Page 7 - Rx Bound - Summer 2014
P. 7
By Jeff Malet, Writer/Photographer to finish her high school education as well as her
cience and the arts have long been paired with
S one another since the times of Leonardo da Vinci undergraduate degree.
and the Renaissance period. Western University
Zapata says that she has often taken inspiration from
of Health Sciences’ College of Pharmacy has its
Leonardo Da Vinci’s ability to excel in the both the arts and
own budding young artist and pharmacist in fourth-year
student pharmacist, Alana Zapata. sciences.
“He was a great influence of mine, someone who could
Although she is currently focusing most of her attention on develop and maintain their interest in both art and science,
completing her graduate studies in the College of Pharmacy, and figure out ways to innovate in both,” Zapata said.
Zapata still finds time to continue developing her passion and In her years here at WesternU, painting and drawing became a
talent as an accomplished painter and charcoal artist.
prescription of sorts for Zapata, helping her to flourish as a
Zapata says she enjoys studying other artists’ techniques, and student leader in the College of Pharmacy. Zapata takes great
trying to blend those with her own skills in her work, just as pride in the many leadership positions and activities that she
she did in her oil-on-canvas has been a part of at
portrait entitled “Study of WesternU.
Sargent’s Lady Agnew,” which “[Leonardo Da Vinci] was a great
is on the cover of this issue of Zapata is a member of Phi
RxBound. “I’m still a student influence of mine, someone who could Lambda Sigma-Pharmacy
of art,” Zapata said, “and I Leadership Society, the
am always trying to find a develop and maintain their interest in National Community
style and technique that I like both art and science, and figure out ways Pharmacists Association,
best, based on artists who I WesternU Chinese-American
have studied, and then mixing to innovate in both,” Zapata said. Health Students Association,
those styles into a composition Korean Student Association,
that I like.” American Pharmacists
Association – Association of
While Zapata does have a Bachelor of Science degree in Student Pharmacists, and the Association of Managed Care
biological sciences from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Pharmacy.
she is also very close to obtaining her Bachelor of Arts degree
in painting. In fact, following her graduation from the College “The first leadership position I had coming into WesternU
of Pharmacy in May 2015, Zapata plans on going back and was as chair for International Pharmaceutical Students
completing her art degree. Federation (IPSF),” Zapata said. “Traveling extensively helped
me be involved, plus it was a goal of mine to be in leadership
As a youngster, Zapata was influenced as an artist by her to help me overcome my fear of public speaking.”
extensive travels in other countries, especially Saudi Arabia.
When she was eight years old, Zapata’s family moved to Zapata also participated in the Smoking Cessation Program as
Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, where her father took a job as a a student coordinator and as the co-chair and an instructor in
software consultant for the Saudi Aramco Oil Company. They the Spanish for Pharmacist’s Consultation Elective course.
lived in the Aramco residential community known as the “I like working in a community pharmacy mainly because I
Dhahran Camp, which was built in the late 1930s to house enjoy doing patient consultations,” Zapata said. “I like
U.S. Aramco employees. talking to people, and I speak Spanish. So I’m fortunate that I
“Saudi Arabia definitely influenced my interest in art,” am able to communicate more directly with my Spanish-
Zapata said. “Because we travelled through Asia and Europe speaking patients. Their consultation is coming from a
for breaks and vacations, we would get to stop in parts of the pharmacist who speaks Spanish, so it’s not just a translated
world like Dubai, Amsterdam, France, Thailand, Italy and thing.” Alana’s Spanish speaking background will, no doubt,
Spain.” One of Zapata’s favorite art scenes is the “Sagrada enable her to help improve the overall healthcare outreach for
Familia” in Barcelona, Spain. the underserved Spanish-speaking communities she will be
working with throughout Southern California.
“I remember as a kid being able to see amazing paintings, and
when I look back now, I feel so fortunate that my parents gave Currently a pharmacy intern at Walmart in Chino, California,
me that really big gift of traveling and experiencing the Zapata likes the idea of eventually owning her own pharmacy
world.” where she could practice integrated health medicine.
At age 16, she was sent back to the U.S. to attend high school Leonardo da Vinci would be proud.
in Austin, Texas, and then moved with her family to Las Vegas
WesternU, College of Pharmacy 5
cience and the arts have long been paired with
S one another since the times of Leonardo da Vinci undergraduate degree.
and the Renaissance period. Western University
Zapata says that she has often taken inspiration from
of Health Sciences’ College of Pharmacy has its
Leonardo Da Vinci’s ability to excel in the both the arts and
own budding young artist and pharmacist in fourth-year
student pharmacist, Alana Zapata. sciences.
“He was a great influence of mine, someone who could
Although she is currently focusing most of her attention on develop and maintain their interest in both art and science,
completing her graduate studies in the College of Pharmacy, and figure out ways to innovate in both,” Zapata said.
Zapata still finds time to continue developing her passion and In her years here at WesternU, painting and drawing became a
talent as an accomplished painter and charcoal artist.
prescription of sorts for Zapata, helping her to flourish as a
Zapata says she enjoys studying other artists’ techniques, and student leader in the College of Pharmacy. Zapata takes great
trying to blend those with her own skills in her work, just as pride in the many leadership positions and activities that she
she did in her oil-on-canvas has been a part of at
portrait entitled “Study of WesternU.
Sargent’s Lady Agnew,” which “[Leonardo Da Vinci] was a great
is on the cover of this issue of Zapata is a member of Phi
RxBound. “I’m still a student influence of mine, someone who could Lambda Sigma-Pharmacy
of art,” Zapata said, “and I Leadership Society, the
am always trying to find a develop and maintain their interest in National Community
style and technique that I like both art and science, and figure out ways Pharmacists Association,
best, based on artists who I WesternU Chinese-American
have studied, and then mixing to innovate in both,” Zapata said. Health Students Association,
those styles into a composition Korean Student Association,
that I like.” American Pharmacists
Association – Association of
While Zapata does have a Bachelor of Science degree in Student Pharmacists, and the Association of Managed Care
biological sciences from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Pharmacy.
she is also very close to obtaining her Bachelor of Arts degree
in painting. In fact, following her graduation from the College “The first leadership position I had coming into WesternU
of Pharmacy in May 2015, Zapata plans on going back and was as chair for International Pharmaceutical Students
completing her art degree. Federation (IPSF),” Zapata said. “Traveling extensively helped
me be involved, plus it was a goal of mine to be in leadership
As a youngster, Zapata was influenced as an artist by her to help me overcome my fear of public speaking.”
extensive travels in other countries, especially Saudi Arabia.
When she was eight years old, Zapata’s family moved to Zapata also participated in the Smoking Cessation Program as
Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, where her father took a job as a a student coordinator and as the co-chair and an instructor in
software consultant for the Saudi Aramco Oil Company. They the Spanish for Pharmacist’s Consultation Elective course.
lived in the Aramco residential community known as the “I like working in a community pharmacy mainly because I
Dhahran Camp, which was built in the late 1930s to house enjoy doing patient consultations,” Zapata said. “I like
U.S. Aramco employees. talking to people, and I speak Spanish. So I’m fortunate that I
“Saudi Arabia definitely influenced my interest in art,” am able to communicate more directly with my Spanish-
Zapata said. “Because we travelled through Asia and Europe speaking patients. Their consultation is coming from a
for breaks and vacations, we would get to stop in parts of the pharmacist who speaks Spanish, so it’s not just a translated
world like Dubai, Amsterdam, France, Thailand, Italy and thing.” Alana’s Spanish speaking background will, no doubt,
Spain.” One of Zapata’s favorite art scenes is the “Sagrada enable her to help improve the overall healthcare outreach for
Familia” in Barcelona, Spain. the underserved Spanish-speaking communities she will be
working with throughout Southern California.
“I remember as a kid being able to see amazing paintings, and
when I look back now, I feel so fortunate that my parents gave Currently a pharmacy intern at Walmart in Chino, California,
me that really big gift of traveling and experiencing the Zapata likes the idea of eventually owning her own pharmacy
world.” where she could practice integrated health medicine.
At age 16, she was sent back to the U.S. to attend high school Leonardo da Vinci would be proud.
in Austin, Texas, and then moved with her family to Las Vegas
WesternU, College of Pharmacy 5
