This month at Happy Druggist on Karl Road, Kristie and the gang are joined by Stephanie Brokaw, a fourth-year pharmacy student from The Ohio State University’s College of Pharmacy.

Stephanie will graduate in May 2021 and will then take the test to become a registered pharmacist. Stephanie will be at Karl Road throughout June, so please stop by and meet her while she is in the store.

Here is what Stephanie tells us about herself:

Hello customers of Happy Druggist Karl Road! My name is Stephanie and I am a fourth-year pharmacy student from The Ohio State University on rotation here for the month of June.

I am originally from Bellville, a small village about an hour north of Columbus. I am very excited to be here this month and to learn more about independent pharmacy. I look forward to meeting you all and serving your healthcare needs in any way that I can!

I always had a passion for science and math and from a very young age knew that I wanted to pursue a career in some area of health care. But it was my high school chemistry teacher who suggested that I investigate pharmacy as a possible career. I loved everything I read about becoming a pharmacist and it was the perfect blend for me of science and patient care.

After high school, I pursued a Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences at Ohio State and transitioned into their Doctor of Pharmacy program after graduation in 2017. Currently, I work for Walmart Pharmacy at their Lewis Center location, and I have been there for a little over four years.

I found my passion for caring for diverse patient populations through a variety of student organizations I have been involved in throughout pharmacy school. I have had the wonderful opportunity to plan and attend three medical brigades to Honduras during pharmacy school through an organization called Buckeyes Without Borders. I also volunteer at a Spanish Free Clinic, La Clinica Latina, which operates out of Rardin Family Practice on OSU’s campus every Tuesday night.

I am also a member of the Student National Pharmaceutical Association, an organization founded on the mission to “plan, organize, coordinate, and execute programs geared toward the improvement of the health, educational, and social environment of minority communities”.

I hope to continue to be involved in organizations like these after pharmacy school and help improve health equity for all patients. I am exploring all career opportunities related to direct patient care at the moment and look forward to using rotations like my month here at Happy Druggist to narrow down the specific area of pharmacy practice I want to pursue after graduation.

Outside of pharmacy school, I enjoy being very active outdoors. You can find me hiking and swimming in the summer months and snowboarding in the winter months. In addition, I enjoy exploring all the incredible social activities Columbus has to offer through diverse restaurants, festivals, and attending Columbus Crew soccer games. I am also a huge fan of podcasts. I listen to a variety of topics including current events, science, pharmacy, comedy, and the enneagram.