Next step: PGY-1 Residency at Community Health Network in Indianapolis.
The cornfields surrounding Ohio Northern University provided a sense of comfort to pharmacy major Aaron Litherland, reminding him of his home in rural Indiana. In other ways, though, Northern challenged his comfort zone. And that was a good thing, he said.
“In high school, I never would have imagined being so involved in college,” he explained “I’m a very shy and soft-spoken individual, but the people I met at ONU inspired me to grow as a person and leader; and I really broke out of my shell.”
Indeed, “shy” is not a word you’d used to describe the guy who served as president of the Greek fraternity Delta Sigma Phi, or the Bear Ambassador who gave campus tours to prospective students and their families, or the Orientation Leader who enthusiastically welcomed incoming freshmen by racing them on a giant slip-and-slide.
Aaron did these things and more at ONU, and as a result, his confidence in himself as a leader and communicator grew by leaps and bounds.
Growing up with parents who both work in the healthcare field, Aaron became fascinated early on with the ways that medicine affects the human body. ONU’s 0-6 pharmacy program allowed him to start learning to become a pharmacist on day one, without having to reapply and compete for a spot.
“A passion of mine in helping others,” Aaron said.“I find it a privilege to be trusted as the medication expert for patients, and I desire to do my part to increase the health of as many people as I encounter.”
