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Mathematics, B.A. | Class of
Elika Ketabchi
Clinical Pharmacist
Employer: Kaiser Permanente
Job description: I work in a primary care clinic and manage patients with chronic diseases by creating a treatment plan based on their diagnosis. I initiate, adjust, and monitor changes in drug therapy based on information obtained through patient interviews, objective monitoring parameters, review of drug profiles, and the medical record. I provide education to patients, providers, students, and residents.
About Elika
Why did you choose this program?
When I started college I had a broad range of interests. I took a variety of introductory math and science courses to see what subject matter stood out to me the most. I chose the applied mathematics program after my first year of college because I love problem solving and I was intrigued to find that mathematics is the language that physics, chemistry, and biology all have in common. I felt that if I could speak math, I could have a deeper understanding in those subject matters. Meanwhile, I minored in biology and biochemistry so I could keep my career options open as graduation neared.
How did this program prepare you for your job?
This program prepared me for my job by helping me develop analytical skills that I in turn use on a daily basis to solve problems. In every patient’s case there are numerous variables one has to weigh individually, all while understanding how those variables work in relation to one another and affect one another. There is a lot about medicine that boils down to problem solving, which is not much different than mathematics.
What did you enjoy most about the program?
I enjoyed how this program turned a subject that seemed so abstract at first to an instrument so concrete. It was eye opening to learn how we can apply mathematics not just to solve problems but to also innovate and better understand the world around us. Courses in the curriculum taught me everything from edge detection used to create the Selection tool in Photoshop, to mathematical modeling used to predict Monarch butterfly migration patterns. I owe this positive learning experience to the dedicated faculty who genuinely enjoy what they do and go out of their way to help students any way they can.
What would you say to prospective students who are thinking about applying to this program?
The curriculum is well rounded and allows for hands-on learning. The faculty is knowledgeable, enthusiastic and genuinely enjoys teaching. Class sizes allow for a more personal learning experience that one could not obtain at a larger university; this is so important, yet overlooked so often. There are opportunities for research and other extracurricular projects if you choose to take advantage of them – and there is plenty of faculty eager to mentor you along the way. One thing I love about HSU is the sense of community you get as a student when you walk on to campus, and the mathematics department is exemplary in this regard.