face in store.

The drop-off station is where most of the chaos happens. This is where insurance and billing issues are fixed, and people request refills or drop off new prescriptions. Here, we also verify new prescriptions that come in electronically.

Production is the heart of it all. This is where prescriptions are counted, labeled, filled and bagged. Without production, no other station could function properly. There are many guidelines and processes to production, but it becomes second nature. Other responsibilities include return-to-stock prescriptions. These are prescriptions we've had for 14 or more days, and we relabel them and put them back in our inventory. We also put away and organize the drugs when they come in from the truck.

How are you using what you've learned in the classroom during your internship?

I am mostly using what I have learned in Fundamentals of Pharmacology, which I’m taking this semester, to help patients with any questions they may have about their medications. Shortly, I will be able to mix medications which would tie in my chemistry background, and I will also be able to give vaccines, which would tie in public health, anatomy and medical terminology lessons.

Any advice for students looking for an internship like this?

A lot of times you can use your current job as your internship. A conversation with your supervisor is always a good step — the worst that will happen is they say they cannot make it happen, which is okay because you never know what opportunity is waiting for you. And if you want a pharmacy internship specifically, CVS is the way to go. They offer a training program so you can come in with no pharmacy experience or license! There is so much to learn in the healthcare field, so diversifying yourself will put you one step closer to your goals.

You mentioned that you want to become a physician’s assistant. What made you choose that specific path, and what are your plans to achieve that goal?

When I first came to JWU, I thought I wanted to be a doctor. However, during my first semester I had a class called Intro to Health Professions, and we took a day trip over to JWU’s Physician Assistant Studies program to hear about what they do. Hearing about how they have more patient-facing hours and they're able to interact and help more was a big eye-opener for me. It was also nice to hear that the schooling was only two years of graduate school rather than four years as well as a residency, which is necessary for a medical doctorate degree.

Professor Sam Rosenthal, Ph.D., helped me figure out that's what I wanted to do. Since then, Professor Kristin Rosler, Ph.D., has mentored me through continuing my Biology degree and making sure I have the prerequisites I need as well as any other support to get into the program I desire. In the spring, I plan to apply to the physician's assistant program here at JWU.