Growing up in this very pharmacy as one of the Hoeschen kids, I knew at a young age that I wanted to pursue a career in health. I loved watching my dad, John, and our staff help our patients feel welcome, safe, and supported in their health journey. And I loved the idea of someday being a person whose days would be devoted to helping others live and feel well.

My journey to becoming a Nurse—and I hope, one day, a Nurse Midwife—has been admittedly long and winding, marked by the challenges of civil unrest in our community, keeping our family’s small business alive in corporate America (and the American healthcare system), the COVID-19 pandemic, and facing long COVID and longstanding chronic health issues myself. Yet, I feel immensely grateful to have found myself working back at the pharmacy that has served as a second home for my entire life, where I have the pleasure of working alongside lovely humans as we strive to provide pharmacy the way it should be.

While I’m once again living in the Mac-Groveland neighborhood, I’ve been lucky to call Worcester and Boston, Massachusetts; Oxford, England; Logroño, Spain; and New York City, New York, “home” since first leaving Minnesota at the age of 18. In addition to traveling, in my free time I like to boulder, hike, run, play competitive sports, horseback ride, do yoga, read, cook, dabble in graphic design/blogging/photography, and go for walks. From time to time you may see me visiting the pharmacy with our family’s teacup maltepoo, Archie (we call him our resident “Pharm Dog.”).

While in high school, I worked at the local independent pharmacy in my hometown of Storm Lake, Iowa. I really enjoyed the atmosphere of the pharmacy culture. I could see how important it was to the community that they have someone in the healthcare field who was knowledgeable, accessible, and approachable. I wanted to be that for a community, so I chose to go to pharmacy school. I truly feel that it was one of the best decisions I have ever made.

I started at St. Paul Corner Drug in 2005 and have been gratefully inspired by my fellow coworkers ever since. It is incredibly rewarding to be able to interact with this community and use my profession to help others.

I grew up in New Ulm, Minnesota, where my father was a Pharmacist. I continue to practice at St. Paul Corner Drug because, to me, it has the same small town feel and high-quality level of care that I came to know as a child. I truly feel a connection to the surrounding neighborhood and think this location is ideal for providing first class care that can improve patients’ medication therapy outcomes and overall wellness.

My wife and I reside in Woodbury where we raised our two now-grown boys. While they were around, many of my free hours were spent coaching basketball and leading Boy Scout events; now, the majority of my time outside work is spent volunteering and hanging outdoors. Some of my current interests include cycling, yard work, cross country skiing, and college football Saturdays.

I believe that active listening is a key component of successful health outcomes. I feel so fortunate to work with an owner and staff that put customer service first and allow me to take the time to listen to our patients and assist in improving drug and non-drug therapies for them.

I live with my husband in Cannon Falls where we raised four children, multiple horses, dogs, cats and an assortment of other critters. My hobbies include horseback and motorcycle riding, swimming, flower gardening, cooking, spending time with family and friends, and traveling. I also spend a significant amount of time with my grandchildren and volunteering at church and in the community.