Native American Center of Excellence

The Native American Center of Excellence Pathways to Pharm.D. Summer Program started on June 1st!

The NACOE team was able to successfully recruit 7 students from Montana, Arizona, and New Mexico. Our students will be starting their P1 Year of Pharmacy School at the University of Montana, the University of New Mexico, and the University of Arizona this fall!

We were honored to welcome Blackfeet elder and knowledge holder, Darnell Rides At The Door on June 4th. Darnell provided our students with a presentation on Blackfeet traditional medicines.

Congratulations to all of our graduating students!

Congratulations to the Doctor of Pharmacy Class of 2026!

Congratulations to our graduating student Ispitaki Chelle Brown!

Chelle is from the Blackfeet Nation and she is graduating with a Doctorate in Pharmacy. After graduation, Chelle will be working at Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribal Health as a Pharmacist.

While in Pharmacy school, Chelle was a APhA-ASP Operation Substance Use Disorder-CoChair for 4 years, a member of the National Community Pharmacy Association for 2 years, a CSKT Tribal Health Pharmacy Intern for 4 years, on the Skaggs School of Pharmacy Student Leadership for 4 years, a Skaggs School of Pharmacy Curriculum - Student, a Skaggs Scholar for 4 years, an Indian Health Service Scholarship Recipient for 2 years, a George Pease Native American Scholarship Recipient, a Ralph E. Hulda M. Fields Native American Scholarship Recipient for 2 years, and an AISES Student Feature in 2025.

Chelle has commuted from Pablo/Ronan daily for the past 5 years. She is the wife to Daniel Brown and a mother to her son (15) and daughter (12).

Congratulations to our graduating student Shelly Cooley!

Shelly is Hunkpapa Lakota from the Standing Rock Tribe, by way of the Black Hills of South Dakota. She is graduating with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Neuroscience.

After graduation, Shelly will be starting the PharmD program at the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and a concurrent masters program in Pharmaceutical Science and Drug Design. She will continue to work with the Holick VR Lab building a training module for healthcare professionals that will leverage VR to increase levels of empathy for Blackfeet patients.

Congratulations to our graduating student Lauren Dupuis!

Lauren comes from the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes. She is graduating Summa Cum Laude with a Doctorate in Pharmacy and a Masters in Pharmaceutical Science and Drug Design.

After graduation, Lauren will be doing a PGY1 Residency at Community Medical Center.

Join us on Tuesday, April 28th from 11 AM - 3 PM for the Stress Less Study Break!

Stop by and make tea blend packets and bison tallow salves.

Good luck on finals!

Join us on Wednesday, April 22nd from 12 - 2 PM for Medicinal Tea Pounding!

Then from 4 - 7 PM we will discuss Iron, Potassium, and try Lengua Tacos.

*You will be entered into a raffle drawing for ribbon if you attend!*

Remember to stop by the Stress Less Study Break on Tuesday 4/28 to make salves, tea blends, and other traditional medicines!