Offered Her First Job Before Even Completing Her Pharmacy Degree: A Profession Full of Opportunities
Five years ago, Justina Krukonytė graduated with a degree in Pharmacy from the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LSMU). Both her studies and active involvement in university life helped her to gain a foothold in the pharmaceutical world and to accumulate a broad range of professional experience. After working for several years in some of Lithuania’s largest companies, she is now taking her first steps towards launching her own business.
Studies Opened the Doors to Major Lithuanian Companies
Pharmacist Justina Krukonytė recalls that even at school, she knew she wanted to pursue a career in the field of biomedicine. After much consideration, she eventually chose to study Pharmacy.
“I didn’t have a precise 10-year career plan, but I explored various fields of health sciences. I ultimately chose Pharmacy because I had relatives who had studied it and they told me how broad the field is. That meant I’d have plenty of career options after graduation – and that’s what really motivated me. I’m also naturally altruistic; I’ve always wanted to help people and do meaningful work. If I could go back in time, I wouldn’t hesitate – I’d make my decision with even more conviction, because now I know just how many opportunities this degree opens up,” she says with a smile.
Indeed, her studies opened many doors – she started working in her field even before completing her degree. Her active involvement in various student organisations also played a key role in this.
As a student, she joined the Lithuanian Pharmaceutical Students’ Association and the LSMU Student Union, where she made many connections. These networks led to early job opportunities. Justina was employed by a wholesale pharmaceutical company that operates several pharmacy chains – initially on a short-term basis, then transitioning into a permanent role. She continued working while completing her degree in Pharmacy.
After graduation, she decided to broaden her professional knowledge and gain more diverse experience, moving on to a much smaller Swedish-owned company. The two years she spent there gave her valuable insights into how the pharmaceutical industry operates. Though the field of Pharmacy may seem well-defined and structured, it can certainly present significant challenges.
She later joined one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in Lithuania, where she worked as Head of Pharmaceutical Operations, overseeing pharmaceutical activity, as well as wholesale and retail trade. This period was marked by professional challenges and major projects. One of the most memorable involved navigating the frequent regulatory changes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Requirements would change every few days, requiring swift responses, adaptability, and the seamless integration of changes across the pharmacy network.
Another major milestone was her involvement in the launch of a new distribution centre.
“From the initial construction stages to the centre becoming operational, I was actively involved in every part of the process. My main objective was to ensure that the centre’s operations complied with all applicable national and international regulations, pharmaceutical standards, and client requirements,” she recalls.
Launching an Unexplored Niche in Lithuania
These career experiences equipped Justina with a wide range of skills and helped her grow as a professional. Eventually, she felt ready for a new challenge – to start working independently. She is now developing a niche business in Lithuania that remains relatively underexplored: medical tourism.
“I’m taking my first steps into an independent venture that combines medicine, pharmacy, and information technology. Medical tourism offers a wide variety of services across Europe. For instance, a patient who is unable to access services in their own country – whether due to quality, cost, or availability of specialists – can access them abroad,“ – she explains.
As an example, Justina mentions Europeans – including Lithuanians – travelling to Turkey for the increasingly popular hair transplant procedure.
The Patient Always Comes First
Justina is convinced that Pharmacy truly offers a wealth of opportunities – from working in various pharmaceutical companies to establishing your own business. Her career path proves that Pharmacy can provide both knowledge and the chance to explore different parts of the world.
“Nowadays, my daily routine is much more flexible than it used to be. I worked in an office with a fixed schedule for a long time – now I manage my own time. But that doesn’t mean complete freedom – self-discipline is essential, especially over the past six months, as I’ve been travelling quite a bit around Europe,” – she reveals.
No matter where her career takes her, one thing remains constant: her focus on the person.
“In Pharmacy, just like in medicine, everything ultimately comes down to a single goal – the satisfaction of the patient. It’s important to me that what I do helps people. Every decision, every project, every direction I take must align with that core principle – the wellbeing of the patient,” she emphasises.
Artificial Intelligence in Study Programmes
Last year, Justina also decided to return to academia and began a PhD in Pharmacy at LSMU. Coming back to university after some time away, she noticed many changes.
“This is a university that respects tradition but also embraces innovation in the biomedical and medical sciences. The programmes are continuously improved and updated. I noticed straight away that the curriculum had been refreshed and integrated – and that even artificial intelligence tools are now being used. For example, one of our tasks involves simulation exercises where various practical situations are generated. AI acts as the patient. In the past, we used to role-play those scenarios among ourselves – one person would pretend to be the patient, the other a healthcare professional. Now the simulations are much more engaging, and AI allows us to examine many more nuanced situations,” – she observes.
Reflecting on her Master’s studies, she is grateful for the knowledge gained and the social connections formed – from fellow students to pharmacists from other countries.
“Although my former classmates and I have drifted apart as we work in different places – both in Lithuania and abroad – we’ve maintained our contacts, which is so important. Taking part in various university organisations also gave me access to a range of projects – even international ones.
One of the most memorable experiences was a trip to Ankara, Turkey, for a project with Pharmacy students from four different countries. We’ve kept in touch – in fact, we recently met again in Istanbul,” – she shares.
Based on her own experience, she firmly believes that LSMU can provide a solid foundation for any young person interested in studying Pharmacy – all it takes is courage and curiosity.
“Don’t be afraid, and stay curious. If you feel that this field speaks to you – go for it. There will be challenging moments, but they’ll pass. Even if you lack support at times – it’s out there, and you just need to know how to seek it out and express your desire to grow, learn, and explore. Every day is different, but if you have a clear goal – you’ll go further than you ever imagined,” – says pharmacist Justina Krukonytė with a smile.
More about this study programme HERE.