Originally from Ukraine, Olesia left the country in August 2024. Due to civil unrest in the region, Olesia came to America as a Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolee. 

Upon arrival, Olesia was determined to build a new life for her and her family and was eager to learn how to navigate the U.S. workforce. Olesia worked as a pharmacist in Ukraine for 20 years. When she enrolled in IRC’s Career Development program in March 2025, she was persistent in wanting a career in pharmacy.

The following months, she joined our Pharmacy Technician cohort with Innovative Pharmacy Solution. With the support her instructor, Dr. Kara, and the IRC’s Adult Education team, Olesia thrived in the program. She approached the course with curiosity and passion, quickly adapting to the ways in which working in pharmacy differs from her experience in Ukraine. 

Upon completion of the course, the IRC hosted a lunch and learn in collaboration with the Children’s Hospital of Atlanta (CHOA), one of our employer partners. This allowed the students to have meet with pharmacy technicians and gain insight on a day in the life working in the hospital. It also gave them the opportunity to meet recruiters and make an impression. 

As a result, Olesia was able to make an outstanding impression and was hired for a pharmacy technician role at CHOA. Looking forward, she is planning on becoming a certified pharmacy technician, an exciting next step that will open doors to even greater opportunities and strengthen her professional skill set.