Aesthetic pharmacist Dr. Silvia Letícia Cunha, from Rio de Janeiro-RJ, did not start out aiming for pharmacy. Three times she tried to pass the entrance exam for dentistry. As fate would have it, on the last attempt she was slow to see the opening and ended up missing it.
On her next try at the entrance exam, she saw that pharmacy was her thing. The Rio native knew she wanted to work in healthcare, and in the curriculum, she felt biology and chemistry had to be part of her life. She just needed something to connect with.
“So I went to find out what pharmacy was: a professional who always has to stay up to date and who loves the health sciences. It even moves me, because it is what I love to do. I took my first entrance exam for pharmacy and was accepted at the Universidade Federal Fluminense/RJ (UFF),” she says.
Learn about Dr. Silvia's story with Aesthetic Pharmacy and her plans for the job market in this Success Story.
Aesthetic pharmacist seeks professional freedom
During her undergraduate studies, Dr. Silvia found she loved studying pharmacy and keeping up to date. Her most recent role was as an industrial pharmacist, working with processes, quality assurance, and formulas, and she says she loves what she does.
But the lack of freedom and professional autonomy in her field led her to the Postgraduate Program in Aesthetic Pharmacy and to a new direction. She is also currently looking for another job opportunity.
“Even though I love industrial pharmacy, you will always be someone's employee, and now I am back in the job market once again,” she explains.
A booming market in Aesthetic Pharmacy
Even before she thought about changing fields, the aesthetic pharmacist visited the office of an Aesthetic Biomedical professional for a procedure. Watching the stream of people coming and going, the activity, and how confidently the professional talked about the procedures caught Dr. Silvia's attention.
“At first I was interested in studying Aesthetic Pharmacy to have one more professional qualification, and that is when I looked for Nepuga.”
Because Dr. Silvia still needs to get on stable footing, at first she has to balance both careers, since, according to the aesthetic pharmacist, there is a lot to study in Aesthetic Health and it carries a great deal of responsibility toward the patient.
“There is a path of study ahead before I feel safe with my patient; in the meantime, I plan to balance my professions. But the plan is to start my own business and work only in aesthetics,” says Dr. Silvia.
A perfect field for pharmacists
“Challenges all the time,” says the aesthetic pharmacist about specializing in order to change her life. After all, studying, working, being a mom, and running a household is the perfect combo of challenges. In Dr. Sílvia's case, she is also still looking for a new job, so the challenges double.
The aesthetic pharmacist points out that moving into Aesthetic Health is a great option for pharmacists. That is because it is a field that fits the professional's profile very well.
“Pharmacists are people who like what they do, like to keep learning, and like the health sciences. And in Aesthetic Pharmacy you always have to keep updating yourself, you are constantly in contact with people, and on top of that, the field offers good financial returns,” she emphasizes.
Success Stories>Aesthetic PharmacyJosiele Batista
NEPUGA content team — Núcleo de Especializações Ana Carolina Puga.
