Interns provide perfect prescription for U-Save-It Pharmacy

ALBANY — In late 2012, two Albany High seniors in the school’s gifted program, Courtney Caldwell and Courtney Wallace, decided they would explore opportunities available through the program’s internships. The two took a long look at joining Jay Sharpe at U-Save-It Pharmacy.

After an interview, Sharpe, recognizing the potential of the two young women, quickly offered them intern positions. Each summer they return to Albany from their respective universities and work at the pharmacy. The program is basically what was once called “work-study.”

The two Courtneys looked at several internship programs with Albany businesses before casting their lot with U-Save-It.

Both are now Pharmacy majors — Caldwell at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee and Wallace at South University in Savannah.

“We learned a lot while we were still in high school,” Caldwell said. “We like the environment here (at U-Save-It) and felt appreciated and welcome here.”

Wallace quickly agreed.

“I think we both like the small independent pharmacies rather that the large, corporate environments,” Wallace said. “The people who work here are like family and know their customers by name. The atmosphere is much more relaxed that at a big chain.”

The two also saw the internships as an opportunity to get into pharmacy school.

“I thought it was a great idea to help me get into pharmacy school, so I was happy to be able to put it on my (university) application,” Wallace said.

Caldwell echoed Wallace’s thoughts.

“I felt the exact same way,” she said. “I was just happy to get the opportunity to intern. A lot of times you don’t get that chance to get the type of hands-on experience when you are in high school. Plus, we got to learn how to interact with the customers.”

“We started out as cashiers while we were in high school, and then when we became undergrads in college, we started training as pharmacy technicians,” Wallace said.

The two friends say they have enjoyed their time at the pharmacy.

“They told me that anytime I come home, I can work here,” Caldwell said. ” I love interning and working here. We get to help and talk to patients one-on-one on a daily basis. When I was in high school, I was very reserved, but I did know I wanted to get into pharmacy.”

Upon graduation, Caldwell said she would like to go into retail pharmacy. Wallace wants to become a clinical pharmacist. Both said they are open to returning to Southwest Georgia.

The happiest person in the room when the two interns are present, however, is Jay Sharpe.

“We feel blessed because those two young ladies are among the best that have ever walked through our doors,” Sharpe said. “Just through the opportunity of them being able to intern, they were getting to test out pharmacy. After spending time with them we said, ‘Hey, we need to hire these two girls. So, like, right after they finished (high school), we offered them jobs.

“And they have been life-savers when they came to the store. They have pretty much learned all they can learn without going to pharmacy school. As much as they got out of here, we got even more.”

Needless to say, Sharpe is a huge supporter of internship programs.

“I love this program,” he said. “We’ve had others come through the program and they’ve been great. But these two are special, and we’ve been very fortunate to have them.”