It seemed, after all, only natural.
While their new pharmacy classmates spent the first days of school wondering who among them would emerge as study and lab partners, Shu-Ting (Ting) Juan looked no further than to the familiar face sitting to her right - her sister Pei-Chun (Cathy).

After all, they had been together for as long as either could remember. They were one another's earliest playmates, being the family's first- and second-born children and only one year apart in age. Ting, the elder of the two, had been the toddler Cathy's best friend; and Cathy, Ting's. When their father, a pharmacist in Taiwan, looked to the United States to forge a new life for his family, the bond between Ting and Cathy, then young children, grew still closer. Along with their mother and younger brother, the two remained in Taiwan, awaiting their fatheržs call to come to America.

As the entire family moved to Texas to begin their new life, the sisters once again supported each other as they experienced the joys and challenges of adjusting to their new life, first as pre-adolescent immigrants and later as American teens. Then, as it has always been, it was Cathy there for Ting; and Ting, for Cathy.

When the time came for the sisters to move from the family home in Irving to attend UT Austin, they became roommates at Kinsolving Dormitory. Cathy began studies to pursue a career in microbiology research, and Ting dreamed of becoming a doctor.

As they progressed through their first year at UT, both faced second thoughts concerning their career choices. Each had an inclination toward science: both felt drawn to helping others.

It wasn't long before Ting's thoughts turned to her father's rewarding career in pharmacy. Soon, Cathy, who had her own misgivings about life in a research lab, searched for alternatives. Pharmacy, again, surfaced as the logical answer.

Together they applied for admission to UT's nationally-renowned pharmacy college, and together they waited to hear from the admissions committee.

'I'll never forget the day Cathy received her acceptance letter,' recalled Ting. "I was so excited for her, but I had no letter."

Another long week followed before Ting received the thick envelope affirming her application had been accepted. The sisters were destined to share another experience ‚ pharmacy school.

Since then, there has been no turning back, no second thoughts, and no lack of companionship. In fact, the two have been so close that classmates and faculty mistakenly thought they were twins.

"It's been great," said Cathy concerning the notion of having a sibling along side her in school. "I got to go through pharmacy school with my best friend, and I always had a study buddy."

In Spring '99, the sisters joined their classmates in receiving assignments for rotations. Again the girls shared a common experience when they were assigned to locations in Dallas.

"We had been roommates through childhood and had lived together in school. Now we returned home for rotations," Cathy said.

Although pharmacy will now be a family profession, shared by Ting, Cathy and their father, they are drawn in different directions of the profession.

Ting, who first was drawn to medicine, is hoping to find employment in the Dallas area in an outpatient clinic.

"I find the direct contact with patients that pharmacists have to be very fulfilling," Ting said, adding that the outpatient setting provides opportunity for tremendous patient contact.

"It's very important for a pharmacist to talk to the patient about their medication," she explained. "If they are just handed the prescription, many donžt know what to do to get the medicationžs best benefits. That's what a pharmacist does best."

Cathy, who first felt pulled toward research, will begin her pharmacy career in the hospital setting.

"There is still a great deal for me to learn," Cathy said in explaining her decision. "I think the hospital setting offers me the best opportunity to continue learning in my particular interest areas."

Graduation for Ting and Cathy does not mark the end of the family's association with UT. Their younger brother begins studies at UT this fall, and, no matter where their pharmacy careers may lead them in the future, Cathy and Ting will always be in close contact with at least one of their former classmates ‚ each other.

17 September 2004
College of Pharmacy at UT Austin
Comments to: pharmacy@www.utexas.edu