This year, the yearbook staff is on a journey to highlight the local businesses in our town. I had the pleasure of interviewing Heidi Kohake from HealthFirst Pharmacy.
Heidi Kohake is the proud owner of two different pharmacies. One is located in Marysville, Kansas, and the other is right here in Pawnee City.
Heidi always knew that she wanted to work in healthcare one day, and now she is. She was inspired by her old pharmacist. One day, in high school, Heidi fell ill and had to visit the pharmacy. This is when her spark for a career in pharmacy began. She already loved science and math, and now she gets to work with them every day.
When asked why Heidi wanted to start her business in Pawnee City, she said it was because of the welcoming and kind nature of the people in Pawnee City. In addition to feeling at home, she already had a sense of belonging in the town. This is why, in 2021 when the opportunity arose and the pharmacy was for sale, she knew that she had to take it.
A typical day in her life begins with reviewing patients' profiles. She ensures that their medications are compatible with each other. The pharmacy also provides a wide range of vaccines, including Flu, COVID-19, Shingles, RSV, and Pneumonia. When asked what her favorite thing about her job was, she said that it was being able to help people.
In addition to administering vaccines and selling medications, the pharmacy also offers a variety of extra goodies, such as ice cream, candles, loaded teas, t-shirts, and other seasonal goodies.
Thank you to Heidi at the HealthFirst Pharmacy for taking the time out of her day to let me interview her.