Travis Condon
Travis
Condon, Standing River Sioux, is a pharmacy student in
the College of Pharmacy, Nursing and Allied Sciences
at North Dakota State University. When he completes
his doctoral degree in pharmacy (PharmD), he wants to
work for the Indian Health Service. “I have the desire
to work with Indian people, especially with my own
people back on the Standing Rock Reservation,” he
says. “I feel that it will be extremely rewarding for
myself, and I want to show the young people at home
that it is okay to leave home to get an education and
then come back home to work. I feel if I can change
even one person’s viewpoint on this matter, then it
will be worth all the hard work that I put myself
through.”
Following are excerpts from an article that was originally
published when Condon had just finished the pre-pharmacy
phase of the curriculum and was entering the four-year long
professional phase of the pharmacy program. An update from
Condon follows the article..
Preparing to Serve His People
“I always wanted to be involved in health care,” says
Condon. “I like helping people.” In 1997 after graduating
from high school in Ft. Yates on the Standing Rock
Reservation, Condon went to Bismarck State College as a
pre-med student. By the time he transferred to the North
Dakota State University (NDSU) in 2002, he had decided on a
career in pharmacy.
“NDSU is primarily a white school. NAPP [Native Americans
in Pharmacy Program] helped me get involved with other
Natives and with the school. They let you know what you
need to do for your future. I like the fact that the NAPP
monthly meetings focus on school and on real world issues.”
Jaclynn Davis Wallette, Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa,
Coordinator of NAPP, travels to Native communities in North
Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota, recruiting students
into pharmacy. She said that Condon made a major
contribution to this effort. “He prepared a public service
announcement (PSA) designed to recruit American Indian
people into pharmacy. The PSA is played on local radio
stations so when I visit communities, I have interest from
grandmas, moms and dads of future students.
Condon took a well-earned break this summer before entering
the professional program. For the past seven summers, he
has been fighting wild fires in Oregon.
When he completes his pharmacy education, Condon would like
to work with Indian people, eventually doing a combination
of clinical work and administration.
Advice
Condon says
there will always be jobs in pharmacy and in healthcare in
general. “If you really like helping people, and
particularly if you want to help other Indian people, just
stick with your math and science and accomplish what you
want to accomplish.
Once you’re in pharmacy school, Condon says, “Go to class.
Since you’re not forced to go to class, it’s easy to not
go. But it is also easy to fall behind. If you are
organized and go to classes, you’ll know what needs to be
done, and you can get your work done. Managing your time
this way will help you in the real world.”
Condon suggests, “If you’re away from home, call home every
now and then. Tell them what’s going on. Tell them your
accomplishments and your problems. Most likely you’ll get
some good advice from your immediate family For those who
don’t have that opportunity, try to talk to people who are
in good standing in your community or wherever you are
from. They’ll be plenty of good advice.
“Make as many friends as you can who are involved in school
and won’t put you down the wrong path,” continues Condon.
“In college you have to be a little more outgoing,
especially if you’re in the minority.”
The
article above was first published in the Autumn 2004 issue
of
Winds of Change. (The cover
artist is Clarrisa Hudson, Tlingit.)
Update
2007
Condon is now in the final year of the pharmacy curriculum,
which focuses on clinical rotations in general adult
medicine. Students can also pursue rotations in such
specialized areas as pediatrics, family practice and
oncology. “We do nine rotations, each lasting for five
weeks,” says Condon. “I’m currently working at the
MeritCare Roger Maris Cancer Center. It is a very
educational and interesting experience.”
Condon stresses that pharmacy school is hard work. All the
teachers want you to have a handle on their areas of focus.
However, if you’re willing to challenge yourself, Condon
recommends going into a medical field. “There will always
be a need for teachers and for people in medicine,” he
says.
Since the first article was published, Condon and his wife
have become parents of a little boy. Condon is scheduled to
receive his PharmD degree in 2008.