Student Spotlight: Jonathan Holan ('23)
Meet future pharmacists Jonathan Holan ('23) from Morristown, Tennessee: "During my undergraduate program at ETSU, I knew I wanted to go into pharmacy. I had always wanted to enter healthcare, and due to my interest in chemistry and the allure of being able to create medications that help people across the world, pharmacy was what drew my interest. However, I was uncertain as to which school to choose.
While I don't remember the exact event, I attended some kind of school showcase where representatives from Gatton came to speak about the pharmacy school. From there, I learned about several things that interested me at Gatton. First, there was an expedited program where I could enter pharmacy school after just two years of undergraduate education, then my first year of pharmacy school would contribute towards a Bachelors in Pharmacy Studies and a PharmD at the same time. This shaves two years off my education, which was very valuable to me. I wanted to go through school quickly because my parents are both getting older, and I wanted to be able to support them as soon as possible.
Second, there was no PCAT or similar college admission test required, and being that I am not a fan of admission tests, this was exciting to me. Third, the school is located very close to home, so I could stay close to my family while attending. Fourth, the school was technically private even though it was on a public campus, which gives it the benefit of having small class sizes. I personally love this, as you get to know both teachers and classmates much more in these smaller classes, and the education feels more focused on each individual.
These factors led me to file for early admission at Gatton, and as I went through the admissions process, I absolutely fell in love with the school. I still remember how welcoming the faculty and administration were during interview day, and my mom and I still remark at how the Dean felt like a 'pharmacy mom' in how much she cared for her students. The welcoming environment combined with the factors listed above convinced me to attend, and Gatton ended up being the only school I applied for!"