Happy Pills founder combines whimsy, research

Roby Hill
October 27, 2020

Don’t go to Amelia Furbish’s (class of 2020) “Happy Pills” Instagram site unless you have a little time to kill. You’re apt to look up an hour later – surprisingly soothed, content, and better educated – and wonder where the time went.

  • The Chemistry Highlight section is filled with mesmerizing videos, in which the recent pharmacy graduate and current Ph.D. student has paired music to chemical reactions, experiments, and equipment in brief clips. It’s hypnotic relaxation, like watching Bob Ross play with a chemistry set instead of painting happy little trees.
  • Then there’s the “Pokemon or drug” section. You have to be on top of your drugs or your Pokemon to know whether that picture of a little green fire Pokemon is a Cyndaquill or a Seroquel. And is “Tranquill” the name of a flying pokemon or a the name of a drug? Reasonable people disagree.
  • Then there’s the “Happy Pills” merch. The understated but expressive Happy Pill mascots mimic moods, often on relevant merchandise. So amphetamine has bags under its eyes but is raring to go on a coffee mug, or nitrofurantoin (used with urinary tract infections) has its little stick legs crossed. Various drugs adorn an array of merchandise, including throw blankets, duvet covers, masks, coasters, laptop sleeves and many others.

A passion for chemistry and discovery catalyzes and sustains all this creativity, which Furbish also uses to explain medicinal chemistry to pharmacy students and any one else who is interested. Her posts frequently include molecular structures and explanations, drug classes and indications, side effect warnings, tips and tricks of the trade, and other similar bite-sized resources.

Furbish earned a bachelor of science in human biology from Wofford College before joining the MUSC College of Pharmacy. She also  has served as a pharmacy intern at Walgreens. Now that she has completed her Pharm.D., she is working in Dr. Pat Woster’s lab with a focus on synthesis of enzyme inhibitors targeting the polyamine pathway and investigating the role these compounds may play in ameliorating neuronal injury.

“I was incredibly lucky to find brilliant and supportive mentors here at MUSC that have both encouraged me and challenged me to pursue my interests,” she said. Favorite memories include late night studying with friends and debating pharmacokinetics with Dr. Roger White. “Without their constant support through each step of this process, I would not be where I am today.”