UW Pharmacy Student Aims to Inspire Others to Pursue Dual Pharmacy/MBA Degrees

Lisa Ohnstad is the first University of Wyoming student to study in the new dual pharmacy/MBA degree program and is trying to inspire others to join as well.

According to the University, Ohnstad, from Weston, a small community with no corporations along the upper Little Powder River north of Gillette is trying to revolutionize this new program being offered at UW.

The University says the doctor of pharmacy/executive MBA candidate has been given several honors recognizing Ohnstad's accomplishments and leadership qualities. UW says Ohnstad's workload is quite an impressive one as she is in both programs along with  a military career and has a family as well.

The UW release says Ohnstad has a desire to stay in Wyoming and is now pursuing degrees in the business and health care professions.

Ohnstad says “I am doing it so that I could, along with my husband, stay in the state we know and love," she added, “I had always wanted to work in the health care industry and,

when my husband was called to active duty, I felt it was the right time for me to return to college.”

The University adds with Ohnstad applying for pharmacy school, she has also applied to the MBA program as a backup plan. The release goes onto say Ohnstad wanted to keep challenging herself with this workload.

Ohnstad says “I already had my undergraduate degree, and I knew that I would need upper-division courses outside of the School of Pharmacy or health sciences. I saw this as an opportunity to do both while achieving both course requirements simultaneously,” she adds, “After being accepted into both programs, and with assistance from both departments, I was able to dual enroll. My recommendation to others is go to school for what you want to do, and can be engaged, energized and passionate about.”

The University states Ohnstad is on the four-year pharmacy program although she says ”I highly recommend the five-year, on-campus dual program UW has launched and the MBA has opened doors for me that I never thought were possible; however, the four-year plan that I have been on has been intense.”