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UT Tyler SNPhA Student President Impacts Lives Through Community Service

Upon graduating from high school, Addason “Mana” Olvera of Longview knew she wanted to pursue a career in the healthcare world, but didn’t know exactly which career route to take.

Her grandmother’s casual prompting, “Why not pharmacy?” – and the news that a pharmacy school was being created in Tyler –  led Olvera to the UT Tyler Fisch College of Pharmacy.

The P3 student is actively involved on campus, serving as president of the UT Tyler Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA) chapter. SNPhA focuses on optimizing patient care through service and education, while promoting preventative measures and overall advocating how important pharmacists are to healthcare teams.

A major way she impacts lives is through the Interprofessional Clinic Under the Bridge, (iClUB) which collaborates with the North Tyler-based Hunger for Love ministries. The student organization’s service runs every third Saturday of the month, parallel to Hunger for Love, and provides health screenings and basic medical services for low-income, uninsured/underinsured and homeless populations.

“As a student, this experience is something that has helped me grow as a leader and as a future pharmacist,” said Olvera, who will graduate in spring 2022. “I know our contribution impacts the lives of these patients, but they honestly have no idea the impact they make in our lives.”

As president, Olvera works closely with SNPhA faculty adviser Dr. Takova Wallace-Gay, who Olvera says is “her favorite professor” and “a leader by example.”

“I’ve been able to witness Addason’s growth as a leader in and out of the classroom over the past three years,” said Wallace-Gay, a UT Tyler clinical assistant professor in the clinical sciences department. “She’s steadfast, very organized and has immense creativity, and it’s been a joy to have her as a leader these past two years and to see her interact with patients through our community services.”

Olvera not only enjoys the hospitable and welcoming environment the University offers, but she also appreciates the team-based learning style and real-world experiences the FCOP provides.

“The team-based learning that I am able to participate in gives me a real perspective of what it will be like working in the real world with other individuals who all bring something to the table,” she said. “Rather than the traditional way of learning, our program allows us to really get a sense of the type of pace and direction our pharmacy careers are taking or could take.”

Regarding future plans with iClUB, Olvera and Wallace-Gay hope to provide a new service to the group, offering free flu shots in partnership with local entities.

The first person in her family to attend graduate school, Olvera is employed as a pharmacy intern for Brookshire Grocery Company’s Kilgore location and wants to continue her career path in the retail/community pharmacy arena.

When she’s not busy with community service projects or school, Olvera oversees her small, freelance graphic design business that she started post-COVID. She also enjoys her Sailor Moon-themed collection and watching Star Wars movies.

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