Idaho State University College of Pharmacy’s Sabrina Sherwood lands internship with Mayo Clinic

Idaho State University student pharmacist Sabrina Sherwood received a voice message on her phone Feb. 4 that made her a little nervous.

It was the Mayo Clinic with a follow-up question to her recent interview for a pharmacy internship at the world-renowned hospital in Rochester, Minnesota.

The 22-year-old Boise native wondered if she’d missed something in her interview—although she recalled responding to the questions as thoroughly as possible.

So she picked up the phone, dialed and learned there was no cause for worry. She’d been accepted into the program, and the internship director just wanted to confirm she was still available.

“I was ecstatic. I couldn’t believe it,” said Sherwood, who is in the second year of the four-year Doctor of Pharmacy program on the Pocatello campus. She is scheduled to graduate in 2017.

May 18, Sherwood will begin a 10-week paid internship at the Mayo Clinic Hospital. She is one of 10 interns representing eight pharmacy schools from across the nation, and one of six interns assigned to an inpatient or hospital setting. She’ll have the opportunity to shadow practicing pharmacists in multiple areas and gain hands-on knowledge of pharmacy operations.

In addition to providing academic credentials and recommendations, candidates had to write a 1,000-word essay explaining why they wanted to intern and present a five-year professional career plan.

“I focused on the fact that my end goal is to make a difference in people’s lives. I’m ready to reach out, grow and become the best clinical pharmacist I can be,” said Sherwood.

At ISU, Sherwood is active in outreach programs that educate the community about diabetes prevention, immunizations and heart health. She is the hepatitis C coordinator at the Pocatello Family Medicine Clinic and president of the College of Pharmacy Student Senate.