JTC 26: Two Degrees and a Commission

Chloe Bergman fell in love with the University of Mississippi before she ever enrolled. The Perryville, Missouri, native arrived through the Early Entry Pharmacy program and spent the next several years building a record of academic achievement and community service that stretched well beyond the pharmacy school walls.  

In May, she graduates with both a Doctor of Pharmacy and a Master of Public Health before reporting for duty as an active-duty pharmacist in the United States Navy. 

Q&A with Chloe Bergman 

What brought you to Ole Miss? Why did you choose your major? 

After my first tour at Ole Miss, I knew Oxford would be the place that I called home. The beauty of the Grove trees, spring tulips and sunny Saturdays at Swayze still makes me feel so lucky to be a Rebel.  

Being from a small town, large universities can feel overwhelming. Ole Miss was able to offer that large university feeling while still maintaining a close-knit community where I felt like I would be treated as an individual, instead of being lost among the crowd.  

Additionally, it was important to me to go to a university that felt connected to and supported by the local community. After walking around the Square and having conversations with local residents, it was apparent that the town and university relied on one another and were there to cheer each other on. 

I entered Ole Miss as a part of the Early Entry Pharmacy program after encouragement from my family to consider entering into the pharmacy field. Growing up, I was always excited by my science classes and drawn towards the medical field.  

I knew that I wanted to use my abilities and the opportunities I have been given in life to help others, and entering the health care field seemed like the best fit for me. More specifically, the pharmacy field allows for flexibility in job settings over time and the lifestyle balance that I desire. 

What standout experiences have you had at Ole Miss? 

My time at Ole Miss was largely influenced by organizational involvement. During pharmacy school, I was a member of the American Pharmacists Association Academy of Student Pharmacists, where I served as the Operation Substance Use Disorder chair for two years; the American Society of Health System Pharmacies, where I served as vice president for the Student Society of Health System Pharmacy; the Kappa Psi pharmaceutical fraternity, where I served as chapter secretary;the Phi Lambda Sigma pharmacy leadership society; and the Rho Chi academic honor society of pharmacy, where I served as chapter president and a member of the National Member Engagement Task Force.  

Through my organizational involvement, I was able to participate in many service events that allowed me to connect with the members of the Ole Miss and Oxford communities while developing personal and professional skills that will contribute to my success as a pharmacist. These events included campus flu vaccine clinics, campus Narcan training events, medication safety presentations at local children's museums, reading to children at local Head Start centers and drug take-back initiatives at local pharmacies.  

These community service events played a large role in igniting my passion for pharmacy and allowed me to build a strong sense of community with my pharmacy classmates and fellow Ole Miss students. 

Were there any challenges you overcame during your college journey? 

As I transitioned from an undergraduate student to a graduate student, I found myself struggling with redefining my role on campus and creating new friendships in this space. I started to see a transition when I began saying yes to the events planned by the pharmacy school and its organizations, like cookouts and holiday parties.  

Through the connections I made at these events and encouragement from my professors, I began to become more involved with pharmacy organizations. These organizations allowed me to not only make connections with my classmates and professors, but also renewed my love for community service and allowed me to find a new purpose on campus. 

Who has been your most influential mentor, professor or supporter at Ole Miss? 

Throughout pharmacy school, several professors have contributed to my experiences and success. Organization advisers, like Dr. Erin Holmes, professor of pharmacy administration; Dr. Ha Phan, clinical associate professor of pharmacy practice; and Dr. Joseph Dikun, instructional assistant professor of pharmacy administration, were always there to assist with event planning and believed in myself and my classmates as we pursued our big ideas.  

Without their support and guidance, I would not have had the successes that I did with community events and my career throughout pharmacy school would have looked significantly different. 

Dr. Stuart Haines, professor of pharmacy practice, who served as my adviser for the past two years, also played a large role in encouraging me to always go one step further with my education but never forget to take care of my personal life and mental health. While it can be easy to neglect other parts of life while pursuing a professional degree like a PharmD, our regular check-ins reminded me to consider all parts of my life and ensure that I maintain a balance. 

What are your post-graduation plans? 

Following graduation, I will be working as an active-duty pharmacist for the United States Navy at Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina. During this time, and following my commitment, I hope to utilize my knowledge and skill set in a clinical pharmacy setting. 

How has your Ole Miss education prepared you for your next steps? 

The well-rounded education I received at Ole Miss has prepared me to be a successful pharmacist. While much of my academic career consisted of didactic education, I was also able to receive hands-on clinical experience and enter real world simulation scenarios.  

These experiences have allowed me to speak to and interact with real patients with confidence, empathy and direction. Additionally, my public health education has allowed me to consider all social determinants of health when creating care plans at an individual and community level.  

Overall, my experiences have prepared me to treat patients with the highest quality of care, both clinically and as an individual. 

In one sentence, what would you tell future Ole Miss students? 

Ole Miss has not only given me an education, but also more friendships, experiences and happy days than I could have ever expected, and for that, I will always be thankful to be a Rebel. 

Top: Chloe Bergman, a Doctor of Pharmacy and Master of Public Health graduate from Perryville, Missouri, graduates in May before reporting for duty as an active-duty pharmacist in the United States Navy at Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina. Photo by Srijita Chattopadhyay/Ole Miss Digital Imaging Services