JTC 26: Trailblazing Tradition: Choctaw Student Charts Path to Pharmacy

“Okish Atahli.” That is what University of Mississippi senior and Mississippi Band of Choctaw tribal member Sydney Ben is on her way of becoming – a pharmacist. When all is said and done, she will be the first tribe member to become a licensed pharmacist.

As an early-entry pharmacy student from Choctaw, Ben graduates in May with her bachelor’s degree in pharmaceutical science and a minor in chemistry, all while having completed her first year of pharmacy school during her senior year.

“I’m very proud of her on her personal achievement and grateful for her hard work and the ambition she has to overcome a barrier of being the first for our tribe in this field of study,” Tribal Chief Cyrus Ben said. “While we’ve had many tribal members become the first in many of their respected professions, pharmacy is an area that is much needed because science and health are an integral part of life.”

But it was a chance visit to Ole Miss campus that made her realize pharmacy was for her.

“We're a Mississippi State family through and through, so for the longest time, I was going to State,” Sydney Ben said.

However, her mother, Alyssa, suggested Sydney at least visit Ole Miss to see what it had to offer.

“We came for one of the junior preview days,” Sydney said. “And that's how I met some people in pharmacy because they had their own booth among the other majors set up."

Because she wanted to do something in the medical field, pharmacy seemed interesting.

“I loved the science behind it like figuring out how drugs interact in the body,” she said.

She learned about the early entry program and decided to apply. She worked hard to be accepted to the program, and that same work ethic has been noticed throughout her time on campus.

“Sydney consistently approached coursework with diligence and demonstrated confidence in problem-solving and interpretation of scientific information,” said John Rimoldi, professor of medicinal chemistry and environmental toxicology. “She has gained a strong foundation in scientific reasoning and an appreciation for the responsibilities and challenges that come with working in the health care sector.”

She is accomplishing this feat thanks to her mother’s advice.

“My mom's always told me that once you start something, you have to finish it and always give it your all,” she said.

“I'm excited for a graduation because that's a big milestone for me, and for her; it just feels like it's us accomplishing it because it's just always been me and her, and she's been able to do it all on her own to take care of me and to provide me the life I have.”

With her family and tribe’s support and influence, Ben is giving her all while at Ole Miss.

As part of the school’s American Pharmacists Association student chapter, Sydney started Operation Cancer, a group dedicated to spreading awareness and resources related to cancer. She was motivated by her great aunt Louie, who died from breast cancer.

“She was always happy, and she just never saw the bad; cancer was just another thing for her,” she said. “I want to be able to be the sort of light that she was.”

She also is president of PediaRebs, a group that advocates and focuses on children's health through community involvement and outreach. She hopes to one day work in a pediatric setting and help children have good memories, even when times may be hard.

“I'm just very fortunate that I have more good memories (from my childhood) that weigh out the bad and so I want to be able to do that for kids, especially when they're in the hospital setting because they don't feel great and then the parents are under a lot of stress,” she said.

Additionally, Sydney would like to help her tribal health care system.

“I'm hoping at some point that I can help at our Choctaw Health Center,” she said. “I'm hoping that becoming the first Choctaw pharmacist that I can help contribute in any way to the pharmacy that we have.”

This is all possible because of the support and influence of her family and tribe.

“Being the first Choctaw pharmacist for my tribe was something I never thought about, but I think it is a big motivator for the tribe to show the younger kids in the tribe that it is possible, especially because the tribe is so supportive,” she said. “I honestly would not be here right now without them, because of the tribal scholarship program.”

The scholarship program is also helping her influence her tribe, whether she realizes it or not.

“She is adding to the legacy of our tribal members who have taken advantage of our tribal scholarship program and maximized its benefit,” Chief Cyrus Ben said. “It will encourage more of our people to seize the opportunity and use it as a stepping-stone toward even greater achievements.

“Being a next-level role model for her generation is showing her peers, and those that follow, through hard work and determination, it can be done.”

While competing in the Choctaw Indian Princess competition a few years ago, her message was that tribe members should be proud of who they are and become anything they want – even a pharmacist.

She is becoming a role model for her tribe, the chief said.

"I hope she embraces that and uses her scholastic accomplishments to be a platform to encourage other young people,” Cyrus Ben said. “In this particular field of study, people tend to think this path is long and difficult to achieve, but it is something that can be done and Sydney is proof of that.”

Sydney is living her words and achieving her dreams.

“At my white coat ceremony, Cyrus gave me a pin that has our tribal seal on it,” she said. “I love it because every time I wear a white coat, it's there and reminds me of why I'm doing this, why I want to do it, where I came from and all the people that I have at home; it's just amazing.”

Top: Sydney Ben, a pharmaceutical science graduate and Mississippi Band of Choctaw tribal member from Choctaw, graduates in May on her way to becoming the first licensed pharmacist in her tribe's history. She will continue her pharmacy education at the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy. Photo by Srijita Chattopadhyay/Ole Miss Digital Imaging Services

 See more photos from Sydney Ben's Journey to Commencement