Kelsi Lawson is a dual Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) and MBA student who sees leadership as central to her future in pharmacy practice. She says the combined program has accelerated her professional growth by connecting real-world experience directly to the classroom and preparing her for management roles within health care settings.

Originally from Wichita, Kansas, Lawson earned her associate degree from Butler Community College before coming to the University of Kansas to pursue pharmacy. She knew from a young age that she wanted to become a pharmacist, drawn to the profession’s emphasis on patient advocacy, communication, and accountability. KU’s School of Pharmacy reputation and academic rigor affirmed her decision.

Lawson decided to pursue the MBA after learning about the dual-degree option during a Pharm.D. course, recognizing that business training aligned naturally with the leadership responsibilities pharmacists often assume. She joined the MBA cohort during the sixth year of her Pharm.D. curriculum, engaging in health care–focused projects that also count toward required advanced pharmacy practice experiences. These projects allow her to work directly with Kansas health care organizations on real operational challenges.

Throughout the program, Lawson has seen immediate connections between her business coursework and pharmacy rotations, which she describes as built-in internships. Concepts from supply chain management, accounting, and international business have translated directly to medication ordering, budgeting, and responding to real-world disruptions in health care operations. Her rotations, including work at TIRR Memorial Hermann in Texas, further highlighted the managerial and communication roles pharmacists play within interdisciplinary teams.

Lawson values the collaborative, discussion-based environment of the KU School of Business, where faculty actively seek her perspective and encourage cross-disciplinary dialogue. She notes that many practicing pharmacists and small business owners have shared that they wish they had pursued an MBA earlier in their careers, reinforcing her decision to complete both degrees.

She will complete the Pharm.D./MBA program in May 2027 and believes the dual degrees will give her a strong competitive edge. Grounded in resilience and self-compassion, Lawson credits KU with helping her grow both professionally and personally, preparing her to lead with confidence, empathy, and clarity in her future career.