Jessica Lin, PharmD ’13, BS ’09, has been honored with a 2024 Widney Alumni House Volunteer Award. Lin is one of 11 USC alumni receiving the award, which was presented at this year’s USC Volunteer Recognition Dinner, held on September 6 at Town and Gown.
Lin is an oncology pharmacist at Los Angeles General Medical Center, fulfilling a vital role on that institution’s cancer care team. Her duties include assessing chemotherapy regimens and other medications to maximize effectiveness and minimize side effects. She also engages in supportive care consultations with patients and provides bedside medication management.
Her vital roles in supporting her alma mater include serving as Mann School representative on the USC Alumni Association Board of Governors as well as on the USC Mann Alumni Engagement Board.
But perhaps what gives Lin the greatest joy as a Trojan volunteer is mentoring USC Mann students as an acute care preceptor, which she has done for more than six years. Lin also volunteers as a health fair preceptor at community events throughout Los Angeles County.
In 2023, the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy acknowledged the difference Lin makes in the lives of future pharmacists by granting her its Preceptor of the Year Award.
Lin considers precepting a way of giving back. “I had amazing preceptors and mentors when I was a student, and they definitely had an impact on how I practice as a pharmacist to this day,” she says. “Like all careers in healthcare, pharmacy is an apprenticeship profession. You can sit in a classroom or listen to as many recorded lectures as available, but nothing will replace learning by doing with the guidance of an experienced pharmacist.”
She encourages her fellow alumni to consider sharing their expertise as preceptors. “Precepting covers many different areas, from distribution basics to advanced clinical practice and patient counseling skills to general career mentorship,” Lin says. “If you think students could be better trained in any of those, consider helping the next generation of pharmacists learn from your experience.”
Lin also joined with other alumni to hold a phone-a-thon on behalf of Alpha Iota Pi, the Mann School’s diverse professional organization devoted to career development and community impact. The effort raised over $90,000 for the USC Mann Alpha Iota Pi Alumni Endowed Scholarship Fund.
Lin also takes part in alumni panel discussions and lends her time to recruitment activities, sharing her pharmacy journey and welcoming new members of the Trojan Family. This includes gathering peers to join her in writing letters to incoming pharmacy students.
“It’s very refreshing to reconnect with the joy and wonder of students who are at the beginning of their careers,” Lin says.
Interested in getting involved? Learn more about alumni engagement opportunities at USC Mann.