FROM ONU.EDU/NEWS__Hailey Robirds began interning at ONU’s HealthWise Pharmacy for the practical reason of gaining real-world experience. It didn’t take long, however, for her motivation to turn personal. Through serving friends and neighbors, Hailey discovered she thrives when helping others. “At the end of the day,” she explained, “my cup is full.”

A fourth-year pharmacy student and Ada native, Hailey joined HealthWise shortly after Ada’s Rite Aid closed. She became “part of the change the community needed,” providing personal care to locals who suddenly found themselves without a nearby pharmacy.

“What I love the best is being at the front of the store and talking to patients,” she said. “I know many of the people I serve, and it means a lot to be that trusted person for them.”

From teaching patients how to use an inhaler to arranging home deliveries for homebound residents, she enjoys solving problems and making life easier for people. When insurance issues arise, she tells patients, “Grab a cup of coffee and have a seat. We are going to get this figured out.”

Hailey’s journey has been shaped by local voices. She credits two Ada mentors, ONU pharmacy professors Dr. Karen Kier and Dr. Mark Olah, with inspiring her career path long before she entered a college classroom. Before they were her professors, she knew them as her Girl Scout leader and soccer coach.

Today, her meaningful interactions with patients at the HealthWise Pharmacy are steering her toward a career in independent pharmacy.

“If I can be the helping hand or light at the end of the tunnel for people in my community,” she says, “that’s where I want to be.”