By Carolyn Lee
The Imperial Republican
A University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) pharmacy student chose to perform one of her summer rotations in Imperial because of family ties.
Leigh Blobaum is the grandaughter of Ron and Lou Hegwood of Imperial. She began work at Adams Drug Monday and will stay with her grandparents through the end of the month.
She sees her rotation as a time to spend more time with her grandparents. She spent vacations in Imperial while growing up.
The 23-year old is required to perform 10 rotations with health professionals across Nebraska as part of her health care education requirements.
The rotations are part of the UNMC Rural Health Education Network, an innovative program developed to help address the shortage of health professionals in rural Nebraska.
Blobaum is a fourth year pharmacy student. Last month she was on rotation at St. Francis Cancer Treatment Center in Grand Island. Her eight other rotations will include two ambulatory care, two acute care, one non-patient care, community pharmacy and four electives, at least one of which is to be rural.
The pharmacy student graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science in psychology. She graduated from North Kansas City High School in Kansas City, Mo. in 2006.
Although she works in a community pharmacy in Omaha now, Blobaum said it’s at a slower pace than at Adams Drug.
“It’s neat to get a small-town pharmacy feel,” she said, including the fact that Adams Drug fills in at the Imperial Manor and has a Comadin clinic.
“It seems more fast-paced here,” she said.
Blobaum said she hasn’t encountered any type of pharmacy she doesn’t like so far. As for after graduation next spring, “I’m keeping my options open.”
UNMC is sending another pharmacy student with local ties to Adams Drug this summer for a rotation. Former Imperial resident Jason Burke will be in town July 30-Aug. 24.