Originally from the former Soviet republic of Georgia, Sergey S. moved to Los Angeles with his family at the age of 14. During high school, he discovered a love for both chemistry and connecting with others. As he explored different career paths, he realized that pharmacy offered the perfect combination of his interests.
“At first, I wasn’t sure I wanted to become a pharmacist,” Sergey admitted. “But the more I spoke with my professors, the more I saw how unique the field is — full of opportunities and diverse career paths.”
Sergey went on to pursue a pharmacy technician degree at American Career College, where his education included hands-on training in biology and anatomy. He also learned about various medications, their uses, and potential side effects.
“I used to study with students from other colleges, and they didn’t focus on brand and generic drug names the way ACC did,” Sergey said. “That gave me a real advantage.”
As part of the program, Sergey completed his student rotations at Walgreens, where he received hands-on training and mentorship. That experience ultimately led to a full-time position after his graduation in 2006.
“I entered the program with the goal of becoming a pharmacy technician and graduated with a job,” he shared. “The structure of the program gave me the knowledge I needed and placed me in a rotation that turned into a career opportunity. I’ll always be grateful to ACC for that.”
Sergey’s success as a pharmacy technician inspired him to further his education. In 2009 he enrolled in pharmacy school. At the time, the program was not offered at West Coast University. Nearly a decade later, in 2018, Sergey returned to the classroom — this time as an invitational faculty member at WCU’s School of Pharmacy. He has since expanded his role, becoming adjunct faculty.
“It’s been great because it brings me back to my roots — being in the classroom, keeping an open mind, and soaking up as much knowledge as I can. Sometimes students ask questions I haven’t even considered before,” he said.
Many of Segey’s former students have returned to thank him for the guidance and support that helped them successfully prepare for and pass their board exams. To those considering a career in pharmacy, he offers this advice: “Pharmacy is an incredibly diverse field, and it may take some time to find your place,” he said. “Keep an open mind — your career might end up looking very different from what you first imagined.”
