UC Online Ambassador Spotlight: Brittany Konkle (Master’s in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmacogenomics & Personalized Healthcare)

"Sometimes you just have to be willing to take the next step without knowing exactly where the whole path will lead.”

Brittany Konkle’s experience as a University of Cincinnati student can be summed up by those words. As an online student in UC’s Master’s in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmacogenomics & Personalized Healthcare program, she’s been able to study a topic she’s interested in while continuing her career in clinical research. 

We recently spoke with Brittany about her experiences with online learning, how UC’s program has worked with her schedule, and why she was inspired to become a UC Online Ambassador. 

Throughout her career, Brittany has been devoted to improving patient care in several roles. Even so, she didn’t necessarily start with a “perfectly mapped-out career path.” 

In 2021, Brittany began working in clinical research, initially in site-level operational roles. She gained experience in trial coordination while working directly with patients. From there, her focus shifted to pediatric oncology and neuro-oncology at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.  

Brittany shared how impactful this experience was in her career. “It gave me the opportunity to work on complex, collaborative studies with the CONNECT consortium and really see the impact that research can have on patients and families, specifically through targeted therapy trials.”

As her career has evolved, Brittany has seen the throughline connecting every step: she loves to learn, and she’s not one to shy away from the next big opportunity.  

During her time at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Brittany rediscovered her passion for genetics, a topic she’d loved as early as high school. 

With this spark rekindled, she knew that she wanted to continue her education. The only problem was that most graduate and doctoral programs required full-time, in-person attendance. Brittany wanted to continue her education to support her career, not leave it behind.  

UC’s online Pharmacogenomics program ended up being the right choice. She recalled thinking, “I love medicine and I love genetics, so what better degree to get?”

After discovering UC’s program, she connected with an Enrollment Services Advisor who guided her through the online application process. Her excitement about the program only grew: she found out that she could pursue a drug development concentration within the Pharmacogenomics degree—the perfect complement to her clinical research goals. 

As she’s progressed through the program, Brittany hasn't regretted tackling school alongside her career. In fact, she’s been able to immediately apply her coursework to her role as Clinical Research Associate at Syneos Health. 

“One of the biggest things I’ve learned is that personalized medicine is much more complicated than simply identifying a genetic difference and matching someone to a treatment,” she explained. “There are scientific, clinical, ethical, operational, and patient-centered considerations that all have to come together.” 

Reflecting on her coursework, Brittany has come to think more critically about the role of pharmacogenomic information in clinical research. This is especially crucial for individuals who are spearheading this research.

“I think the future of personalized medicine is incredibly exciting,” she said, “but I also think responsible implementation is just as important as the science itself.” 

When it came time to begin work on her capstone project, she returned to this topic: the importance of educating individuals who design and conduct clinical studies on pharmacogenomics and personalized medicine. 

“We have to make sure that the information we generate is meaningful, interpretable, and ultimately useful for patients.” 

For many adult learners, it’s not realistic to stop working and devote all of their time to school. Instead, they have to navigate balancing school, work, family, and other commitments all at once. It’s been a challenge for Brittany, as someone who keeps herself busy and tends to overcommit. 

“Some weeks are easier than others depending on work, school deadlines, and everything else happening in life,” she explained. 

Even though she’s gone to school online before, her UC Online experience has been the most flexible by far.  Weekly deadlines for assignments keep Brittany on track, but otherwise she’s able to work on school when it’s most convenient. She’s been grateful to have professors who are “very understanding of the fact that most people going through these paths are working adults with families.”

However, with freedom and flexibility comes a greater need for self-motivation. 

Planning ahead has helped, but Brittany has also learned the importance of staying flexible. Life doesn’t always follow a perfect schedule, even when you’re in school. 

“I’ve had to become much more comfortable with giving myself some grace when I’m tired or when things don’t go exactly according to plan. That has been challenging at times, but it has also helped me become more disciplined and confident.” 

For Brittany, sometimes the key to productivity is simply taking a break—stepping away, resetting, and coming back to it later. She’s passionate about what she’s studying, so it’s never too difficult to return when she feels well-rested.

“I think that self-care is one of the most important aspects of life,” she said, “but I’ve had to learn that self-care looks different for everyone.” 

For Brittany, self-care is a little bit different than a spa day or curling up with a book. Her favorite way to recharge is by baking.

“Baking is my creative outlet,” she said. “I love having something where I can be creative and make something with my hands.”  

It’s not always easy to make time for yourself and your mental health. Just like school and work, it requires intentionality. For Brittany, it’s been well worth the effort. At the state fair, she won first place and Best of Show for her cookies! 

“That has probably been one of the most valuable lessons for me. Education is important, but it is still one part of a much bigger life.” 

When asked why she became a UC Online Ambassador, Brittany shared how intimidating it can feel to return to school as an adult.

“My own path hasn’t been perfectly linear, as you can see, and that’s one of the things I want people to see,” she said. “You don’t have to have your entire future figured out before you start. You can take one step, learn from that experience, and let it help guide the next one and even change along the way; nothing is set in stone, and you can always segue.”  

If you want to continue growing professionally without putting your life on pause, it's possible with the University of Cincinnati’s 140+ online degree programs. Along with the Pharmacogenomics & Personalized Healthcare program, we offer four other online pharmacy programs and additional certifications that you can explore. 

You don’t have to commit to anything right away. Connect with an Enrollment Services Advisor today and take the first step toward your educational goals. 

Discover how you can share your experience, answer questions, and help future Bearcats see what’s possible.  For more information, visit the UC Online Ambassador Program webpage.