This past month, we had the pleasure of hosting Dalton Lierz – a pharmacy student from the University of Kansas who is in his final year of rotations. We sat down with Dalton to learn about his experiences on rotation and how his time at Currus has impacted his view on independent pharmacy. 

 

What influenced you to want to become a pharmacist?

I’ve always enjoyed health care. My mom is a nurse and she influenced me to want to become a pharmacist and to help people. Pharmacy is unique in comparison to other healthcare occupations in that you are more available to your patients in a community setting. I also enjoy that people have a trusting relationship with you. I enjoy educating my patients and putting pride into my work that helps the people I care for.

 

What kind of experiences have you gained from your rotations in your final year?

I’ve been able to apply many of the clinical skills I learned in school – put in real-world scenarios where you have to think on your feet. I’ve also gained a better understanding of the business side of independent and chain pharmacies.

It’s allowed me to bring everything together that I’ve learned over the past three years in pharmacy school and see that you really can make a difference as a pharmacist.

 

What advice would you give to pharmacy students who are just starting out in pharmacy school?

First off, enjoy it. These are great experiences. Take advantage of learning new things and gaining new experiences. Don’t be afraid to jump in and put yourself in situations you’re not familiar with because it’s a learning process and it will only better you as a pharmacist. And definitely take advantage of your preceptor and pick their brain because they have a lot of knowledge and experiences that they can share with you.

 

What have you enjoyed most while interning here at Currus and what do you see as the benefit of interning at an association like ours in comparison to interning in a pharmacy setting?

I really enjoyed the people. The people at Currus are great and very hospitable. Interning at an association like Currus allows you to see the legislative process from the Board of Pharmacy to the statehouse, etc. It also gives you a great way of communicating and networking with many different pharmacists in rural areas of Kansas. You gain knowledge of coming bills that will affect pharmacy in the future, which is very interesting.

This type of rotation gives you the opportunity to learn how to voice your opinion and concerns and become an active participant as an advocate for independent pharmacy in Kansas.