AMCP Volunteer Spotlight: Maher Abdel-Sattar, PharmD, MS
AMCP's volunteers are vital players in propelling our mission forward. In this installment of the AMCP Volunteer Spotlight, we are featuring current Membership Committee member and 2022 Spirit of Volunteerism Award recipient Maher Abdel-Sattar, PharmD, MS.
What interested you in becoming a volunteer for AMCP and in what areas of AMCP did you volunteer?
Learning about managed care through AMCP was one of the key motivators for me to apply to pharmacy school and pursue a “non-traditional” career path as a pharmaceutical consultant. My volunteer roles through AMCP have included serving on the national Student Pharmacist Committee, the Membership Committee, and the Schools of Pharmacy Relations Committee (and chairing that committee in 2021-2022). As a pharmacy student, I also served as the President of the AMCP student chapter at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) and took the lead in coordinating the 4th Annual AMCP Western Student Conference in 2011.
What value do you think you gained from that experience?
AMCP provided me with many educational and networking opportunities that directly contributed to my professional growth and success. Furthermore, my 14 years of volunteerism with AMCP allowed me to meet so many inspirational mentors and peers that have become close friends over time. The connections you make as a volunteer at AMCP can have a huge impact on your career. For example, the chair of the Student Pharmacist Committee that I served on encouraged me to apply for a rotation at her company, AmerisourceBergen, which ultimately helped me get a job there as a consultant for the last 9 years.
What advice would you give an AMCP member who wants to become a volunteer?
It’s fun, it’s worth it, and I highly recommend it! I’m a firm believer that the more you put into an experience the more you get out of it, and that has definitely applied to my involvement with AMCP. There are so many volunteer roles to pick and choose from, including short-term ones like serving as a buddy or mentor for a first-time conference attendee, and more long-term opportunities like serving as a Diplomat for a local school of pharmacy or joining one of AMCP’s national committees or regional affiliates.
Is there anything else you would like to provide?
Volunteering with AMCP is very rewarding and AMCP does a great job at appreciating and recognizing its volunteers! I received a number of awards throughout my involvement with AMCP including the National P&T Competition 1st Place Award in 2010, the Experiential Education Preceptor Award in 2018, and the Spirit of Volunteerism Award in 2022. Moreover, my research contributions were awarded gold, silver, and bronze medals for posters presented at AMCP Annual and Nexus meetings. Start your journey as an AMCP volunteer today by checking out: Volunteer Opportunities Overview.
