Deeter Neumann is pursuing his Pharm.D. degree, with an emphasis in leadership and research, at the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy with an expected graduation date of May 2016. He received his B.S. degree in genetics from the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at the University of Wisconsin – Madison in 2009.
Throughout his time at the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy, Neumann has been engaged in numerous organizations and has been a member of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy since the first year of his professional studies. He was actively involved with chartering the Minnesota Student College of Clinical Pharmacy and then served as president the following year. Neumann currently serves as a member at-large for the 2015–2016 ACCP National Student Network Advisory Committee.
Outside the college of pharmacy, Neumann is one of the lead pharmacist-interns at Abbott Northwestern Hospital, a 629-bed quaternary/tertiary care community teaching hospital. As a lead intern, he focuses on incorporating 19 interns into the hospital’s drug distribution and medication reconciliation services. In addition, Neumann works in the emergency department and various patient care units completing medication history interviews. In this capacity, he assesses patients’ home medication regimens for possible drug-related admissions and provides recommendations for optimizing pharmacotherapy. Neumann is also a pharmacist-intern at Fairview Home Infusion of Fairview Pharmacy Services. In this role, he has been trained in sterile compounding and preparing outpatient parenteral medications in a variety of administration devices.
On graduation, Neumann intends to further develop his clinical knowledge, leadership abilities, and research skills by completing a PGY1 pharmacy practice residency. After completing the PGY1, Neumann fully expects to specialize his clinical practice by completing a PGY2 residency in oncology.
Neumann’s interest in pharmacotherapy began during his undergraduate studies in genetics, immunology, and physiology. An introduction to pharmacology course stimulated his curiosity about pharmacologic treatment and pharmacogenomics. Neumann became interested in oncology pharmacy when he studied the role of genetics and immunology in malignancies and potential future treatment options.
Neumann credits Drs. Todd Sorensen, Rebecca Fahrenbruch, Debra Skaar, and Pamala Jacobson with positively influencing his professional development. Sorensen’s Leading Change in Pharmacy course taught him the importance of self-reflection; Fahrenbruch challenged him to be involved within the college of pharmacy as well as professional organizations, and he continues to serve as a mentor; Skaar, a faculty liaison for ACCP and a strong advocate for the College, encouraged his involvement and leadership within the organization; and Jacobson challenged him to expand his knowledge base while continuously reinforcing the importance of discipline and self-motivation.
Neumann’s advice to all student pharmacists interested in clinical pharmacy is to spend time shadowing pharmacists in areas that stimulate their interest. In addition to providing didactic and experiential education, these experiences can help narrow potential career paths and provide an opportunity to find a mentor. Neumann emphasizes that his mentors have challenged both his professional and his personal abilities, and the mentor-mentee relationship has been an unrivaled source of wisdom for him. He stresses that this relationship is reciprocal because he believes the mentor finds satisfaction from observing professional growth.
Neumann’s life goal is to travel the world to enjoy all the exotic places it has to offer. He hopes to initiate his travels soon after finishing his residency training with a trip to the Galápagos Islands to observe the variety of wildlife that inhabit the archipelago.