This month, we are joined in the pharmacy by Catherine “Cat” Mechler, a fourth-year pharmacy student from The Ohio State University’s College of Pharmacy.

Cat will graduate in May 2021 and will then take the test to become a registered pharmacist. Cat will be with us throughout August, so please stop by and meet her while she is in the store.

Here is what Cat tells us about herself:

Hello! My name is Cat Mechler and I’m this month’s APPE student at Plain City Druggist. 

I’m a proud Michigander, born and raised in Rochester Hills, Michigan. To my family’s dismay, I went to “the state down south” for both undergrad and pharmacy school – makes Thanksgiving a fun holiday. I graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University with my Bachelor of Arts in chemistry and pre-professional zoology, while also playing soccer. I’m now at The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy enjoying my final year of pharmacy school.

I initially chose to go to pharmacy school because I LOVED chemistry throughout undergrad and one of my professors suggested I look into going to a health professional school. I thought pharmacy would be a good mix of patient care and critical thinking where I could use my clinical knowledge to make an impact on patients.

I currently work as an inpatient pharmacy intern at Nationwide Children’s Hospital where I’ve found I enjoy answering medication related questions and being able to understand and explain the “why” behind the answers. I like being valued by both patients and providers as a critical part of someone’s care.

I continue to be excited about my pharmacy path. I’d love to continue working in pediatrics, possibly serving in a clinical role in a hospital setting. However, I’m remaining open to all the new opportunities my last year in school will bring me. I’m using this year to really emerge myself in each rotation and determine where my skills will be best utilized.

Outside the pharmacy world, I enjoy playing soccer, going snowboarding, and running. I was training to run my first marathon in Columbus before it was cancelled. I’ve decided to continue training for it and will be running it by myself in October – just for fun. I also have a dog who loves going for walks and being active outside. She keeps me busy. I’ve also been keeping busy throughout the lockdown with LOTS of different crafts, puzzles, oh and, of course, rewatching “The Office” for the hundredth time.

I’m excited to be at Plain City Druggist this month and to help care for patients, as well as to learn all about the uniqueness of independent pharmacies!