I recently had the opportunity to go and job shadow at a nuclear pharmacy! As a future pharmacy student I have been looking at potential options of careers to work towards. I was told about this nuclear pharmacy and knew that I couldn’t pass up this opportunity to learn more and my interests have been piqued. Radiopharmaceuticals is such a unique and new form of medicine that can be used in so many different ways. At first, the thought of nuclear medicine might sound scary but what I learned is that it can be really useful and really quite safe. Every moment I was job shadowing I felt secure, and I noticed that there were numerous checks on the medicine itself. I also learned a lot about what goes on in a nuclear pharmacy. The labs they use are pressurized and sterile to ensure safety and purity. All of the containers are made of lead which means that they can be surprisingly heavy! The nuclear pharmacist started early in the morning (around 1 am) mixing radioactive isotopes with medicine that targets specific parts of the body. These containers holding these mixtures were then sealed and the purity of the samples were tested. Once the medicine was ready and correctly labeled it was prepared to be shipped to hospitals in the surrounding area. I don’t know all of the details of why things were used or how everything works yet. But what I learned is that nuclear pharmacy is safe and really cool! Keep a lookout for an upcoming podcast from the CEWT team on pharmacy technicians and their role in the healthcare industry.

Pocatello has an expanding classical music community! There are so many places you can go to listen or play classical music. Whether you are looking for a small local place just to play a little music or want to go and listen to classics and world premieres with the ISCS symphony you can find classical music here!

Idaho State Civic Symphony

The Idaho State Civic Symphony is a semi-professional orchestra that combines community members with Idaho State University students and faculty. They often perform a mix of classics and new symphony music. This unique mix of students and community create learning opportunities and great music. As a member of the symphony, I too have learned and enjoyed creating wonderful music with people who have become close friends. If you would like to learn more about the symphony or upcoming concerts check out their website! https://iscsymphony.org/

KIND Conservatory

The KIND conservatory is a non profit youth conservatory dedicated to providing quality music lessons and education to youth in the area. KIND stands for Knowledge, Innovation, Nurturing, and Dedication. Dr. Natalia Lauk (Director) created the KIND conservatory to push against the musical stereotype of brutal, cold, and dry music teachers and instead, she aims to teach with kindness and support. The KIND conservatory also has a small ensemble that meets once a week that is completely open to anyone who can read music to come and play for fun! To learn more about the KIND conservatory check out their website! https://www.kindconservatory.org/

ISU Department of Music

ISU’s music department has a lot of concerts that are completely free and open to the public. They have everything from solo recitals to their chamber music, to the concert band! They often have performances around the community as well including at Station Square, the hospital, or the old firehouse in historic downtown Pocatello. Lessons are also offered to the public through the preparatory programs where people from the community can go and learn from current ISU music students. Overall the ISU Department of Music is a great learning environment and is full of talented musicians that you can go and listen to! To learn more about upcoming events check out their website. https://www.isu.edu/music/concerts-and-events/

Portneuf Valley String Orchestra

The Portneuf Valley String Orchestra is an upcoming professional string orchestra in Pocatello. It was recently founded and plans to have its first season starting this fall! (Fall of 2025) This orchestra hopes to create opportunities for musicians to be paid in the area to perform. They also hope to inspire youth in the area to start learning string instruments to support string education systems. Keep a lookout for this group starting soon!

There are many more opportunities to listen to and play music in the Pocatello area! Music inspires and uplifts. Let's enjoy it!

Did you know that there are more pharmacy jobs than working in a retail pharmacy? There are so many options and specialties that pharmacists can choose from. The Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) recognizes over 62,250 pharmacist certifications across 15 different specialties. These specialties include ambulatory care, cardiology, compound sterile preparations, critical care, emergency medicine, geriatric, infectious diseases, nuclear, nutrition support, oncology, pain management, pediatric, pharmacotherapy, psychiatric, and solid organ transplant. Pharmacists can specialize in these specialties to offer very specific care to patients and support to medical teams.

Ambulatory care pharmacists focus on providing medically advanced care to ambulatory patients. They treat patients outside of a hospital setting and often work with a medical team to provide care like in a health clinic or community pharmacy. They manage patients' medications, monitor medication safety, and make medication recommendations to patients.

Cardiology pharmacists specialize in working with patients with cardiovascular disease. They ensure and monitor the medications a patient is taking to treat heart failure and other cardiovascular conditions. They focus directly on how medications can support patients struggling with heart conditions. 

Compound sterile preparations pharmacists specialize in preparing medications in sterile environments. There are many medications that must be created in an extremely careful manner, and these pharmacists create medications in very precise measurements and in a sterile environment that eliminates the opportunity for contamination. 

Critical care pharmacists modify and monitor medications given to critically ill patients. They often offer specialized care for patients that have very specific needs with the goal to improve patient outcomes. They often work with a team of specialists in intensive care units. 

Emergency medicine pharmacists generally work in emergency departments to give quick and accessible care to people in immediate need. They work with other healthcare professionals to provide quick and accurate care. 

Geriatric pharmacists focus on medication therapy and treatments for older patients. Getting old is tough and can come with many health issues all at the same time. These pharmacists specialize in special care for older patients and the difficulties they may face. 

Infectious disease pharmacists focus on preventing, identifying, and treating infectious diseases. They often work with a team of microbiologists to optimize antibiotic use and to monitor patient response to medication therapy. 

Nuclear pharmacists specialize in the preparation and usage of radiopharmaceuticals to treat patients. They safely create radioactive medications that can be used for molecular imaging and therapy. Radiopharmaceuticals can be used to treat cancer and to show organ functionality as well. 

Nutrition support pharmacists specialize in identifying and treating nutritional deficiencies. They design and modify nutritional plans to help patients live healthier lives and give support to the body. They often work directly with patients to provide recommendations and support to the patient.

Oncology pharmacists specialize in the treatment of cancer patients. They manage and monitor nonradioactive medicine that the patient takes to optimize the patient's treatment plan. These pharmacists also collaborate with many other health care providers to ensure the best outcome for each patient. 

Pain management pharmacists work with health teams to create pain management plans for patients struggling with a wide variety of sources of pain. They monitor and adapt plans to best support patients based on their patients' pain level and needs. 

Pediatric pharmacists specialize in changing dosage and treatment plans for children. They often factor age, weight, and other factors into treatment plans to optimize results for their patients. They are important personnel to have on health care teams to provide and adjust to younger patients. 

Pharmacotherapy pharmacists focus on the effective use of medications for patients. They work directly with patients to create, organize, and manage patient medication plans. They often work in clinics on healthcare teams to optimize medication therapy plans to their full potential. 

Psychiatric pharmacists specialize in the medication treatment for patients with mental illnesses. They optimize pharmacotherapeutic plans to support and reduce the effects of neurological disorders. 

Solid Organ Transplant pharmacists support people who donate, receive or are candidates for organ transplants. This is a very specific field that looks over the medication therapy for these patients. 

Pharmacy specialties are so important to the medical world. These specialties are used every day to maximize the benefit of medication and treatment plans. Pharmacists are very needed in the world today. ISU offers pharmacy and pharmacy tech programs. If this has piqued your interest, check them out!

Pharmacy Program

Pharmacy Tech Program

Works Cited

BPS Specialties. Board of Pharmacy Specialties, https://bpsweb.org/bps-specialties/

Taking place on the third Monday of January, Martin Luther King Jr. Day takes place on the 20th of this year. As we reflect on his life and work, we must recognize his profound impact on the fight for racial equality and social justice. 

As the days grow shorter and the nights become colder, November changes to December. No matter what you celebrate, this month is a time for gathering with loved ones. It’s a reminder of the importance of community and the warmth of togetherness.

November is a month to stop and have gratitude for all that we are and all that we have. We often get caught up in our everyday lives, so it’s important to stop and think about how far we’ve all come (whether that’s in the last weeks, months, or years).

We are offering a sourdough bread starter class. 

The College of Technology has planned some special events just for you. Read on for all the details on the parade, tailgate, and football game.

Women's Equality Day reminds us of the progress made toward gender equality. It represents women's ongoing efforts to achieve equality and create a better future for everyone. From mothers to leaders in society, women have fought for the right to choose for themselves. Their bravery and determination have been crucial in shaping a more just and equal world for future generations.

August 19th marks National Aviation Day, observing the soaring development in flight and aircraft. Why August 19th? It's the birthday of Orville Wright, one of the men credited with building the first plane alongside his brother Wilbur.