Remembering Dr. Brian Odle

Honoring Dr. Brian Odle

ETSU lost a dear friend this year— Dr. Brian Odle, who passed away on Feb. 15, 2021, at the age of 53.

Dr. Odle, Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice, came to Gatton College of Pharmacy in 2007. His unique teaching style combined memorable storytelling with practical knowledge. Dr. Odle was loved by his students, as well as faculty and staff.

Soon after his death, donations poured in from his family and friends, as well as faculty, staff, and students, to establish the Dr. Brian Odle Memorial Scholarship. To give, please visit this website honoring his life, which also includes photos, videos, obituary, and a link to his Kudoboard: www.etsu.edu/ pharmacy/honoring_odle.php.

Dr. Jim Thigpen, who was one of many at the university who helped contribute to and found the Dr. Brian Odle Pharmacy Scholarship, spoke on ETSU’s Day of Giving about his relationship with Dr. Odle and why he supported the scholarship.

“I knew Brian for nearly 25 years and we worked together as clinical pharmacists for about eight years early on in our careers,” said Thigpen. “I can honestly say I never worked with someone who impacted me on so many levels like Brian did. Every person who knew Brian loved him. He had that kind of impact on people.”

The impact of Dr. Odle could be felt at Gatton's Hooding and Commencement ceremony, held in May.

During her speech, Dean Debbie Byrd talked about the impact Dr. Odle had on the college as a whole.

Scan to give to Dr. Brian Odle Pharmacy Scholarship

“He was often selected by graduates to serve as a hooder during commencement ceremonies,” said Byrd. “He also was a dynamic storyteller who inspired students in the classroom, on rounds, and at our annual Prescriptions for Success event for graduates.”

Student speaker Dr. Jessica Brumit said that when she struggled with what to say for her speech, she found guidance from Dr. Odle, whom she proclaimed as “perhaps the greatest public speaker that Gatton has ever seen.”

“I was inspired by Dr. Odle’s four Ps to success that he shared with the Class of 2019, which are Preparation, Planning, Practice, and Performance,” said Brumit. She went on to model her speech around the four Ps and talk about how the Class of 2021 utilized them to success.

Those four Ps were crafted into a lapel pin that graduates received as a gift from the P3 class at the college's annual Awards Ceremony.

Dr. Odle graduated from MTSU in 1990 with a degree in Biology. He then received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Tennessee, Memphis, in 1994. Dr. Odle completed a pharmacy practice residency at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, before making Kingsport his home in 1996. He worked at Johnson City Medical Center as a clinical pharmacist, later becoming Director of Pharmacy at Indian Path Medical Center.

Dr. Odle was an active member of Bible Way Baptist Church in Kingsport. Survivors include his loving wife of 26 years, Kim Odle; son, Luis Odle; daughters, Jessie and Maggie Odle; brother, Chad Odle; aunt, Kay Kelly and husband Pete; father and mother-in-law, Lynton “Bud” and Jewell Vanzant; sister-in-law, Tracy Vanzant; cousins, Junior, Ward, Don, and Jeff Pritchard, and Melinda Belew; along with a host of friends and extended family.

Donors from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021

Anonymous Donors Yaritza and Carlos Abdelnour Katelyn Alexander Bridget and Renfro Baird Janet Banks Bible Way Baptist Church Magdalena Bielski Wilsie and Paul Bishop Amanda Blair Carol and Chester Blankenship Melanie and Landon Blinn Harry Boling Holly Booth John and Larissa Bossaer Lelia Bradshaw Stacy and Patrick Brown Jessica Brumit Whitney Bryson Jessica and Darrin Burchette Debbie and Robert Byrd Rhett and Abby Byrne Larry and Kathryn Calhoun Chick-fil-A at Innovation Park Plaza William Clark Cheri and John Clavier David Cluck Timothy Coffey Timothy and Teresa Coleman Sara Colen Charles and Frances Collins Betty and Joel Conger Corley's Pharmacy Maria Costa Kelly and Chad Covert Joe and Barbara Cox Leonard Cross and Patricia Amadio Susie Crowe Marion Crowell CVS Health Foundation Thomas and Shelia Davis Sivarao Digavalli and Neeta Mehrotra Kimberly Dykes Eastman Credit Union Steve and Patricia Ellis Marsha Fandl Darrell Fowler Karen Franklin Christa George and Chris Wood Don Granger Michele and Hunter Graybeal Victoria and Dana Grist Benjamin Gross Larry Grubb Nicholas and Molly Hagemeier Lauri and Steven Hale Courtney Hall Rachel Hargreaves Sara Haynes McKenzie and Akiah Highsmith Jonathan Holan Joy Hurley Miranda Hurley James Hurst Jesse Stuart Foundation, Inc. Lou Johnson Ann Jordan Jaclyn and Andrew Kempf Jerry and Kay King John and Keyla King K-VA-T Food Stores Inc Linda Larkey Jerry and Sarah Lawson Ed and Elinor LeClaire Heather and Stephen Levesque Kalen Lewis William and Bonnie Lewis Carmen Linne Steven Lohoff Bobby and Burma Lotts James Louden Gary and Jackie Mabrey Scott Marmo and Kimberly Chapman Elizabeth McDade Brenda and Johnny McInturff Sarah Melton Brian and Melinda Messick K and D Metzger Michael S Snyder Trucking Mooney's Pharmacy Kathryn Mueller Claire and Minh Nguyen Scott and Nikki Niswonger Christopher Norris Northeast Tennessee Independent Pharmacy Coalition LLC Kim Odle Olde Towne Pharmacy, Inc. Victoria Palau Peter and Leslie Panus Robert and Suzanne Parkerson Margaret and Ted Pate Angela Perhac Amy and James Perkins Courtney Pitre Brooks and David Pond Ashana Puri Tabitha Ragland Chelsea Renfro Peter and Sandra Rice James Richardson James and Dorothy Riley Peggy Riner Emily Ritchie Kim Roberts Kelly and David Rogers Marci Russum Lori Sandt Nancy and Paul Scherrer Aaron and Grete Scott Shamrock Real Estate Lucy and Eric Shell Dillard and Shirlene Sholes Paige Sholes Lindsey Slusher Holly Small Mary and Anthony Smallwood Jeffrey Sondergaard David and Hillary Stewart David Swift Barbara Sylvester Anita and Michael Taylor The Community Foundation of Harrisonburg & Rockingham County James and Dawn Thigpen Christan and Joshua Thomas Town & Country Realty Garry and Linda VanZant Tracy Vanzant Rita Vestal Walgreens Fran and Barry Weiskopf Adam and Kimberly Welch Joseph White Michele Williams Suzanne and Todd Williams Tracy and Robert Wright Michelle Wrobleski

East Tennessee State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award baccalaureate, master’s, education specialist, and doctoral degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097, telephone 404-679-4500, or http://www.sacscoc.org, for questions about the accreditation of East Tennessee State University. East Tennessee State University Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy’s Doctor of Pharmacy program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE),135 S. LaSalle Street, Suite 4100 Chicago, IL 60603-4810, 312/664-3575, fax 312/664-4652, website www.acpe-accredit.org. The ACPE accredits Doctor of Pharmacy programs offered by Colleges and Schools of Pharmacy in the United States and selected non-US sites. East Tennessee State University does not discriminate against students, employees, or applicants for admission or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, age, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, or any other legally protected class with respect to all employment, programs and activities sponsored by ETSU. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Compliance Coordinator, PO Box 70271, Johnson City, TN 37614, 423-439-8544. ETSU’s policy on non-discrimination can be found at: etsu.edu/universitycounsel/compliance. ETSU is an AA/EEO employer. ETSU-GCP-14-22 4600

PO Box 70414 Johnson City, TN 37614

Refer a Future Pharmacist

Did you know the #1 source of future pharmacists at Gatton College of Pharmacy is from our alumni who are out in the community sharing their love for the college? Do you know someone who might want to pursue pharmacy and be a great candidate for Gatton?