The Patient is Why He’s Here: Jason Pol

Not every student comes to Northeast Ohio Medical University straight from college. Some take gap years, some take time to explore other careers first.

Before turning to a pharmacy education, Jason Pol spent more than six and a half years on the management side of pharmacy. He also worked as an admissions coordinator with hospice patients — an experience that gave him a greater appreciation for the ethical considerations of health care.

The first-year College of Pharmacy student was recently nominated for NEOMED’s Ethical Leader Award. He took time in a conversation to reflect on his former hospice patients and his time at NEOMED.

Speaking from experience

“The right answer isn’t always the same for every situation, so I spent a lot of time intervening with families and the patients in hopes of finding common ground,” says Pol of his hospice work.

At NEOMED, Pol has taken it upon himself to help others again — this time as a mentor to potential College of Pharmacy students.

As a member of NEOMED’s College of Pharmacy Admissions Committee, Pol goes above and beyond his duties by attending select interview days, offering tours to candidates around campus and even sitting with them at lunch to offer guidance.

Pol shares four pieces of advice that have helped him through his first year of pharmacy school:

• Be proactive. If you have a day of downtime, utilize it!
• Remember to exercise. Use the gym on campus or find another way to give your mind a break.
• Make an effort to eat healthy. Even if you’re busy, set aside time to prepare meals. It will be worth it.
• Find friends. Even if it’s only one or two people, having someone you can rely on will make a big difference.

 

Whether it is terminally ill patients, future students or his peers, Pol is ready to help. As he puts it, “I want to make a difference at NEOMED and I want to make a difference in other people’s lives.”