Welcome to the newest installment of the “Growing With Cooper” series, where we highlight team members who have grown with Cooper and used its resources to advance their careers. May these extraordinary stories inspire you to take advantage of the variety of resources available for you to grow with Cooper. To submit your own story, please contact coopercom@cooperhealth.edu for a chance to be featured.
Meet your fellow Cooper team member, Elizabeth Lovern, PharmD. Currently, Dr. Lovern is a decentralized Pharmacist on Kelemen North 10; however, her Cooper story first started 32 years ago. To hear Dr. Lovern tell her story in her own words, click here.
In 1991, Dr. Lovern was working in retail pharmacy when a co-worker informed her of a pharmacy technician position available at Cooper. Seeking a change of pace, Dr. Lovern decided to join the Cooper team and give hospital pharmacy a try. During this time, she not only fell in love with Cooper but also with the pharmacy profession, motivating her to further her career in the field.
“Having only a Bachelor of Arts degree at the time, I knew I would have to go back to school for at least four years to get the science classes needed before I could apply for pharmacy school,” Dr. Lovern says. “I did the math and realized that it would take me eight years to complete the program, which by then, I would be 34 years old. Then I realized that I was going to be 34 years old anyway, so did I want to be 34, or 34 AND a pharmacist?”
“I was mentally up for the challenge, but not so much financially. The tuition reimbursement program through Cooper helped ease some of the burden,” Dr. Lovern says.
In 1994, she started taking night classes at Camden County College. After receiving the required prerequisites, she was accepted into a pharmacy program at University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. While attending school, the pharmacy department worked to accommodate her schedule as she transitioned from full-time technician to part-time. In 2002, at the age of 34 and with two small children, she graduated and became a registered pharmacist at Cooper. Dr. Lovern says, “I could not have done it without the support of my Cooper Pharmacy family and the Cooper tuition reimbursement program.”
“When some of my co-workers saw how I juggled work, school, and taking care of a family, several of them realized that going back to school was an achievable goal. Many of them went on to pursue other medical careers. Cooper was an integral part of my career path, and I am forever grateful for the opportunities that I was provided.
“Becoming a pharmacist has changed my life so much that my daughter, who was only three years old when I graduated pharmacy school, has just become a pharmacist herself. It has given me the opportunity to be able to support my family, travel, and enjoy life. My advice for anyone thinking about furthering their education is DO IT. It’s never too late to set a personal goal and challenge yourself.”
Thank you, Dr. Lovern, for letting us share your Cooper growth story. We know that your daughter will excel in her pharmacy career, having had you as an exemplary role model throughout her life.
