Pharmacy Spotlight

Meet Jonathan Klauke, a third-year student pharmacist in Drake's Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program.  In the summer of 2022, Jonathan completed a pharmacy internship at Gundersen Health System in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

Hometown:    La Crosse, WI

Tell us about your internship at Gundersen Health System. What does a typical day look like?

My days can be very different. Some days, I go on rounds with the team, write vancomycin and warfarin notes, or work on my formulary project. Other days, I do medical histories or work in the Meds2Go program. We must be very flexible, and no two days are the same. 

How did Drake prepare you for your experience at Gundersen Health System?

Drake has prepared me by giving me a great baseline of knowledge that I am able to use daily. More specifically, practicing medication histories in lab made me feel confident to have real conversations with patients when they come into the hospital. 

What was your biggest lesson from this internship?

I have learned that it is all right to not have all the answers right away. Pharmacists and other medical team members have been there to assist me every step of the way. 

What do you like best about the internship at Gundersen Health System?

My favorite thing about the internship is the ability to work with the rest of the medical team. Whenever I have a suggestion or question, I can easily get in touch with another medical professional. We are also right there if a provider or nurse has a question about any medication. I feel like I am directly involved with my patients' healthcare. 

Share a few things you’ve liked the most about your time in Drake's pharmacy program.

One of my favorite things about the pharmacy program is how open and available the professors are. Whenever I email them, walk into office hours, or even come up after class, they always give me time and answer my questions to the best of their ability. Secondly, from all of the group work we do, I am getting closer and closer to my pharmacy class. I cannot wait to get working again with my team "Aguaman" in Therapeutics and work together to grow as professionals. 

What is one piece of advice you have for future Drake pharmacy students?

Get out of your comfort zone early. I thought because I have only worked in community pharmacy that I would not find an internship. However, pharmacists and institutions want to help the next generation of pharmacists. All you must do is show the initiative.