From Dickinson High to Pharmacy Success: How MedCert is Fast-Tracking Futures
Jul. 11—DICKINSON — In the hallways of North Dakota State University (NDSU), Rylie Dohrmann strides with a confidence born from early hands-on experience and a solid foundation in her chosen field. Now a third-year college student, Dohrmann's journey into the world of pharmacy began years earlier at Dickinson High School (DHS), fueled by her passion and bolstered by the support of local pharmacies and an innovative certification program.
"I was always interested in pharmacy, so when I heard I would be able to work at Clinic Pharmacy or Medicine Shoppe I was excited for that," Dohrmann recalled.
Her excitement only grew when she discovered she could become a pharmacy technician before even stepping into pharmacy school.
This opportunity came through MedCert, a Michigan-based organization that offers an accelerated pharmacy technician certification program. Unlike traditional two-year programs, MedCert's curriculum is designed to be completed in just nine months. This efficiency caught the attention of both DHS and Mandan High School, which partnered with local pharmacies to sponsor students through the program. This initiative not only covers costs but also ensures employment pathways for graduates.
Dohrmann's engagement with the local pharmacies began in her junior year of high school, and by her senior year, she had enrolled in the MedCert program. "You go through the different modules and then kind of do a test on each of them before you move onto the next one," Dohrmann explained. "It is really nice because you also get your experience in the pharmacy. You can apply it as you are learning it."
his blend of theoretical learning and practical application is a cornerstone of MedCert's program, addressing workforce shortages and creating career opportunities that benefit both the community and the broader healthcare system. Jennifer Kolb, Vice President of Partnership and Workforce Development for MedCert, emphasized the program's focus on attraction, retention, and risk mitigation. "When we are working with employers we are asking questions of how are you building a new talent strategy, what are you doing to keep the talent that you got and what are the opportunities to put someone in a short-term training program that can help them upscale or build their future career path," Kolb said.
Despite MedCert's geographical distance from Dickinson, the collaboration with local pharmacies has been instrumental. The Medicine Shoppe, in particular, has played a pivotal role in bringing high school students into the clinical environment to earn their clinical hours. Brandi Ollerman, owner of the Medicine Shoppe and Clinic Pharmacy in Dickinson, highlighted the program's dual benefits of facilitating hiring and enhancing the skills and knowledge of their employees.
Initially, Ollerman had reservations about condensing a traditional two-year program into just nine months. However, after reviewing the modules and experiencing the consistent support through weekly check-ins, her concerns were alleviated. "They get a wide variety of an introduction to pharmacy ... the modules cover calculations, learning the generic medications, data entry for filling and dispensing a prescription, both retail and hospital wise," Ollerman said. The program also includes 160 hours of hands-on pharmacy experience, allowing students to put their newly acquired knowledge into practice.
During her summer breaks, Dohrmann returns to Dickinson to work at the local pharmacies. Reflecting on her experience with the MedCert program, she values the straightforward guidance from advisors and the hands-on learning that prepared her for real-world applications. "It was nice to know that this environment was what I liked doing," Dohrmann expressed. "I think working here and going through the program definitely gave me confidence that pharmacy was what I wanted to go into. It was nice going into that knowing."
As she continues her studies at NDSU, Dohrmann remains enthusiastic about integrating her classroom knowledge with practical experience. Her journey from high school student to confident pharmacy professional illustrates the profound impact of early hands-on experience and accelerated certification programs like MedCert. These programs not only empower students like Dohrmann, but also strengthen the healthcare system by fostering a skilled and dedicated workforce.