Noah Kuszak ’19

Chemistry

Biography

Since graduating from Taylor in 2019, I have been attending pharmacy school at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC). I am now done with my didactic material (classes/exams) and have moved onto work experience through rotations for my last year of school. Every month I will be at a different site working with licensed pharmacists in different settings ranging from community/retail pharmacies, hospital/in-patient, and long-term care settings. Once I graduate from UNMC, I plan to get a job most likely in a retail pharmacy but we will see where God takes me! My wife and I have also provided care for foster families here in Omaha, and have been involved in a non-profit called Abide. Abide's goal is to put Christian households on every block in North Omaha to provide resources and services to the neighborhood and to above all be good neighbors.

What were some of your most valuable experiences at Taylor?

My most valuable experiences at Taylor were interacting with professors and having the opportunity to use the chemistry department's lab. For being a smaller department, Taylor's chemistry lab is beyond what you would expect and provides amazing opportunities that many students don't get until post-graduate work. Here, you get hands-on experience with multiple instruments and there are plenty of opportunities to work with faculty on research. My personal favorite is the Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS for short)!

How did your classes or interactions with professors at Taylor impact your growth?

Interactions with professors at Taylor is one of the reasons I chose to attend Taylor. I knew that my class sizes were going to be smaller and I would be able to communicate with professors directly which I think provides a better education. The chemistry department faculty is also heavily involved with students outside of classes; every month the department has a chemistry dinner where everyone meets for a meal and discusses a topic related to the field. Sometimes it involves a student or faculty presentation, or even companies showing how their chemists are making an impact! Regardless, there is always something new and fun to be learned in the company of your friends.

How can Taylor graduates use their unique Taylor education and its liberal arts foundational core as an asset in your discipline?

Taylor prepared me very well to move onto a professional career in healthcare. The chemistry department prepared me by teaching me to critically think about problems and how to approach problems at different angles to come up with a scientifically sound solution. The liberal arts classes taught me to think about not only the science, but also the social- and gospel-driven aspects of different situations. When it comes to healthcare, the science is only one aspect. You also have to think about where a patient is coming from, the aspects of how they got to you, what are their prior healthcare experiences, and are they going to be able to follow through with their healthcare plan.

What advice or encouragement could you provide for Taylor students in your vocational discipline?

My advice for current or future Taylor students is to get out of your comfort zone. You only get to attend college once and you should try to make the most of it. Get involved with your department and your living community and you will learn a lot and will have fun while doing it!