Professional Student Organization (PSO)

Meghan Hammond is a fourth-year student pharmacist at the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy and currently serves as the Presid

ent of the NCODA International Executive Board (IEB) for the 2025–2026 term. She became involved with NCODA through her 

school’s PSO and gradually took on national-level roles that deepened her interest in oncology and professional student leadership.

Meghan previously served as President-Elect of the NCODA IEB and held various leadership positions within NCODA’s student committees. She appreciates the opportunities NCODA has provided to connect with passionate peers, learn more about oncology practice, and help support student engagement across the organization.

Outside of NCODA, Meghan has been active in several pharmacy organizations. She recently completed her term as President of the American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists (AAPP) UGA Chapter and previously served as the National Liaison for Phi Lambda Sigma’s Delta Chapter. Her involvement has focused on student programming, peer connection, and creating welcoming environments for others to grow as professionals.

Meghan currently works as a hospital pharmacy intern in Savannah, Georgia, and enjoys applying her knowledge in real-world settings. She has a growing interest in nuclear pharmacy and hopes to pursue a fellowship after graduation to explore specialized practice areas that integrate innovation and patient-centered care.

She is excited to continue working with her fellow IEB members and NCODA staff to help strengthen the student experience and support the organization’s mission throughout the year.

Thomas Peña will be serving as the President-Elect on NCODA’s International Executive Board (IEB) for the upcoming term. He is currently a third-year student pharmacist at The University of Texas at Austin and has had the privilege of previously serving as the Membership Chair for his local UT Austin NCODA Professional Student Organization (PSO).

His professional interests lie in oncologic infusion pharmacy and pharmaceutical industry, particularly in areas where patient-centered care and innovative therapies intersect. His interest in oncology stems from a deep passion for supporting vulnerable patient populations and helping them navigate some of the most challenging moments of their lives. He hopes to contribute to both direct patient care and broader healthcare solutions that improve access, outcomes, and quality of life.

Throughout pharmacy school, He has been fortunate to gain exposure to various settings that have solidified his commitment to this field. He’s currently seeking further experiences in oncology and industry to help guide his path toward a future where he can make a lasting impact on cancer care through evidence-based, compassionate service.

He’s incredibly honored to be part of NCODA’s IEB and looks forward to collaborating with student leaders worldwide. He’s excited to help grow NCODA’s professional network, create meaningful programming, and further NCODA’s mission of patient-centered care in oncology.

Caitlyn Calso serves as Vice President of Communications for the NCODA International Executive Board (IEB). She is a PD4 at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities and serves as one of the Class Representatives for the Class of 2026. Prior to becoming a member of the NCODA IEB, she was a past student chapter president and vice president for the University of Minnesota NCODA Professional Student Organization Chapter.

She is also active in her school’s affiliated student-run free clinic, the Phillips Neighborhood Clinic, as a past board member after having served as the Human Resources Chair for 2024-25. She is also a Basic Life Support instructor via Phi Lambda Sigma Alpha Phi Chapter, a 4th Year Liaison for Phi Delta Chi Theta Chapter, a member of Rho Chi Mu Chapter, a Pharmaceutical Skills Lab Teaching Assistant, and part of the Leadership Emphasis Area which focuses on leadership development through completing an adaptive leadership project and capstone. She currently works as an intern at the M Health Fairview Clinics and Surgery Center Infusion Pharmacy and was Chief Intern throughout her PD3 year.

She wanted to join the NCODA IEB because of the welcoming sense of community at every meeting. In meeting other students at Fall OCS and Spring Forum, she wanted to become more involved in connecting with other students and sharing ideas on how to host engaging chapter events. She’s had a strong interest in oncology since the start of her pharmacy school career, and wants to continue building upon her knowledge through working with NCODA and strengthening oncology education for students. She hopes to complete a PGY1 and go on to complete a PGY2 in oncology. She’s looking forward to working with her colleagues for a successful year!

Zachary York is a PharmD/MBA dual-degree candidate at The University of Toledo with an expected graduation of 2026. He has a strong foundation in oncology and a passion for innovation in the pharmaceutical industry. He currently serves as the Vice President of Meetings on the International Executive Board for NCODA as well as serving the Industry Pharmacists Organization (IPhO) as a National Student Officer for the National Fellows Council.

Zachary was the first-ever oncology pharmacy intern at Corewell Health – Royal Oak, where he gained hands-on experience with cutting-edge therapies such as antibody-drug conjugates, CAR-T cells, and bispecifics. His commitment to advancing drug knowledge and student engagement led him to create Spill the Pills, a student-led journal at his university that highlights recent drug approvals and fosters peer education on emerging therapies.

He is passionate about medical affairs, particularly within the oncology space, and is pursuing a postdoctoral fellowship focused on strategic initiatives that improve patient outcomes and shape therapeutic direction. Zachary is especially interested in the intersection of clinical insight, cross-functional collaboration, and long-term brand strategy and bringing scientific value to life through data-driven decision-making and meaningful stakeholder engagement.

Lauren Ampadu is a P4 student pharmacist from the University of Connecticut. Lauren has an inexplicable passion for uniting others to facilitate positive change. She is pursuing her PharmD. degree, with the dream of practicing at the top of her license on an interprofessional team of like minded healthcare professionals – many of whom she has been honored to collaborate with through NCODA.

Lauren previously served as Director of Finance/ Fundraising for UConn NCODA from 2024-2025. This Spring, she launched a fundraiser called Strawberries for Smiles where UConn NCODA raised and donated money to patients and families impacted by cancer by selling chocolate covered strawberries and Oreos they hand-dipped together on campus.

Lauren completed a fellowship with Quantitative Cancer Cell Diagnostics in 2023, where she helped refine their liquid biopsy technology by identifying circulating tumor cell biomarkers with an interprofessional team. They presented their work at Research Day and Lauren discovered her potential for a role in this space.

Within UConn School of Pharmacy, Lauren has been a Student Educational Assistant from P1-P3 year. She also taught Organic Chemistry II as a recitation leader during her Spring P2 year. In her hometown of Simsbury, CT, Lauren has served on the Equity Council. In Hartford, CT Lauren has led presentations at Capitol Towers and Shepard Park retirement homes while speaking in Spanish to spread immunizations awareness to residents there.

Lauren desires to become a skilled clinical pharmacist and a philanthropist, always doing her best to diminish the power of disease and help patients to regain control of their well-being. She embraces all opportunities to become a medication expert with curiosity and confidence. Lauren shares the passion for patients that all NCODA members have. She is thrilled to be serving on the 2025-2026 NCODA PSO IEB.