Student Opportunities

My decision to pursue joining the Commissioned Officer Student Training and Extern Program stems from my interest in serving. After hearing about the program through LT Benjamin Perry, stationed at the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) who came to speak my school, I began my own research. I found that the Public Health Service offers many paths, including working in the Indian Health Service. I wanted to learn more about the service first, so I contacted LT Perry to shadow him and see what his job entails under the BOP. Seeing his day-to-day work was an experience different than anything I had known in traditional pharmacy. LT. Perry also walked me through the steps involved in joining the PHS and what I’d need to get there. As a rising third year, my primary career interests are focused on clinical care settings, and this Commissioned Officer Student Training and Extern Program has given me valuable insight into that path.

So far, my program has been an amazing learning experience, especially thanks to my preceptor, LCDR Abby Petrulis. The work environment at Haskell Indian Health Center has been great, and the other pharmacists on duty are lively and helpful. My responsibilities so far have included counseling patients on their medications to improve outcomes, collaborating and coordinating duties with coworkers to ensure the daily workload is completed while staying attentive to patients' needs, and filling medications for patients coming from visits with their primary providers or specialists. I have also completed multiple projects related to improving patient outcomes, including creating data on the effectiveness of empagliflozin in lowering A1C. I have enjoyed getting to know the pharmacy and clinic staff, who are all very welcoming. As I advance in my pharmacy career, I aim to keep building on my academic foundation, leadership experience, and community engagement so that I can perform to the best of my ability in clinical pharmacy settings. To help me reach these goals, I have applied for the Senior Commissioned Officer Student Training and Extern Program, in hopes of further advancing my career in the Indian Health Service.

My interest in the U.S. Public Health Service began during my P1 spring semester after hearing Lt. Benjamin Perry, a former Bureau of Prisons pharmacist, speak about his experience in the Commissioned Corps and the JRCOSTEP program. Learning that he was able to begin serving patients immediately after graduation while practicing at the top of his license inspired me to pursue a similar path. More importantly, I have always been passionate about serving underserved communities and providing compassionate, patient-centered care to individuals who may have limited access to healthcare. JRCOSTEP felt like the perfect opportunity to begin that journey while working toward my long-term goal of becoming a Commissioned Corps pharmacist.

My time at Pine Ridge Indian Hospital has truly been my "textbook come to life." Beyond expanding my clinical knowledge, this experience has challenged me to develop a deeper sense of cultural humility and has given me a greater appreciation for the unique healthcare needs of the Oglala Lakota community. I have been incredibly fortunate to learn from both civilian and Commissioned Corps pharmacists whose mentorship has shaped my professional growth. Equally meaningful have been the relationships I've built with the pharmacy technicians and staff from the local community, who welcomed me with kindness and shared parts of their culture and traditions with me. Outside of the hospital, exploring the breathtaking landscapes of South Dakota has been an unforgettable adventure, but the people I have met and the perspectives I have gained have made this experience truly life-changing.

I chose JRCOSTEP because my early pharmacy experiences revealed how pharmacists can advance public health and improve access to care for underserved populations. Beginning as the first volunteer at Southern Regional Medical Center’s Outpatient Pharmacy in spring 2024, I supported administrative operations, coordinated medication pickups, and screened uninsured patients for the Dispensary of Hope program. One patient’s gratitude for my persistence in trying to obtain an atorvastatin discount card showed me the value of compassionate service, even when the desired outcome is not achieved. My commitment to health equity grew while volunteering at Southern Regional’s Health at Home Community Clinic, where I witnessed the strength of underserved communities and the impact of small acts of care. Inspired by these experiences and encouraged by USPHS pharmacists David Pinkerton and Andrew Ejofor, I applied to JRCOSTEP to strengthen my clinical and leadership skills while serving communities with limited access to healthcare.

Throughout my internship, I expanded my clinical knowledge while strengthening my communication, leadership, and interprofessional collaboration skills. I presented a quality improvement project evaluating gaps in the pharmacist-led transitions-of-care process, developed an in-service presentation and infographic recommending formulary changes for over-the-counter medications, co-hosted the Kayenta Health Fair, and proposed adding ENOBY, a biosimilar to Prolia (denosumab), to the Kayenta Regional Health Center (KARH) formulary based on its potential cost savings and financial impact.

Beyond my clinical experiences, the internship immersed me in the Navajo culture through visits to Monument Valley and the Grand Canyon, exposure to Navajo food, art, and music, and the opportunity to build meaningful relationships within the community. These experiences deepened my cultural awareness and reinforced the importance of providing culturally competent, patient-centered care.

As someone who grew up on the East Coast, coming all the way out west was a big step out of my comfort zone. But joining the U.S. Public Health Service JRCOSTEP program at Phoenix Indian Medical Center has proved to be one of my best decisions so far. I heard about the program while I was in high school, but it wasn’t until speaking with a pharmacist who completed their residency with IHS that I realized how much the USPHS mission aligned with my career goals. Through JRCOSTEP, I have grown to appreciate just how much public health services can have an impact on the community. My experience in this unique ambulatory care setting has made me even more determined to pursue this growing area of pharmacy. Being able to gain exposure to this specialized field prior to my Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) rotations has been another bonus!

What drove me to want to join IHS is the mission of the agency - to improve the health of Native American people to the highest degree. To me, a key part of being a healthcare provider is giving back to your community, especially underserved ones. Whether directly or indirectly, I hoped to make some impact on the community or in the pharmacy. Additionally, I believed the COSTEP program would allow me the opportunity to gain insight into how pharmacy operates in both a rural setting and a clinic setting, both of which are of interest to me. The parts I most enjoyed during my time with IHS has been the opportunities I have had to work on projects within the pharmacy, and to interact with and shadow patients being counseled on their medications.

I am originally from Nigeria and have resided since 2011 in Rhode Island, where I am a about to enter my third year as a student at the University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy. I heard about the COSTEP program when CAPT Bill Lehault spoke about it as a guest speaker at my school. I had not heard of any other internships like it. After learning about it during CAPT Lehault's visit, I felt that the COSTEP program would be a unique experience for me. I am enjoying the clinical experiences I've had so far at the Albuquerque Indian Health Center, especially topic discussions with my preceptor.

My interest in the JRCOSTEP program was sparked during my PHRM 3500 class, where Lt. Benjamin Perry spoke as a guest speaker about his career. Shortly after his presentation, I had the opportunity to shadow him at the Federal Bureau of Prisons, which motivated me to apply for the program.

During my time as a JRCOSTEP, I have thoroughly enjoyed the outpatient setting at the IHS Fort Thompson Health Center. It offers an ideal combination of retail and clinical pharmacy. I particularly enjoy conducting comprehensive patient reviews and making recommendations based on vitals and charts. The nature of this setting ensures that every day brings new learning opportunities. Lastly, I have appreciated the opportunity to work with such a fantastic pharmacy team. Collaborating with people who care about their patients and support one another has been one of the most rewarding parts of my JRCOSTEP experience at IHS.