Monument Health pharmacist wins statewide honor

Monument Health pharmacist wins statewide honor

RAPID CITY, S.D. – Monument Health Pharmacist Wendy Jensen-Bender has been named Pharmacist of the Year by the South Dakota Society of Health System Pharmacists. The award will be presented at the organization’s annual conference in Deadwood on April 12-13.

Jensen-Bender is a member of the clinical faculty at Rapid City Hospital and Professor of Pharmacy Practice for South Dakota State University (SDSU). She has been employed by both Monument Health and SDSU since 1996.

Originally from Brookings, she graduated from the SDSU College of Pharmacy. After a pediatric residency at Children’s Hospital in St. Paul, Minn., she took the job in Rapid City because she wanted to both teach students and care for patients.

“I’m really lucky because I get to do everything I like, including teaching and patient care. Students are an important part of my life. If I can help them in any way or make things go better for their careers, then that’s my job and I want to do it as well as I can,” she said.

Joe Strain, clinical faculty at Rapid City Hospital and Professor of Pharmacy Practice for SDSU, had Jensen-Bender as his professor and has worked with her for the last 15 years. “Her impact on pediatric pharmacy at Rapid City Hospital and dedication to educating pharmacy students on pediatrics at SDSU is remarkable,” he said. “She is highly respected and is the go-to person at Rapid City Hospital for any pediatric pharmacotherapy questions.”