For Seana-Pierre Williams (PharmD '25), who is from Jamaica, experiencing a pharmacy rotation in the middle of a Minnesota winter tested her “adaptability in every way—not just in patient care but also in daily life.”
Williams, a student at PCOM Georgia's School of Pharmacy, chose the Cass Lake Indian Health Service (IHS) site for an elective rotation due to her love for public health and interest in stepping outside of her comfort zone. She also desired to learn more about the culture and traditions of the American Indian population she would serve.
“I love seeing positive patient outcomes and knowing my work makes a tangible impact in the community,” Williams said shortly after finishing the rotation, one of eight that PCOM Georgia pharmacy students complete in their fourth year. “That's one of the reasons I chose this rotation. Walking away from this experience, I can confidently say I’ve adopted the IHS mission of meeting patients where they are and treating them holistically. It’s a principle I want to carry into my future clinical practice.”
Williams and classmate Joanna Donaldson (PharmD '25), a native of Michigan, both recently completed their IHS rotation at Cass Lake. For Donaldson, it served as a core ambulatory care rotation. She has traveled frequently for rotations and said IHS “was a unique opportunity to travel and experience new things… so I decided to embrace the adventure while also gaining valuable experience.”
Julie Wickman, PharmD, director of Experiential Education for the School of Pharmacy, said an adventurous spirit is helpful when students seek to “leave home base” for rotations. Wickman said PCOM Georgia's relationship with IHS has been in place for at least 12 years. Students stay on reservations and receive training to manage medication therapy, monitor patient responses and collaborate with other healthcare professionals to optimize drug regimens. “It's a very unique model for a pharmacist,” she said.
For Williams, a standout experience of the IHS rotation included an over-the-counter medication clinic where patients can request items at no cost. “We also reviewed patient charts and flagged any overdue vaccines, ensuring they received care while they were at the clinic. This was particularly important because some patients traveled long distances to access care,” she said. “Addressing as many health concerns as possible in a single visit significantly impacted their overall well-being, especially for those managing chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension.”
Donaldson emphasized a harm-reduction program—including testing for sexually transmitted infections and distributing naloxone—that created “a welcoming, judgment-free space where individuals felt safe seeking help. Their commitment to harm reduction and public health was truly inspiring,” she said.
Another key project, she added, involved transitioning patients to a newer version of a continuous glucose monitor. “Since diabetes management is a core aspect of ambulatory care, this hands-on experience was invaluable,” Donaldson said. “By the time I started working directly with the pharmacist in the clinic, I felt much more comfortable in my role.”
Lt. Cmdr. Rachel Washburn, PharmD, a clinical pharmacist at the Cass Lake IHS location and the pharmacy residency director there, said she hosts about 10 students per year. The Cass Lake site is on the Leech Lake Reservation for the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. It serves about 12,000 people.
IHS employees are “passionate about serving, and we carry that over with our teaching and education of students,” she said. “We want our students to see the passion we have, share that with them, and open up their eyes that this could be a career opportunity as well.”
Donaldson’s advice for pharmacy students considering an IHS site: Keep an open mind.
“Patients want to connect with you just as much as you want to learn from them,” she said. “Also, be willing to step outside your comfort zone. This rotation will challenge you, but that's where growth happens.”
Williams echoed that sentiment.
“I know it seems intimidating, but the growth you experience in five weeks is incredible,” she said. “You'll be uncomfortable at times; that's part of learning. But by the end, you'll look back and realize just how much you've gained.”
PCOM Georgia has been serving students and the community for 20 years as a branch campus of Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM), a private, not-for-profit, accredited institution of higher education established in 1899. Located in Suwanee (Gwinnett County), PCOM Georgia offers doctoral degrees in osteopathic medicine, pharmacy and physical therapy. Graduate degrees are offered in biomedical sciences, medical laboratory science and physician assistant studies. The campus joins PCOM South Georgia in Moultrie in helping to meet the healthcare needs of the state. Emphasizing "a whole person" approach to care, PCOM Georgia focuses on educational excellence, interprofessional education and service to the community. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 678-225-7500. The campus is also home to the Georgia Osteopathic Care Center, an osteopathic manipulative medicine clinic, which is open to the public by appointment. For more information, visit pcomgeorgiahealth.org.
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Email: brandonla@pcom.edu
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