Travis Condon

IMG_0276 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.”
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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.