The Power of Perseverance: Cory Mathia

Cory Mathia loves horses just as much as he loves the field of pharmacy.

As some may remember from articles last year, Mathia and his horse, Stuart, qualified to compete at the 2018 American Paint Horse World Championship Show, though they were not as successful as he had hoped they would be.

“The 2018 competition definitely didn’t go how I wanted, but it taught me a lot about hard work and perseverance. Things don’t always go your way, so you just go back to the drawing board and keep working harder,” says Mathia, a fourth-year student in the Northeast Ohio Medical University College of Pharmacy.

In September, Mathia and Stuart returned to Fort Worth, Texas for the 2019 American Paint Horse World Championship Show. Mathia had also just began his fourth year of pharmacy school in June. The training and planning paid off. This time, the pair left victorious, claiming the titles of World Champion in Amateur Horsemanship and also Reserve World Champion in Amateur Western Pleasure.

“It’s hard to put into words how excited I was,” says Mathia. “I have had this goal for as long as I can remember.”

The grand finale of pharmacy school

In his final year of pharmacy school, Mathia is enjoying a variety of Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPE) rotations, which include ambulatory care, internal medicine, psychiatry, and more.

“This year has shown me so many different opportunities that I never really imagined. NEOMED has allowed me to gain experiences in numerous different fields within the field of pharmacy. It has been eye-opening and also really exciting, because it reminds me that I chose the right field,” says Mathia.

Preparing for the future

Through these experiences, Mathia has found a passion for ambulatory care pharmacy.

“I really enjoy getting to know the patient and helping to address their concerns,” he says.

He’s also discovered an interest in psychiatry and working with underserved populations.

“Mental health is so important. If someone isn’t feeling well mentally, it’s challenging to manage daily activities, let alone any other comorbid conditions the patient may have,” explains Mathia.

He plans to pursue a residency and further his experience after graduation.

“I will miss NEOMED and all of the great faculty members – but I am so excited for what is yet to come.”