NuCara

10/31/2025

We had some spooky guests at the pharmacy today!

Happy Halloween 🎃

10/25/2025

Meet Stephanie Semler, Pharmacist at NuCara Pharmacy in Story City, Iowa

Stephanie was inspired to become a pharmacist after hearing Greg Yeakel speak at her high school career day. Greg and his wife, Sue—owners of the local Yeakel Pharmacy—sparked her interest in the profession and showed her the impact pharmacists can have in their communities.

Stephanie has been with NuCara for nearly 20 years, serving in several roles including float pharmacist, LTC pharmacist, and now pharmacy manager at the Story City location, which was once the Yeakels’ pharmacy. She enjoys advising customers and knowing that something she shares might make their lives a little better. Hearing later that her advice helped always means a lot.

Stephanie loves her coworkers and feels fortunate to have worked with many wonderful technicians, front-end staff, and pharmacists over the years. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family and visiting their quilt shops in Story City and Iowa Falls.

The most rewarding part of Stephanie’s job is getting to be a part of her patients’ and coworkers’ lives and being a trusted part of the local community. We’re proud to have Stephanie on our NuCara team and grateful for the care and connection she brings to her patients every day.

10/25/2025

Meet Rachel Hall, Pharmacist at NuCara Pharmacy in Greenfield, Iowa

Rachel Hall’s inspiration to become a pharmacist was shaped by her family’s deep roots in caregiving and hard work. Her great-grandma Umbaugh worked as a nurse at Dunkerson Nursing Home in Greenfield, where she cared for people in their greatest times of need. Rachel also grew up helping her dad on the family farm, working long hours unloading cattle or combining late into the night. “Pharmacy felt like the perfect mix of helping others like my great-grandma and the relentless rural work ethic of farmers like my dad,” Rachel shared.

Rachel joined NuCara after Greenfield’s Shopko pharmacy closed in 2019. She has enjoyed collaborating with others in her community to keep healthcare accessible and is grateful to NuCara and the Lenox team for stepping up to help make the transition possible.

Rachel loves getting to know her patients and says they truly feel like family. “My favorite part is when they share what they do or what they’re facing—it’s such a privilege to be part of their lives,” she said.

Outside of work, Rachel enjoys spending time on the farm with her husband and kids—though she jokes that her husband says she’s “at negative wages” for how much she still has to learn.

For Rachel, the most rewarding part of being a pharmacist is being able to share her time and talents with the Greenfield community and receive the same kindness and connection in return.

We’re so thankful to have Rachel as part of our NuCara team and for the care, compassion, and dedication she brings to her patients every day.

10/25/2025

Meet Diane Miller, Pharmacist at NuCara in Marshalltown, Iowa!

Diane’s journey into pharmacy began shortly after high school while working as a part-time clerk at DrugTown in Marshalltown. Encouraged by the pharmacy staff, she realized that pharmacy was the perfect career path for her.

Diane has been with NuCara since 1999 when she got her start managing the Long-term care pharmacy in Conrad. Diane currently manages the Marshalltown location. She enjoys working alongside her talented coworkers—both past and present.

Her favorite part of the job is getting to know the patients. Diane says, “The most rewarding part of my job is when patients truly appreciate what we do for them.“

Outside of work, Diane loves spending time with her friends and family, especially her two grandchildren, Ace (3) and Moriah (2).

We’re so grateful for Diane and the care she provides to the Marshalltown community!

10/24/2025

Meet Alicia Lynn, Pharmacist at NuCara in Lenox, Iowa!

Alicia was inspired to become a pharmacist in high school, seeking a career where she could interact with patients and practice science every day. The expanding role of pharmacists into clinical work also excited her and confirmed that pharmacy was the perfect path. She has been part of the NuCara family for 12.5 years and loves engaging with patients and working alongside her coworkers to improve health outcomes. Her favorite part of helping patients is problem-solving—whether it’s helping someone feel better or manage their disease, Alicia finds fulfillment in making a difference.

Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family, watching her kids’ activities, and reading or listening to books whenever she can.

For Alicia, the most rewarding part of being a pharmacist is knowing that patients are cared for like family and helping them achieve the best health outcomes possible.

We’re so grateful for Alicia and the care she provides to the Lenox community!

10/24/2025

Meet Julie Stahl, Pharmacist at NuCara in Waterloo, Iowa!

Julie has always loved science, task management, and problem-solving—and pharmacy allows her to use all three to help others. She’s been with NuCara in various roles since 2011 and enjoys working with her small team to provide personalized care for patients. Her favorite part of the job is helping patients overcome barriers to their treatment and finding solutions that truly work for them.

Outside of work, Julie has a fun claim to fame—she has 55 first cousins!

For Julie, the most rewarding part of being a pharmacist is creating unique solutions that make a real difference in patients’ lives.

We’re so thankful for Julie and the care she provides to the Waterloo community!

10/23/2025

Meet Steven Martens, Pharmacist at NuCara in Conrad and Montezuma, Iowa!

Steven’s journey to pharmacy began in high school with a career assignment and a chance to meet TJ Johnsrud, owner and president of NuCara. After a few pivotal experiences, including a mission trip and visiting the College of Pharmacy at Iowa, he knew pharmacy was the right path—besides marrying his junior high sweetheart, he calls it one of the best decisions of his life.

Steven has been with NuCara for over 23 years, starting with a summer internship and eventually serving as PIC at multiple locations. He loves conversing with patients about the best therapies, ensuring they get exactly what they need, and counseling them on inhaler use—a specialty he honed during pharmacy school.

Outside of work, Steven used to sing in a barbershop quartet called “3 Docs and a Digger” and still helps lead worship at his church, singing and playing the cajon when needed.

For Steven, the most rewarding part of being a pharmacist is working alongside talented colleagues across the company and connecting with patients who trust NuCara for their healthcare needs.

We’re so thankful for Steven and the care he provides to our communities!

10/23/2025

We’re ready, are you? We’d love to see your costumes!

10/23/2025

Meet Kelsey Carlson, Pharmacist at NuCara in Valley City, North Dakota!

Kelsey was inspired to become a pharmacist by her sister-in-law, who encouraged her to pursue a career that helps people—just without all the blood. She’s been part of the NuCara family for four years, and loves building relationships with patients while supporting them in achieving their best health.

Her favorite part of the job is helping patients reach the healthiest version of themselves—whether that’s through medication education, lending a listening ear, or recommending helpful resources and options.

Outside of work, Kelsey is an avid reader, finishing around 50 books a year! She even started a book club and has served on her local library board for over two years.

Kelsey finds being a pharmacist especially rewarding because patients trust and rely on her for answers to their health questions, giving her the opportunity to show all the ways a pharmacist can help beyond just filling prescriptions.

We’re so grateful for Kelsey and the care she provides to the Valley City community!

10/23/2025

Meet Lynn Grani, Pharmacist at NuCara in Hawley, Minnesota!

Lynn’s interest in pharmacy started early—back in 9th grade, she researched different careers and learned that pharmacy combined her love of science and math with the opportunity to help others in a safe and rewarding profession.

She has been a pharmacist for 28 years and has been part of the NuCara family since 2018. Lynn loves serving the community where she grew up, enjoying the chance to meet new residents while reconnecting with familiar faces.

Helping patients in their time of need is what Lynn finds most rewarding. Whether it’s giving advice, contacting providers or insurance companies, administering vaccines, filling prescriptions, or simply listening and supporting patients, she takes pride in making a positive impact every day.

We’re so grateful for Lynn’s dedication and the care she provides to the Hawley community!

10/22/2025

Meet Patty Well, Pharmacist at NuCara in Lisbon, North Dakota!

Patty’s journey to pharmacy began in high school when she attended a career day presentation on pharmacy and knew right away it was the path for her. Initially interested in nursing, she discovered her passion for helping patients through medications.

Patty has been part of the NuCara family since 2015. She loves working with her amazing coworkers and interacting with supportive patients who make every day enjoyable. Her favorite part of the job is helping patients understand their medications so they can get the best results. Outside of work, Patty is talented musically—she plays piano and violin—and enjoys baking and sewing.

For Patty, the most rewarding part of being a pharmacist is knowing she’s helping patients live their best lives and sharing in both their highs and lows along the way.

We’re so grateful for Patty and the care she provides to the Lisbon community!

10/22/2025

Meet Chris Petersen, Pharmacist at NuCara in Coralville!

Chris’s inspiration to become a pharmacist came from his mom, who worked as a pharmacy technician at an independent pharmacy in Cedar Rapids. Combining his love of science and medicine with a desire to help people in a patient-centered way made pharmacy the perfect career for him.

Chris has been part of the NuCara family for 7 years. He enjoys the dynamic work environment—no two days are ever the same, which keeps things interesting and challenging. His favorite part of helping patients is engaging with them about their health, answering thoughtful questions, and finding ways to support what matters most to them. As a compounding pharmacist, Chris finds it especially rewarding to create medications tailored to each patient and see their health improve.

Outside of work, Chris enjoys gardening and spending time caring for his plants.

We’re so thankful for Chris and the dedication he brings to our Coralville patients every day!

10/21/2025

Meet Jen Alexander, Pharmacist at NuCara in Pleasant Hill!

Jen’s inspiration to become a pharmacist started early—her uncle was the pharmacist in her Nebraska hometown, and she admired his intelligence and compassion. After visiting Drake University, she knew right away it was the perfect place to pursue her dream. Jen has been part of the Pleasant Hill pharmacy team for 20 years, with 12 of those as part of NuCara. She loves building relationships with patients and becoming a trusted healthcare resource in the community.

Her favorite part of the job is helping solve problems—especially when patients come in stressed or concerned. Jen enjoys being able to offer a plan, a solution, and maybe even a little peace of mind.

Outside of work, Jen is a proud (and very loyal!) Nebraska Cornhusker fan—so don’t hold that against her!

We’re so thankful for Jen’s dedication and the difference she makes every day for our Pleasant Hill patients!

10/21/2025

Meet Erica Schroeder, Pharmacist at Peterson Pharmacy in Mountain Lake!

Pharmacy has always been close to Erica’s heart—her dad owned the Mountain Lake pharmacy for 40 years, and she grew up working there. Inspired by his dedication to patients and the community, Erica followed in his footsteps and partnered with NuCara 5.5 years ago.

What she enjoys most about her role is getting to know her patients and helping them navigate their treatments and diagnoses. For Erica, the most rewarding part of being a pharmacist is simple but powerful: helping people and being active in the community.

Outside the pharmacy, Erica loves reading, golfing, running, boating, and hiking. She’s even signed up to run a 10k in Las Vegas this February with some of her pharmacy classmates!

We’re so grateful for Erica and the care she provides to the Mountain Lake community!

09/24/2025

Getting excited to see you all in your costumes!

🎃👻 Save the Date: Trick or Treat Around the Lake! 👻🎃

We’re excited to announce that Trick or Treat Around the Lake is back! ✨
Join us for one of our sweetest community traditions on Thursday, October 23 from 5–7 PM at Copper Creek Lake Park (4390 E University).

Kids can dress up in their favorite costumes and trick-or-treat from booth to booth, collecting goodies from community members and local businesses. 🍬👑🦸 This event is all about bringing families together while highlighting and supporting the small businesses that make Pleasant Hill strong. 💜

A huge thank you to our sponsors who help make this community event possible:
🏆 Platinum: ONEOK
🥇 Gold: Elder Corporation
🥈 Silver: Golf Cars Of Iowa (PCE), NuCara (PC), Heartland Roofing, Siding, and Solar (PCE), Clog Buster's Drain Cleaning and Repair, Community State Bank (PC), Copper Shores Villages – Immanuel (PC)

Mark your calendars, get those costumes ready, and join us for a fun-filled evening around the lake!

09/22/2025

We will be giving the COVID vaccine starting today in Pleasant Hill.
No appointment needed!

08/30/2025

Reminder- we will be closed on Monday for Labor Day.
We are open today until 2pm. Stop by and see us!

07/10/2025

We're looking for a pharmacy technician to join our team in Pleasant Hill. Interested? Click below!

NuCara Pharmacy is a dynamic community pharmacy serving patients in Texas, Iowa, North Dakota, and Minnesota. At NuCara, we prioritize one-on-one patient counseling and medication management with the goal of delivering the best pharmacy value without sacrificing the quality of care prized by our pat...

07/05/2025

Just a reminder, we are closed today. See you all again on Monday!

07/04/2025

Happy 4th of July from the staff of NuCara in Pleasant Hill. Celebrate safely and see you all Monday morning!

07/03/2025

Here is your last chance to stop in before Monday. We’ll be open until 6pm tonight, then closed Friday, Saturday and Sunday. We will open again 8 am Monday morning. Happy 4th of July! 🇺🇸

07/02/2025

Please note our holiday hours!

06/26/2025

We wanted to give everyone a heads up - We will close next Thursday July 3rd at 6 pm and open again at 8 am on Monday July 7th. Please plan ahead!