2020 Grad Stories: Brittany Johnson
May 11, 2020
Bakersfield Native to Serve the Health Care Needs of Her Hometown
Live to serve, serve to live. That is the motto Dr. Brittany Johnson, CHSU College of Pharmacy graduate and Bakersfield native, lives by.
For Dr. Johnson, becoming a pharmacist means that she will be able to serve others via her knowledge of medicine. She explains that as a pharmacist, sometimes they see duplication therapies, which is where a patient is taking more than one drug to treat a single problem. This happens when one doctor prescribes one medication and another doctor prescribes a second without realizing the ailment is already being treated.
Dr. Johnson hopes that she can be that second set of eyes to help advocate for patients and help them live healthier lives – especially in her hometown of Bakersfield. As a native to the Central Valley, she says her pharmacy career goals are not only for herself, but for the community as well.
“Being part of the Central Valley is part of me.”
Dr. Johnson attended Langston University in Oklahoma to earn her Bachelor of Science in Biology and minored in Chemistry and Math. She came back to the Central Valley to pursue her doctoral pharmacy education.
During her time at CHSU, she was a member of Phi Delta Chi, the Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA), was a CHSU Student Ambassador that helped incoming pharmacy students transition into CHSU, and was a CHSU/CVS Health Próspero Program mentor, a pathway program that helps prepare high school and undergraduate college students for a career in pharmacy.
Her fondest memories of her pharmacy education are those with her fellow students. She fondly remembers the friendships she has made throughout her journey and the activities they have participated in together. Most of all, she appreciates the support she felt from her friends and colleagues.
“It just warms my heart to know I have had someone in my corner for the last four years that has seen me through. We’ve gotten each other through the good and the stressful times. So friendship is what has been really important to me during these four years.”
After graduation she plans to continue to work for CVS Pharmacy in Bakersfield. She had worked at CVS for almost five years prior to being accepted into the CHSU College of Pharmacy and has continued to work there for about three years while in pharmacy school.
“I plan to work for CVS right here in my hometown of Bakersfield. Being part of CVS and being able to work for them after graduation is important to me because we have that bond that we’ve shared throughout the years.”
Dr. Brittany Johnson will be graduating this Thursday, May 14, 2020 with her Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) from CHSU.
The 2020 Grad Stories is a series dedicated to honoring our California Health Sciences University (CHSU) Doctor of Pharmacy graduates and showcasing their accomplishments throughout their time at CHSU while earning their PharmD degree.
