Dr. Ronda Chakolis: Trailblazer in health care and community engagement

Coming of age in North Minneapolis, Dr. Ronda Marie Chakolis realized very early on she was perfectly capable of accomplishing anything that she set her mind to. “My parents were both history buffs,” Chakolis explains. “In fact, everyone in our family read voraciously.”

One of the items frequently perused in their household was the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder. Chakolis found inspiration in the stories that shined a light on African Americans who were making a difference in the Twin Cities and beyond. “It allowed me to know what was possible.”

She also developed diligence, resolve, and a sense of purpose while witnessing the indelible impact her parents were making in the world around her, not to mention the value of becoming a lifelong learner.

Chakolis’ mother, the late Francine Chakolis, grew up a sharecropper in Mississippi before becoming the first in her family to graduate from college and spending 28 years as a professor of social work. In addition to co-founding the Minneapolis-based Inter-Race Institute, her mom’s work in the community included serving as president for both the Minnesota Alliance of Black School Educators and Pillsbury United Neighborhood Services. 

At the same time, her father, Richard Chakolis, Sr., spent more than three decades teaching social studies, including 29 years at North Community High School. Today, at nearly 80 years of age, he serves as a paraprofessional in the public schools. “Dad has never lost his passion for helping young people,” notes Chakolis.

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Considering the success and influence of both her mother and father, Chakolis says she never felt like she had to follow in their footsteps, or that she would ever be eclipsed by their shadows. Rather, they encouraged her to carve out her path in life. By the time she was seven, Chakolis already had a pretty good idea of what that might be.

“I saw an African American pharmacist at the drug store one day,” she recalls. “I took note since I’d never seen that before. Plus, it was clear that this person was there to help people. That’s when I knew I wanted to work in health care.”

As a standout student at North High, Chakolis found even more motivation under the tutelage of three of her instructors in the school’s science-infused Summatech program, each of whom was a Black woman, each of whom held a Ph.D.

Nevertheless, as she matriculated from North High to Augsburg College, Chakolis chose history as her major, coupled with a minor in religious studies. Upon earning her B.A., Chakolis started a family of her own before she eventually reawakened her dream of working in health care and enrolled in the University of Minnesota’s College of Pharmacy.

“I feel that having a son and accruing some life experience before I journeyed down this path has ultimately made me a better care provider,” she reveals. “I think it’s better it worked out this way.”

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As soon as Chakolis earned her Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree, she received an assortment of offers to begin practicing elsewhere. However, she made a conscious decision to stay in Minneapolis. “I wanted to make a difference in the community that had poured so much into me,” Chakolis says,

“BIPOC people are not normally seen in these spaces. It was important for me to stay. To practice pharmacy here. To reverse those trends in representation.” 

Chakolis started her career at a local CVS  in North Minneapolis and also went to work for Prime Therapeutics, a pharmacy benefit management company headquartered in Eagan. She later added a Master of Public Health degree and, in 2022, was appointed to the Minnesota Board of Pharmacy by Governor Tim Walz, where today she sits as the first-ever woman of color to hold the title of president.

In this role, Chakolis can help significantly influence policy and regulations in the pharmaceutical arena, something that’s always held meaning for her. Likewise, her work as a staff pharmacist and her association with the insurance industry provides her with the opportunities to touch many lives.

But it’s through her direct community engagement efforts that Chakolis fulfills her greatest passion. This includes working closely with the City of Minneapolis regarding the intersection of human trafficking and substance use disorder. Or a wealth of other projects near and dear to her heart that address issues such as the opioid crisis, infant mortality, diabetes management, suicide

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prevention, HIV prevention, and disparities in pain management.

Asked about the most common misperceptions around the practice of pharmacy, Chakolis states, “It’s not just about counting pills or dispensing medications. Being in this field is about getting to know the background and experiences of the people you’re treating to help improve their health outcomes.

“I think of every patient I encounter as a gift. And, sometimes when I first see them, they’re at their worst. But to see them turn that corner is so rewarding.”

Chakolis also makes it a point to never use the word “empowerment” while treating patients. “To me, that word implies they don’t already have that strength within them.

“The Black women I was raised around made sure I knew I was powerful. It’s about building the capacity that everyone has, the ability to tap into their power.”

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Although Chakolis is not shy about declaring just how much joy she receives from giving back to elders in the community, she also wants to inspire young people. To let them know you can earn a degree and have a job, but still find a way to be “in the community,” to still give back.

She mentions that it’s a “dream come true” to be highlighted in the MSR, particularly considering how much the paper has meant to her all these years. Chakolis also wants people to know that “not a day goes by” when she is not excited to wake up. 

“My maternal grandmother used to tell me, ‘If you find your passion in life, it won’t feel like work.’”