PharmUC - University of Charleston

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Student/Alumni Profiles What was the coolest project you were able to work on at UC and why My experiential education portion allowed me to travel the country, learning the practice of pharmacy in different sectors. From working on a Navajo/Pueblo reservation in New Mexico, to working in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, I had a well-rounded finish to my education at UC. Which UC faculty member made the biggest impact on you Dr. Michelle Easton. Her professionalism and class sometimes acts as my second conscience, both professionally and socially. Wes Romanello HOMETOWN: Lucasville, Ohio DEGREE: Doctor of Pharmacy YEAR GRADUATED: 2010 WHAT I DO NOW: Pharmacist, Southern Ohio Medical Center What was your favorite place on campus The UC Fitness Center. How did you grow in your time at UC The curriculum allowed me to grow into a more responsible, time managed professional. My fellow classmates and professors allowed me grow into a better person. What does Learning Your Way mean to you 5 UC offers the personal and academic freedom to achieve your goals without using the over-structured approach used by other schools. What makes UC different from other schools The students at UC are here to work. It isn’t unusual for students to graduate with double majors in three years. What is your favorite place on campus My favorite place to go unwind is in the GSU ballroom at the piano. How have you grown in your time at UC I have gathered a better appreciation for diverse ethnicities, food types, and other people’s beliefs. Aaron Norris HOMETOWN: Philippi, W.Va. MAJOR: Pharmacy (fast track) YEAR GRADUATING: 2013 What opportunities have been given to you at UC The best opportunity is to receive my education on a fast track. I don’t want to spend much of my life in school. I want a quality education and to get into my career. What was your favorite event on campus Because Christ Matters (BCM) is my favorite weekly event. Praise and worship with friends and then a midnight snack at IHOP. 5
UC pharmacy instructor Barbara Smith (middle) poses with Jennifer Edwards Thacker and Matt Carrico. Making a Difference in Rural West Virginia By Scott Castleman Ask someone from the Kanawha Valley how far the University of Charleston is from Spencer, W.Va., and they will tell you it’s about an hour’s drive up I-79. Ask the same question to a Spencer resident and they will tell you that UC is just a walk down the street. The fact is that both people would be correct. That is because over the past year and a half, UC pharmacy instructor Barbara Smith and her Golden Eagle students have woven themselves into the Spencer community through the University’s diabetes management program at Roane General Hospital. A native of Spencer, Instructor Smith knew exactly where she wanted to set up as a preceptor for UC student pharmacists when she came on board in 2010. She wanted to use her passion for diabetes management to help people in her hometown, while also allowing her students to gain invaluable real-world experience. According to Smith, the entire diabetes management program reinforces the UC School of Pharmacy’s emphasis on rural health care. “In a state like West Virginia, we have so many rural areas that preparing our students the way we do in Spencer is very important to the educational process. We also are helping to fill the void in areas that are traditionally medically underserved.” Roane General provides Smith’s program with office space, and healthcare providers in Spencer and surrounding communities refer patients to the clinic. According to Smith, her program benefits both the hospital and the patient, because generally the physician doesn’t have the time to completely educate people with diabetes about how to properly manage the disease. Once a patient is enrolled in the program, Smith and her students set up an initial one-on-one appointment where they take the patient’s medical history, medication list, blood pressure, weight and blood sugar. From there the patient goes through three, three-hour group classes in which the students assist Smith with teaching. Patients learn the importance of various topics, such as meal planning and physical activity, while students gain hands-on experience. “We have gotten a lot of positive comments so far,” said Smith. “Patients are seeing that exercising and dietary changes are making a difference in their lives.” UC pharmacy graduate Jennifer Edwards Thacker believes that students get as much out of the experience as the patients. “You can study as much as you want, but until you get into the field with patients you can’t fully understand how to interact with, and educate, them. It was an interesting experience and it reinforced the idea that diabetes management is a field in which I want to work.” On top of working in the clinic, students also volunteer at the Committee on Aging to evaluate senior citizens’ medications and help determine if they need to be adjusted or replaced. Thacker also said they were able to create friendships with the patients through activities such as bowling on Nintendo’s Wii gaming system. Thacker reflected, “When we weren’t able to visit they were always disappointed.” Since opening the clinic in the spring of 2010, the program has been a resounding success. “Our community has been extremely open and welcoming, as has Roane General,” Smith noted. “The students are able to apply their knowledge by seeing how pharmacists practice pharmacy in unique environments. They get to build confidence working with patients and health care providers.” While Charleston and Roane may be separated by 50 miles of interstate, it seems UC has found a home in the heart of the Spencer community. “ You can study as much as you want, but until you get into the field with patients you can’t fully understand how to inte act with and educate them. ” Jennifer Edwards Thacker, 2011 pharmacy graduate 6
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