Irene Chia ’22 believes that leadership roles allow students to practice professionalism, responsibility and creativity. She leads by example, having served on executive boards for multiple organizations including president of Pacific’s student chapter of the California Society of Health-System Pharmacists (CSHP). Chia was recently named a recipient of the 2021 CSHP Student Leadership Award, which recognizes her outstanding effort to support her peers as they become professionals.

Her advice for students who want to pursue leadership roles is to be proactive and start by being an active, engaged student group member.

“Volunteer for that donation drive, network at the next social and attend meetings to help plan,” said Chia. “Once you know your organization, you’ll be able to find a reason for you to take your membership one step further. Leadership is not just another bullet point on your resume, it is a place for you to take charge of something you are passionate about.”

In addition to CSHP, Chia served as president of the Professional Pharmacy Fraternity Council and the Health Sciences Christian Fellowship. She is a member of Rho Chi honor society and Phi Delta Chi professional pharmacy fraternity.

“I am especially grateful to Phi Delta Chi for welcoming me into their pharmacy family and mentoring me into the leader in pharmacy I am today,” she said.

She also served in the Medicare Part D, American Lung Association, Operation Heart and Operation Self-Care health care outreach committees.

As a pre-pharmacy student at Pacific, she was involved in Stocktones a capella club, Vietnamese Student Association, Intervarsity and Asian Christian Fellowship. Some of her favorite moments include singing Valentine’s Day grams, performing fall concerts and celebrating Lunar New Year.

In her free time, she enjoys playing the piano, sketching and playing board games. Painting is her hidden talent. An accomplished vocalist, she completed a minor in music. She shared her top five songs for her road trip playlist:

Road Trip Playlist
“Nanã” by Polo & Pan
 “Put Your Records On” by Danielle Bradbery
 “Holy Spirit” by Francesca Battistelli
 “Listen” by Beyonce
 “Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso in A Minor, Op.28” by Camille Saint-Saëns