From Pre-Pharm to Pillar

Pharm.D. Student Michael Crichlow Redefines What It Means to Show Up

As vice president of the Pre-Pharmacy Association at the University of Houston, Michael Crichlow transformed how undergraduates connect with pharmacy students, building pathways of support through campus mixers, peer panels, and mentorship events.

“I vividly remember running around UH finding pre-pharmacy and pharmacy students alike to come to our events,” Crichlow said. “It shaped me, rooting me here.”

Less than a year later, he came full circle—transforming from the student who showed up to the leader who opened doors for others. As Pre-Pharmacy Liaison, his work to connect undergraduates with professional students earned national recognition in 2024 for the “Bridging the Gap” initiative of the year for SNPhA. It was a distinction that reflected not only his chapter’s work in serving undergraduate students, but the very heart of Crichlow’s journey in UHCOP.

Mr. Pharmacy, Meet Mr. Education

Crichlow’s creativity shines alongside his professionalism. In Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity’s annual “Mr. Pharmacy” philanthropy event, he performed a saxophone focused musical skit, proving that pharmacy can be “fun with a purpose.” Now, as regional chaplain of Kappa Psi’s Southwest Province, he’s planning on spreading this event to Kappa Psi chapters across the southwestern U.S., raising funds for Reach Out & Read, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing childhood literacy across America.

“Education is huge,” Crichlow said. “It’s one of the five major social determinants of health that can affect so many of our patients, so if we can fund literacy while showcasing student creativity, why not do both?”

Serving with Empathy

Crichlow’s leadership is defined by a personal commitment to serving the underserved, especially within Houston’s African American communities. As SNPhA and APSA’s community outreach chair, he’s led Pharm.D. students to 18 health fairs in the past 18 months, impacting more than 6,000 patients through education and screenings. But to Crichlow, it’s not about the numbers.

“A lot of people we’ve served are used to being lectured in their clinic visits or pharmacy about the diseases that they live with,” Crichlow said. “They don’t need a lecture—they need someone to understand what they’re going through. That’s how we help them build realistic, sustainable health plans.”

A Winning Mentality

Recently, Crichlow and fellow SNPhA members have celebrated the organization’s win as the Chauncey I. Cooper (CIC) Large Chapter of the Year, awarded during the 2025 SNPhA/NPhA National Convention.

“Organizations like the Student College of Clinical Pharmacy and Student Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists came out to help at several of our health fairs,” Crichlow said. “I felt like Chapter of the Year wasn't just a victory for SNPhA but for UHCOP as a whole.”

Additionally, Crichlow won the Community Leadership Award, along with first place in the Clinical Skills Competition, alongside his classmate Khanh Nguyen, against 26 other teams.

Bright Eyes on a Patient-Centered Future

Currently interning with Memorial Hermann, Crichlow has experience in both community and hospital settings but is most drawn to ambulatory care-focused opportunities.

“Going to all of these health fairs where I’m conversing with patients, supervising screening and educational operations, and helping students new to health fairs find their footing has begun focusing me on a path I’m excited to go down,” Crichlow said.

To Crichlow, this is what pharmacy is all about: bridging gaps between patients and providers, and building trust through empathy, education, and action. The same drive that once pushed him to seek out opportunities at UHCOP now fuels his commitment to becoming a steady source of support for those around him — a pillar not only for his patients, but for the future of pharmacy itself.

— Naqiyah Kantawala