Chelsea Bolier: PharmD Candidate

Why did you choose the U and your program?

I chose pharmacy very early on - back in high school! I knew I wanted to do something in healthcare, but pharmacy really stood out to me as an opportunity to build long-lasting, meaningful relationships with patients while also working alongside other professionals. I grew up in a northern suburb of Saint Paul, so I was familiar with the reputation that the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy holds as the #2 ranked pharmacy school nationwide. I wanted to learn from the best, and I knew that the U was the place I needed to be!

What is something you wish you knew before you started your program?

I wish I would have known more about communication and networking! Those are skills that are extremely useful in pharmacy and beyond, and I can always learn more about how to be better at connecting with others. 

What resources or services have been essential to your academic success?

Self-care has been essential to my success as a student in pharmacy school. Professional schools can be very stressful, so taking the time to support my own health and well-being has been extremely important to me. To me, this means spending time doing activities that “fill up my cup” such as spending time with friends and family outside of school, meditation, listening to calming music, playing with my dog, etc. I found many resources available on campus and online to learn more about how to support myself in a professional program!

What are your career goals?

My goal is to be a pharmacist on an interprofessional healthcare team. Whether that is on the front lines of patient care or behind the scenes, I want to work with other professionals to help improve patient outcomes. 

What student activities are you involved in?

I am a CHIP representative for the College of Pharmacy as well as a Co-Chair of the CHIP executive board. I am also involved in Primary Care Progress, Phi Lambda Sigma Pharmacy Leadership Society, Phi Delta Chi Pharmacy Leadership Fraternity, Minnesota Pharmacy Student Alliance, College of Pharmacy Student Ambassadors, and the Health Professions Pathways Initiative Student Advisory Board.

What drew you to CHIP?

Before I came to pharmacy school, I worked in a pharmacy that was looking to establish interprofessional teams to improve patient outcomes. I fell in love with the idea of an interprofessional healthcare team, so when the opportunity presented itself to get involved with CHIP I was ecstatic! I was intrigued about the opportunity to learn more about my profession by getting to know and work alongside other health professionals. 

What is your favorite place on campus and why? 

CHIP! I love the community space it provides for student leaders and organizations as well as the services they provide for professional students. I’m so excited to see the new space in the new building and how it can help transform the experience of professional students!