seasons

McWHORTER SCHOOL OF PHARMACY
A Message from the Dean
Over the past two years,
I’ve had the privilege to
serve as dean of
McWhorter School of
Pharmacy. The school has
been a leader in pharmacy
education since its humble
beginnings in 1927, and it’s
amazing to recall our storied
history. What stands out to
me is the school’s resiliency,
and how we’ve responded to
unique challenges and
opportunities throughout the
Michael A. Crouch
decades. As we begin to
celebrate our 90th anniversary
and move to new, state-of-the-art facilities, the question is
simple: How do we define our future?
An educational renaissance is building within the school. As we
reimagine how we teach and students learn, we are challenging students
to customize their Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.). Our goal is a
unique and individualized education where each person is well
prepared and competitive for wherever he or she is called to serve.
The personalized Pharm.D. starts with our learning environment.
New facilities create an unparalleled setting for interprofessional
education. These distinctive learning spaces, supplemented
with cutting-edge technology, ensure our graduates are ready to be
part of team-based care. In addition to being team-ready, students
must be ready to practice independently on day one. We offer
certificate programs related to pharmacy-based immunization delivery
and medication therapy management services. Likewise, students are
eligible for our growing dual-degree programs.
Global engagement remains a defining characteristic. With 19
affiliations in 9 countries, we will have more than 100 pharmacy
students travel abroad this year as part of the London elective,
summer mission trips and advanced practice experiences. Students
also have research opportunities, including summer internships and
work within the Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Institute and
Center for Healthcare Innovation and Patient Outcomes Research.
A testament of our program is the accomplishments of our
students and alumni. We are delighted with the success of our
graduates on licensure examinations and job placement before
commencement. Yet, we strive to instill behaviors, attitudes and
values of servant leadership. We’re pleased to share with you a variety
of examples of how our students and alumni are transforming lives
through pharmacy. We are indeed defining our future, and I couldn’t
be more proud of our graduates.
Michael A. Crouch, Pharm.D., BCPS, FASHP
Fred E. McWhorter Dean and Professor
McWhorter School of Pharmacy
Pharmacy Student Named to
Inaugural Class
of Schweitzer Fellows
Caitlyn Cleghorn, a rising second-year
student in McWhorter School of Pharmacy,
has been selected as a member of the inaugural
class of Alabama Schweitzer Fellows. Cleghorn,
along with 15 other graduate students, will
spend the next year learning to effectively
address the social factors that impact health
while developing lifelong leadership skills.
Schweitzer Fellows develop and implement
service projects that address the root
causes of health disparities in under-resourced
communities while also fulfilling their
academic responsibilities. Each project is implemented in
collaboration with a community-based health and/or social
service organization.
Caitlyn Cleghorn
Cleghorn, along with her fiancé Dustin Whitaker, a student
in University of Alabama at Birmingham’s School of Medicine,
will implement a medication review system for St. Vincent’s
Health System’s Access to Care program that includes health
education for patients and a comprehensive clinical review of each
patient’s medications.
“The need for medication review systems is growing in our
health care system, and it is a commodity that many insurance
companies already provide to beneficiaries,” said Cleghorn. “The
people in the Access to Care program fall in the Medicaid gap;
they are uninsured and don’t have access to this type of service.
Our goal is to provide a system that helps ensure that they are
getting the best results from their medication therapy. We hope to
increase their medication adherence and to empower them to take
charge of their health to improve their overall quality of life.”
Schweitzer Fellowships have an intensive leadership component
so that Fellows can go on to inspire others to improve the
health of those who experience barriers to care. Fellows work
under the close guidance of community and academic mentors
during their fellowship year.
“The fellowship will help me sharpen my leadership and
communication skills, and prepare me to think critically about how
to solve problems unique to every individual’s circumstances,”
Cleghorn said of the Schweitzer honor. “I’m very excited to see how
the relationships I form within this organization enrich my
professional experience in the years to come,” she added.
Following graduation from pharmacy school, Cleghorn plans
to pursue a pharmacy residency and a career in either ambulatory
care or clinical pharmacy. ◗
Three Samford alumni were also selected for the Schweitzer
fellowship. To read more about all of the Samford Schweitzer
fellows, see page 16.
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