SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 150 Years of Pharmacy Excellence

Current Position: Clinical Oncology Pharmacy Specialist, Baptist Health Lexington; Preceptor, University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy

"I have always been more than impressed with the UKCOP students I have on rotation. Oncology is a very difficult and narrow topic. UKCOP students come to my rotation with a good base knowledge on general oncology topics and are always eager to learn more. I would advise students to surround themselves with a network of mentors and nurture those relationships. As your career grows, you will need the advice of sage individuals more than you think. Provide mentorship to others as you are able, and remember to pay it forward."

Current Position: Assistant Dean for Extended Campuses (Albany, Augusta, and Savannah), Clinical Professor, Associate Department Head, University of Georgia College of Pharmacy

Award: Paul F. Parker Award Recipient (2018)

"Looking back on it, the post-BS program, first year classes and staffing, that was the toughest year of my entire life. However, I was forced to create time management skills. I did an OB-GYN study on prophylactic antibiotics. We regularly worked 100 hours a week. My 2nd year rotation at Norton Children’s Hospital in Louisville was a fantastic experience. UK prepared me well for coming to the University of Georgia. It was a big slow down from the residency program. Everything I was taught and went through prepared me incredibly well for the future."

Previous Position: Principal, Clinical Pharmacology Consulting (currently retired)

Award: Hall of Distinguished Alumni - Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient (2011)

"My most meaningful interaction was with two of my PhD students at Purdue University. We are still in touch today and that is important because I was a new faculty member and they just had to trust me. Mentoring young people is important to me and I like to try to expose them to the big picture. Even when I worked in the industry, I continued to serve as a mentor to newer hires."

Current Position: Assistant Professor, Pharmacy Practice and Science Department, University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy; Pharmacist, Bluegrass Community Health Center

"The most meaningful interaction I've had in my career as a pharmacist was one that happened recently with a patient I’d been working with on diabetes management, and they had been struggling with that for some time. After six months of meeting and working with her, we got her A1C to go level. At that point, I’m turning patients back over to their medical providers, and if the need arises, they can come back to me. It was meaningful and humbling because she didn’t want to do that. Instead, she wanted to keep coming back for appointments with me. To know you are making that much of an impact on someone’s health and that impact is appreciated and noticed feels so good. Those are just the best days. I walk out with a big smile and light, happy heart."

Current Position: PCA, Pharmacist, Long-Term Care Facility

"The best part of getting my degree at UKCOP was getting to be in a place that I loved. I made friendships that have lasted a lifetime. The college was nice because you knew everybody. You knew the students, faculty and professors. It was very special and I have very good memories that will last a lifetime."

Current Position: Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy

"I love teaching young people and helping them get to the next place in their career. It is so fun. I love to see the lights go on when they understand what I'm teaching them. It feels like you're watching your students become who they are meant to become. I've had a wonderful experience UKCOP and met so many great people. I've been part of something really special."

Current Position: Pharmacoepidemiology Postdoctoral Fellow, PhD Student in Epidemiology, University of Pennsylvania

Award: Lyman T. Johnson Torch of Excellence Award Recipient (2019)

"Besides UKCOP being one the top 10 pharmacy schools over the last several decades, a big highlight for me is the pharmaceutical outcomes and policy group. I was one of the first summer research students under Karen and Melanie Dicks. I loved that group because they tied what was necessary from a clinical perspective and a health policy perspective together. It was my first taste of seeing that you can use your PharmD in so many other ways because you have that understanding of pharmacology and clinical care. You are so much better suited to tackle these kinds of research problems than other types of students. Kentucky is consistently a leader when it comes to pharmacist scope of practice, and because I was in Kentucky, there's so much more that I could do as a pharmacist and a researcher compared to when I talked to students from other states. I think about the KASPER system a lot. That was so innovative. They were one of the first to merge with other states pharmacy drug monitoring programs. To be a student in a school when you had all of that at your fingertips was excellent and fully prepared you for your pharmacy career."

Current Position: Associate Professor, Assistant Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy; Pediatric Clinical Staff Pharmacist, Kentucky Children's Hospital Pharmacy

"Working at UKCOP has been great. The best part is the students. I could never give up teaching because I love to see the students figure out that they can do something they were unsure about. I love teaching students new things and helping them find their passions. Anyone I have been able to help is my biggest accomplishment. Whether they are students or patients, I just want to help people."

Previous Position: Director of Pharmacy, Frankfort Regional Medical Center (currently retired)

"I feel that the reputation of UKCOP, especially the one of it in 1974 when I graduated from UK, really commanded respect. I felt respected for my degree. It was a bit like being a Harvard grad. The reputation of UKCOP has been, and still is to this day, astounding."

Current Position: Executive Director, Kentucky Pharmacists Association

"My UK pharmacy degree has opened many doors for me and given me flexibility. I have been able to work in retail and independent pharmacies, and now I get to advocate for the profession. I worked for four years at a new independent pharmacy and found it to be very rewarding. I also got to know my patients very well and see their health and well-being improve because I was able to share my knowledge from UKCOP as a pharmacist."

Current Position: Professor, Vice President for Research and Economic Development, Chemical and Biological Engineering Department, University of Alabama

Award: Hall of Distinguished Alumni - Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient (2013)

"Take advantage of every opportunity you can while you're a student, whether it's when you're an undergraduate, PharmD or PhD student. Challenge yourself. Don’t cut corners. Don’t do the minimum needed to get your degree. The time is short, but it is very important. Do as much as your can, challenge yourself and you won’t regret that. You will regret cutting corners and doing the minimum necessary to get your degree."

Current Position: Pharmacist, MedSave Pharmacy

"UKCOP is a very competitive school. We have a great body of students and wonderful faculty. I was surrounded by great people throughout the years I was there. It helped me stand out in my career by helping me mature and grow into the person I am today. The diversity I learned through school and the education itself was great. We went beyond the books. I received so many experiences and built many relationships with my peers and professors. The rotations offered also really helped me and molded me into the pharmacist I am today."

Previous Position: Director of Pharmacy, Norton Healthcare's Medical Towers; Pastor of Perryville First Baptist Church

Willie was the Director of Pharmacy at Norton Healthcare's Medical Towers in Louisville, Kentucky. He was also a Lyman T. Johnson Award winner at the University of Kentucky. Willie was the pastor of First Baptist Church in Perryville, Kentucky for over 20 years until his passing in 2007.

Current Position: Vice President, Medical Affairs, Supernus Pharmaceuticals

Award: Lyman T. Johnson Torch of Excellence Award Recipient (2005)

"What made Kentucky so different from other pharmacy schools was their residency program. I chose to go into pediatrics and the rigorous training I experienced fully prepared me well for my career. The experience of having the Kentucky name behind my training and education just took on a different meaning. The reputation of UKCOP really stood out and it still stands out to me today."

Current Position: Oncology Scientific Director, Merck & Co.

"When you go to UK, you have so many professors and so many colleagues and even classmates that are so smart. Everybody is smart. Always be on your game and always go above and beyond. So building up a work ethic of doing the most, reading more and trying to do everything to your best of your ability was very beneficial at UKCOP. It helped me get to postgraduate training. That just kept up through my two years of residency. That initial work ethic is something that makes myself stand out in everything I do. Doing things thoroughly, doing things efficiently and doing them at a grade A-level were always emphasized at UK."