Fatema Dhanaliwala, NJSHP President 2007-2008
Though her parents were hesitant about sending their daughter to a foreign county, Fatema Dhanaliwala convinced her parents that she should leave her native Pakistan and pursue her pharmaceutical degree at Northeastern University in Boston. Fatema’s love for America and pharmacy took greater root when she met and married her husband, ensuring that America would probably be her permanent residence. She relocated to Poughkeepsie, New York and worked as a part time pharmacist and I.V. supervisor at Vassar Brothers Medical Center while managing the demands of a new career and a new son. Fatema credits her ability to balance the work life-family life juggle so well due to the support of her husband.

Fatema found her way to New Jersey due to her husband’s job transfer. As a resident in Hunterdon County and a new mom to her second son, she worked close to home at Hunterdon Medical Center. In 1987 she joined Somerset Medical Center as a Staff Pharmacist and seems to have grounded some permanent roots at this organization. In her current role as Pharmacy Manager, she says the position is very unique because she can do both clinical and managerial work.

Fatema laid her roots too at NJSHP where she was initially motivated to join because of its networking opportunities. She quickly became so impressed with all of its legislative involvement and other activities that she decided she wanted to do more. She saw a great need to further develop the Central Chapter because of its number and location of surrounding counties. She served as President Elect and President and even encouraged two of her staffers, Marsha Durniak and Joan Perrone to also become involved with NJSHP. Her encouragement led to each woman strengthening her own leadership skills and each woman served as President of the Central Chapter. Fatema was President of the Central Chapter for two non-consecutive years.

She felt a need to attend NJSHP Board meetings, which fueled her ambition to continue to dedicate her time to the Society. Fatema comments that was incredibly impressed with the board members because of their genuine commitment
to pharmacy and to NJSHP.

And the rest becomes part of NJSHP’s history….As the NJSHP President for 2007-2008, Fatema would like to grow the membership. She would like the members to become more involved in presenting their voice and feedback and will implement some strategies to achieve this goal. Additionally she wants the members to attend ASHP’s mid year and annual meetings if possible and present papers if the opportunities present.

She’d like to recruit more students to the Society. She extols the praise of NJSHP to all of the students who are on her rotations at Somerset. Fatema says events like student chapter meetings, the Annual College Bowl and Rutger’s Career Day are excellent opportunities to familiarize students with all of the opportunities that NJSHP offers.

Notwithstanding all of the responsibilities that are inherent in the post as President, Fatema would like to streamline technology a bit and possibly upgrade the NJSHP website to make it more interactive with either a chat room or blog. In Fatema’s vision, this upgrade would enable members to post questions and would serve as a bridge for better communication.

Fatema sees additional opportunities to enhance communication to the membership and intends to highlight NJSHP accomplishments and initiatives more prominently. NJSHP wishes Fatema good luck in the upcoming year and appreciates all of her contributions.


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