Gatton Rx Magazine

ANNOUNCING LOWER TUITION

IN THIS ISSUE:

Impact on Substance Use Disorder

page 6

Curriculum Remodel page 10

Alumni Homecoming page 24

Dr. Brian Noland ETSU President

Dr. Kimberly D. McCorkle

Provost and Senior Vice President for Academics

BILL GATTON COLLEGE OF PHARMACY

Dr. Debbie Byrd Dean and Professor Interim Dean, College of Nursing

Dr. David Stewart Associate Dean, Assessment and Academic Affairs

Dr. Ralph Lugo Interim Executive

Associate Dean

Dr. Stacy Brown Interim Chair, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Editors Jonathan Roberts Marketing and Communications Specialist

Stephen Woodward

ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy Marketing and Communications Manager

Dr. Sarah Thomason Interim Chair, Department of Pharmacy Practice

Steve Ellis

Assistant Dean, Student Affairs

Bruce Gannaway

Assistant Dean, Finance and Administration

John King Development Officer 423-439-5933

kingjw2@etsu.edu

Graphic Design

Jeanette Jewell

Contributor

Jennifer Hill

Principal Photography

Ron Campbell, Jonathan Roberts, Larry Smith, Charlie Warden, Stephen Woodward

Greetings from the dean

Last year in this space, I wrote about the need for our college to receive state funding in order to keep our tuition rates competitive with those at other institutions across the state

Since our founding in 2005, ETSU Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy has existed as a private tuition-funded college housed within a public university, and we have relied on our tuition to fund nearly all of our operating costs It wasn’t easy, and our students seeking an education in this region had to take on more debt than their counterparts at other pharmacy schools across the state

But this year, we are writing a new chapter in the history of this great college .

I am so honored and proud that our years-long effort to secure state funding has paid off, thanks to the tireless work of everyone at the college, university, the community, and our local legislators who helped make this dream a reality

For our student pharmacists, the impact will be felt immediately through a significantly lower tuition rate, effective this fall, helping them afford to remain in rural and underserved areas that need them

This is a historic win for our college, and one that shows just what we are capable of when we work together

In this issue of GattonRx, you will read a lot about how we work together to reach new heights – whether that is in our pursuit of state funding, our student pharmacists’ work to combat the opioid epidemic, or our mission to improve the lives of people in the Appalachian Highlands

This collaborative work is essential, and it couldn’t be done without our incredible student pharmacists, faculty, and staff

Other highlights include several of our outstanding student pharmacists and alumni who have gone above and beyond representing this college, as well as our phenomenal faculty and staff who helped get them there .

To everyone who is part of the wonderful and tight-knit Gatton community: Thank you Without your support, ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy wouldn’t be where it is today

Pharmacists change lives, and the work all of you do each and every day is evidence of the impact we can have in our communities

Debbie Byrd, PharmD, MBA

Dean and Professor, ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy Interim Dean, College of Nursing

800+Rural

SERVICE HOURS 2022-2023

1,100+ Total hours

1,100+Total hours

8

800+ Rural average per student

8 average per student

⅓ + student pharmacists are from rural zip codes

1/3+ student pharmacists are from rural zip codes

90% of student pharmacists earned scholarships in 2022-23with more than $550,000 awarded

90%

of student pharmacists earned scholarships in 2022-23 with more than $550,000 awarded

ALUMNI SATISFACTION

95% alumni satisfaction compared to an average 82% for all pharmacy schools

95% compared to an average 82% for all pharmacy schools

30+ career EXPERIENCES

30+ career EXPERIENCES

Approximately ½ of the student body are first-generation college students

Approximately ½ ofthe student body are first-generation college students

$40 million+

$40 million+ Annual Statewide Economic Impact

Annual Statewide Economic Impact

100+ leadership opportunities and 14 student organizations

100+ leadership opportunities and 14 student organizations

ETSU American Pharmacists Association Academy of Student Pharmacists Operation Substance Use Disorders Committee RANKED #1 IN 2023, its 5th national win

RANKED #1 IN 2023,

ETSU American Pharmacists Association Academy of Student Pharmacists Operation Substance Use Disorders Committee its 5th national win

FUNDING SECURED

ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy receives historic funding for first time

ETSU Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy, and its students, celebrated a major victory this year – one that has been years in the making

Thanks to the efforts of the region’s local legislative delegation, the Tennessee General Assembly earlier this year approved $2 .5 million in annual funding -- the first state assistance for the college since its founding in 2005

For in-state students, the tuition cost to pursue a pharmacy education at ETSU is now 30% less than before, and nearly 15% less for out-of-state students The tuition decrease is effective for fall 2023

The tuition reduction over the course of the four-year PharmD program is significant: for in-state students, the tuition cost has decreased over $46,600; for out-of-state, over $22,600 In addition, the state funding will go toward bolstering the college’s scholarships by $720,000,

which will help lower costs even more for prospective students

“State funding is a new and exciting chapter in our college’s history and vital for the legacy we leave behind,” said Dr . Debbie Byrd, Dean of ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy . “This annual appropriation provided by the Tennessee General Assembly will sustain our mission to serve the rural and underserved by lowering tuition and attracting more students to ETSU and the profession of pharmacy

“In addition, this investment in our future will help prevent the ‘brain drain’ of rural Tennessee residents who leave East Tennessee in search of lower tuition in metropolitan areas as well as meet the workforce demand in the region,” Byrd said

State Representative Gary Hicks, who played a pivotal role in this effort, expressed his excitement about the funding, saying it will go a long way to ensure students receive an affordable, quality education .

“Students who could not even consider ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy in the past can now come study in our region, fall in love with its people, and, hopefully, make their careers here,” said Hicks . “I am very excited to see this come to fruition . ”

ETSU student pharmacists were recognized at the Senate and House Floor Sessions during the Tennessee Pharmacists Association (TPA) Legislative Day on the Hill on February 28, 2023.

Dean Byrd met with State Senator Rusty Crowe.

Hicks’ colleagues, State Senators Jon Lundberg and Rusty Crowe, echoed his excitement .

“ETSU has proven itself and established a national reputation of excellence,” said Lundberg “It’s now time for the state to make the investment – and commitment – to support that mission ”

Crowe said he’s hopeful the funding will put the college’s tuition more in line with that of other pharmacy schools in the state

“Our entire Northeast Tennessee legislative delegation, as well as Dr Noland, the pharmacy school faculty, and students, have fought for this for many years,” Crowe said . “I’m very proud of all who

finally made this happen and know it will benefit our students and will especially help the rural areas of our state as our Gatton pharmacy students graduate and move to practice in those areas ”

ETSU President Dr Brian Noland said the funding will have a major, positive impact on Northeast Tennessee and thanked the region’s legislative delegation for its work in making this dream become a reality

“Through this historic appropriation, students in our region will have greater access to affordable pharmacy education that is close to home,” said Noland “I would like to thank state officials and particularly Representatives Gary Hicks, Tim Hicks, and Rebecca Alexander, as well as Senators Rusty Crowe and Jon Lundberg, for serving as champions for the college, our students, and the overall health and well-being of our region ”

ETSU has proven itself and established a national reputation of excellence. It’s now time for the state to make the investment – and commitment – to support that mission.”

State Senator Jon Lundberg

Dean Byrd met with Representatives Tim Hicks (left) and Rebecca Alexander.

Dean Byrd met with State Senator Jon Lundberg.

ETSU President Dr. Brian Noland (left) and State Representative Gary Hicks (middle) met with House Speaker Cameron Sexton.

CONTINUING THE FIGHT AGAINST SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER

Since its rise at the end of the 20th century, the opioid crisis has become a scourge in this country that has left a wake of destruction, particularly in the rural, impoverished areas of the Appalachian Highlands that ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy has made its mission to serve While

the epidemic of opioid overdose deaths continues to be a public health emergency, the crisis has drawn attention to the crucial role pharmacists play in stopping it — and the college has been at the forefront of those efforts in Tennessee and beyond

naloxone rescue. As part of this training, the group led a discussion about fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that has caused deaths to skyrocket since 2014 (National Institutes of Health, 2023).

Dr. Sarah Thomason’s Impact

Dr Sarah Thomason (formerly Melton), who began serving as Interim Chair of the Department of Pharmacy Practice in July 2023, has overseen Operation Substance Use Disorder's (SUD) many national recognitions since its origin in 2012 She has won numerous awards and honors for her teaching and service to the community to reduce the prevalence of prescription drug misuse in the Appalachian Highlands

Thomason has been appointed by the governors of Virginia and Tennessee to critical statewide commissions and served as board chair for One Care of Southwest Virginia, a regional collaboration of substance use disorder coalitions for over a decade . During the past several years, Thomason led legislative efforts on several successful

prescription drug misuse-related bills in Virginia, as well as efforts in partnership with the Virginia Department of Health to further prescription drug misuse education

In addition, Thomason is helping lead the fight against the opioid crisis in the region by serving as Vice-Chair of the Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority (VOAA), and chair of the grants committee In June, the VOAA board awarded more than $23 million in grants to 76 Virginia cities and counties for opioid abatement and remediation efforts, marking the first major allocation of VOAA grants from the settlement payments from manufacturers and distributors of prescription opioids . Payments are expected to continue for at least 16 more years and will exceed $1 billion in total funding .

In November 2022, Dr. Sarah Thomason (second from right), along with student pharmacist Christina Tarsasidis (’26, second from left), and alumna Dawnna Metcalfe (’21; PGY2 ’23 middle), trained Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin and First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin in

Taking Drugs Back

ETSU student pharmacists from APhA-ASP as well as across the college have joined faculty to participate in the twice-annual Drug Take Back Days, sanctioned by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) The purpose of the event is to encourage the public to remove unneeded medications from their homes to help prevent medication misuse and accidental overdose from occurring

Drug Take Back events are hosted at multiple sites across the region in conjunction with law enforcement and often collect hundreds of pounds of pharmaceutical waste at each event from donors across the region As part of the event, student pharmacists educate the public about safe storage and disposal of their medications Dr Jeff Gray, Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice, helped organize the college’s first event in 2009 and has continued to serve as lead organizer with participation in the events with other faculty

Student Pharmacists

Take Action

ETSU student pharmacists devote significant time to service in the community as part of fulfilling the mission of ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy to improve health care, focusing on rural and underserved communities In the 2022-23 academic year, students logged over 1,100 service hours, with over 800 hours devoted to rural areas, averaging eight hours per student Much of that time was aimed at curbing the overdose crisis

In fact, one of the college’s student organizations has become the most nationally recognized group of student pharmacists doing this work For the fifth time, ETSU’s American Pharmacists Association-Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhAASP) Operation SUD committee (formerly Generation Rx) has won the top honor for Patient Care Project Awards in the country for educating the community about prescription and illicit drug misuse, most recently in March 2023 That was the 10th consecutive year that the chapter has been recognized either nationally or regionally

Their activities throughout the year include providing overdose education and naloxone to various locations including regional

Remote Area Medical (RAM) clinics in Virginia and Tennessee

Over the past decade, thousands of laypersons and health care providers have been trained in naloxone rescue in the case of opioid overdose .

“To see the impact we've had over the years on community members, and particularly the youth in our community, has been an absolute joy and reward to me,” said Madison Smith, who chaired the committee during the 2021-22 academic year for which the group won their most recent honor in 2023 “When I joined Operation SUD my first year, I thought that if we could just help one person, that would be enough of an accomplishment for me ”

Center for Pharmacy Education, Advocacy, and Outreach

In 2022, ETSU partnered with Ballad Health to establish the Center for Pharmacy Education, Advocacy, and Outreach aimed at improving the lives and health outcomes of people in the Appalachian Highlands

The Center’s inaugural conference was held at Bristol Regional Medical Center in Bristol, Tennessee, in May, and focused primarily on the topics of substance use disorder and the opioid epidemic Local pharmacists and pharmacy technicians were invited and continuing education credit was provided .

Speakers included Dr William Cooke, who talked about “Canary in the Coal Mine-Reinvesting in the Health and Prosperity of America,” and Michael Meit, Director of the ETSU Center for Rural Health Research, who spoke on “Diseases of Despair/Building Recovery Ecosystems ”

Dr Sarah Thomason and her student pharmacists offered education and training on naloxone, and other pharmacists presented on the prevention and appropriate treatment of opioid use disorder .

Dr. William Cooke

Michael Meit

ETSU faculty have been highly involved in research across departments and health science disciplines to find a new way to slow down and stop the opioid crisis. They have earned multiple prestigious grants that have accelerated the university’s impact on addiction and overdose rates

One novel approach was led by Dr Ashana Puri, assistant professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, when she received one of 16 national American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy 2020 New Investigator Awards (NIA) worth $10,000 that will help fund her research project “Development of Transdermal Systems of Naloxone for Treatment of Opioid Addiction ”

In 2023, Puri and her student researchers are planning to begin animal testing with a new patch, part of a transdermal system that would explore ways to administer naloxone through the skin Puri’s project will focus on making naloxone as easy as possible to administer, eliminating the use of needles by a professional, and decreasing the chance of someone needing multiple doses She said research has been very limited in this area and she hopes to contribute significantly to the field.

Dr. Puri’s Transdermal Research A Heart for Service

A testament to the college’s impact on the community, which included its contributions combating the opioid epidemic, culminated when it earned the top service award for pharmacy schools in 2022 . The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy presented the college the prestigious Lawrence C Weaver Transformative Community Service Award in July 2022

It is awarded annually to one pharmacy school in the U S demonstrating a major institutional commitment to addressing unmet community needs through education, practice, and research

“Our student pharmacists are agents of change and are committed to making a difference in our medically underserved Appalachian region,” said Dr Sarah Thomason “There is no doubt they are saving lives and positively impacting the opioid overdose rates in our region . ”

BACK TO BASICS, PREPARED FOR THE FUTURE

How ETSU’s new pharmacy curriculum goes beyond the classroom, setting students up for success in a changing health care landscape

The past decade has brought a host of changes for pharmacists, including an increased presence as frontline health care workers stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic and an evolving health care system . Pharmacists have taken on new duties that emphasize patient care in addition to traditional duties like medication dispensing

ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy faculty realized that, with those changes to the profession and because today's students are different from previous generations, the college needed to update its curriculum to continue graduating high impact pharmacists

Focusing on Foundations

In 2019, changes to the curriculum were drafted, but when COVID-19 hit, faculty had to adapt to the pandemic and a transforming healthcare system . Work continued and in March 2023, the new curriculum was finalized for the Class of 2027 to first experience it.

Dr. David Stewart oversaw the process first as Chair of the curriculum committee and then in 2022 as Associate Dean of Assessment and Academic Affairs Then, Dr Jessica Burchette, Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice, took on the role as Chair and worked in conjunction with Stewart, the curriculum committee, and the faculty as a whole to build a streamlined curriculum with an emphasis on four key tenets: accountability, excellence, essentialism, and efficiency.

According to Burchette, these tenets informed every part of the new curriculum, which built on an already strong program, and sought to streamline the didactic course load and focus on what was needed to prepare student pharmacists for this new and always evolving health care environment

Ultimately, the change led to a curriculum aimed at giving students more time to digest material and increase community engagement .

“Our goal is to train pharmacists who are excellent practitioners for the general needs of a patient,” said Burchette “It was a back-to-basics approach We want to make sure we’re graduating well-rounded pharmacists ”

A consultant company named Hanover Research helped the college compare its curriculum to other peer institutions and nationally recognized colleges of pharmacy Small groups of ETSU student pharmacists were also engaged to provide feedback on the curriculum changes

At the same time, the curriculum committee and the admissions office reevaluated the required pre-requisites to ensure entering students have the appropriate knowledge to succeed in the new curriculum

Freedom to Explore

Burchette said the “excellence” and “essentialism” tenets allowed faculty to focus on quality over quantity and put added space between core concepts . They added that it was important that the new curriculum be designed in a way for students to feel they could “explore and engage” with the necessary information rather than feel overwhelmed by it

For instance, in the old curriculum, a medical concept like heart failure might be introduced, followed by the individual components including pathophysiology,

pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, and therapy for heart failure In the new curriculum, those concepts will be spaced over months or even years, rather than days .

"We intentionally created space between concepts, scaffolding our information so that we can revisit concepts over and over again to make sure it’s reinforced,” said Burchette

Stewart said that the pace of new medical information has increased so much that it can become an “overwhelming amount of data” for student pharmacists and licensed professionals alike

“There is a finite amount of information that our brains can handle,” said Stewart “Through the tenet of ‘accountability,’ a primary focus of the new curriculum is to train student pharmacists to be critical thinkers and lifelong learners ”

Stewart added that by becoming self-directed lifelong learners, ETSU student pharmacists “can progress with the evolving health care system and keep themselves up to date on the new scientific advancements in medicine ”

Advanced Training

The curricular changes not only allow students more room to explore the information they’re being taught in the classroom, but they also have more time for real world training

As a result, the Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience (IPPE) curriculum was subsequently redesigned

“We wanted to put students out in practice earlier and more often,” said Burchette “With this new time available, they have added flexibility to gain more boots on the ground experience prior to their fourth year We’re providing them the opportunity to take care of patients from day one of their PharmD program ”

“The revised IPPE curriculum has an intentional focus on specific skills which build over the course of the program,” said Dr . Katelyn Alexander, Director of Experiential Education . “We have added short, targeted rotations that will hopefully result in more comfortable, confident, and capable students coming on rotation for longer experiences in the summers for immersive IPPE rotations In addition, we want these learners to benefit the preceptors and sites who facilitate the learning experiences ”

Students are now able to take on additional training in their fourth year Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPE), which gives them more real-world training before they become pharmacists and enter the job market

Such steps line up with ETSU’s overall approach to education, which is focused on providing students with high-impact learning opportunities, helping them move from enrolled to employed

“Our goal is to create a structured progression from IPPEs to APPEs, and then to utilize the fourth year to enhance student readiness for licensure and their future career through strong learning experiences,” said Alexander . “Many students thrive in the practice environment, and we want to include as many opportunities for hands-on learning as possible ”

Preparing for Impact

Service to rural and underserved areas is part of the college's mission statement, and the condensed course load frees up students to go beyond the classroom to engage in activities with the community, participate in more co-curricular activities, and apply skills they’re learning in the classroom at venues such as health fairs or volunteer work .

“By placing a greater emphasis on service and community engagement, we will ultimately be training more caring, well-rounded pharmacists who are better poised to make an impact after graduation,” said Burchette

While there will of course be challenges to implementing a new curriculum, Drs Burchette and Stewart said there is a lot of excitement across the college about the changes, from students to faculty to the Dean

“This is a major change for the college, and it has required a lot of time and work,” said Stewart, “but I believe it will pay off greatly for the college, for our students, and ultimately for patients who are no doubt going to receive great care from our graduates ”

Faculty news

Preparing High School Students for Pharmacy

A team from the college and area high schools expanded the college’s Introduction to Pharmacy dual credit offering for the Spring 2023 semester to include Science Hill High School for the first time, in addition to continuing the dual credit offering with DobynsBennett High School and ETSU main campus A total of 32 students enrolled this spring The team included Dr. Brooklyn Nelson, who was promoted to Clinical Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice; Dr. Kathy Mueller, Director of Pharmacy Admissions; Joy Hurley, Assistant Director of Enrollment Management and Communications; Becky Dunkelberger, Admissions Recruiter; Kayla Clawson, teacher at Science Hill High School; and Regina Davenport, teacher at Dobyns-Bennett High School

Leadership Training

April saw the launch of the ETSU Health Professional Leadership Academy, co-led by Dr. Larry Calhoun, Dean Emeritus. Several faculty graduated from the inaugural class on Tuesday, May 9, including Drs. Jessica Burchette, McKenzie Highsmith, Kathy Mueller, and Brooklyn Nelson.

Publications Associated with the ETSU Center for Cardiovascular Risk Research

l Dr. KariLynn Dowling-McClay, Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice, and Dr. David Stewart, Associate Dean of Assessment and Academic Affairs and Professor, were co-authors on “The prevalence of metabolic conditions before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and its association with health and sociodemographic factors” in PLOS ONE, February 2023

l Dr. Emily Flores, Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice, and Dr. Stewart contributed to “Setting patient-centered priorities for cardiovascular disease in Central Appalachia: Engaging stakeholder experts to develop a research agenda” in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, April 2023

l Dr. Stewart contributed to the article “Examining disparities in current e-cigarette use among U S adults before and after the WHO declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020” in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, April 2023

Postgraduates Transition

The college graduated and welcomed new postgraduates in 2023: Alumna Dawnna Metcalfe (’21), PharmD, graduated from the Postgraduate Year 2 (PGY2) Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Residency, and she was succeeded by alumnus James Elliott ('20), PharmD Michelle Rapier, PharmD, MPH, graduated as the Academic Pharmacy Fellow and was succeeded by Kylie Futrell, PharmD

Local Feature

Pharmacy Practice faculty Drs. Whitney Aultman, McKenzie Highsmith, and Jessica Robinson were interviewed in the Business Journal about the dangers of polypharmacy

Dean Byrd Steps in to Assist College of Nursing

Dr. Debbie Byrd began serving as Interim Dean of the College of Nursing on July 1, 2023 This appointment follows the exit of Dean Leann Horsley, whose dedicated service to ETSU has been greatly appreciated Dr Byrd will simultaneously maintain her current role as Dean of ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy

To ensure ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy continues to run smoothly and efficiently during this time, Dr. Ralph Lugo, former Chair of the Department of Pharmacy Practice, is serving in a new position as Interim Executive Associate Dean In addition, Dr Sarah Thomason has stepped in as Interim Chair of the Department of Pharmacy Practice

Success Continues for Flip the Pharmacy

Rebecca Wagers, Managing Network Facilitator for Community Pharmacy Enhanced Services Network of Northeast Tennessee (CPESN® NET), and Pharmacy Practice faculty Drs. Jessica Robinson and Jeff Gray earned the fourth-time Flip the Pharmacy grant in October 2022 from the Community Pharmacy Foundation to administer Flip the Pharmacy Cohort 4 in 50 pharmacies through September 2024

Katelyn Alexander, Director of Experiential Education

Dr . Alexander was one of 35 individuals chosen to participate in the 20th cohort of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy’s (AACP) prestigious Academic Leadership Fellows Program, which aims to develop leaders in pharmacy education

Debbie Byrd, Dean and Professor, ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy; Interim Dean, College of Nursing

Dr . Byrd represented ETSU Health at the Nashville Health Care Council and spoke about health care workforce shortages and the work for potential solutions

David Cluck, Associate Professor, Pharmacy Practice

In March, Dr . Cluck published “Personalizing Prevention: Advances in Pharmacotherapy for HIV Prevention” in AACP Pharmacotherapy and “Kimyrsa and Orbactiv – A Tale of Two Formulations” in Drug Design, Development and Therapy He and Dr Kelly Covert published an article together (see entry for Covert)

Kelly Covert, Associate Professor, Pharmacy Practice

Dr . Covert was recognized as an "Emerging Leader in Interprofessional Education" by the Center for Interprofessional Collaboration In addition, she has been promoted to Associate Professor

of Pharmacy Practice Covert and Cluck published “Therapeutic Options for Adult Patients with Persistent Methicillin-Susceptible Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia: A Narrative Review” in Annals of Pharmacotherapy, March 2023 .

Siva Digavalli, Associate Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences

Dr Digavalli, Dakota Rorie (’23), and two other ETSU graduate students (Ummear Raza and Deepshila Gautam) published “Differential Effects of Clozapine and Haloperidol on the 40 Hz Auditory Steady State Response-mediated Phase Resetting in the Prefrontal Cortex of the Female Sprague Dawley Rat” in the Schizophrenia Bulletin, May 2023

KariLynn Dowling-McClay, Assistant Professor, Pharmacy Practice

Dr DowlingMcClay coauthored “The Report of the 2021-2022 AACP Research and Graduate Affairs Committee” in the January 2023 edition of American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education .

Dr. Debbie Byrd

Dr. Sarah Thomason

Dr. Ralph Lugo

Emily Flores, Associate Professor,

Dr Flores, along with Joy Hurley from Admissions and two Puerto Ricanborn student pharmacists, visited Puerto Rico for the second time, building relationships with future student pharmacists and student organizations The trip was part of the college's efforts to enhance diversity and continue the PEER-E2 ESL support program, funded by a grant from the Tennessee Board of Regents .

Nick Hagemeier, Vice Provost for Research and Chief Research Officer at ETSU and Professor, Pharmacy Practice

Dr Hagemeier was promoted to full professor In addition, he earned the Faculty Award for Teaching at the college’s fall retreat in December .

McKenzie Highsmith, Associate Professor, Pharmacy Practice

At the Tennessee Pharmacists Association summer meeting, Dr Highsmith earned the Tennessee Society of Student Pharmacists’ (TSSP) Student Advocacy Award, presented annually to a professor, preceptor, or other pharmacist who has demonstrated devotion to the success of student pharmacists through a commitment of lifelong leadership which directly encouraged, inspired, and facilitated the development of TSSP organization members to perform to their fullest potential

Rick Hess, Associate Professor, Pharmacy Practice

Dr Hess and student pharmacist

Tess Wilcoxon (’23) published “A Survey Snapshot Measuring Insulin

Underuse in a Primary Care Clinic” in The Annals of Family Medicine, January 2023

Ashana Puri, Assistant Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences

Dr . Puri published “Dermaplaning for Transdermal Drug Permeation Enhancement: A Qualitative and Quantitative Assessment” in American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists PharmSciTech, February 2023, with student pharmacists Dorcas Frempong (’23), Jagroop Kaur (’23), Rebecca Lessaint (’24), Sophia Sergent (’24), Maryam Al Shawi (’24), and Gabrielle Verana (’24), as well as a PhD student . In addition, Puri and her graduate student, Akeemat Tijani, published “Transdermal Delivery of Naloxone using Minimally Invasive Physical Ablation Techniques” in the International Journal of Pharmaceutics, July 2023

Puri also earned the college’s Faculty Award for Research

David Roane, Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences

Dr Roane earned the college’s Faculty Award for Service

Jessica Robinson, Assistant Professor, Pharmacy Practice

Dr Robinson co-authored the article “COVID-19 Booster Vaccination in Rural Community Pharmacies” in Vaccine, December 2022 In 2022, she earned the Business Journal's “40 Under Forty” award for her contributions leading pharmacy practice transformation efforts at the college, serving as lead coach for the Greater Appalachian Transformation Effort Flip the Pharmacy Team . In addition, she presented “Introduction to Medical Billing” as part of a two-day medical billing workshop at the Tennessee Pharmacists Association summer meeting, June 2023

Sarah Thomason, Interim Chair, Pharmacy Practice

Dr Thomason was featured in Pharmacy Today about "FentanylBased OUD Guidance Needed in Light of Crisis ." Read more about Thomason’s impact on the opioid crisis on page 6 .

Michele Williams, Director of Academic Success and Assistant Professor, Pharmacy Practice

Dr Williams was appointed to the faculty as Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice She will continue her role as Director of Academic Success while teaching in the curriculum and collaborating on research and scholarship This past year, Williams earned the Professional Staff Award for her role as Director of Academic Success

Pharmacy Practice

THE ROAD TO A HEALTHIER COMMUNITY

Though it's only been operating since Spring 2023, East Tennessee State University’s mobile vaccination clinic is making a major impact in the region against COVID-19

With more than $2 million in funding from the Tennessee Department of Health and the U S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the mobile clinic has been on the move throughout rural Northeast Tennessee since March 2023

With just under half of Tennesseans not yet fully vaccinated against COVID-19, the goal of the grant is to reach patients in socially vulnerable areas of Northeast Tennessee .

The interprofessional mobile team includes health coordinators, nurses, nurse practitioners, and pharmacists . Together, they hold one to three mobile vaccine clinics weekly at various employer locations, clinic sites, farmers markets and other community locations

The Pfizer vaccine is being administered based on the newest CDC guidance, which recommends one bivalent COVID-19 vaccine for those who have never had a COVID-19 vaccine before, or those previously only vaccinated with the monovalent vaccines

The current mobile vaccine schedule can be found on the etsuhealth org website

All six College of Nursing clinics now have COVID-19 vaccines available to the public at no charge These clinics include Johnson City Community Health Center, University Health Center, Hancock County School-based Health (two clinics), Johnson City Downtown Day Center, and Mountain City Extended Hours Health Center .

Dr Michelle Rapier, who helped lead the grant team as an Academic Pharmacy Fellow at ETSU before graduating in June 2023, says the grant is improving opportunities to get vaccinated for COVID-19 by removing certain barriers

“We are bringing the vaccine closer to people,” Rapier said “Our mobile team is not asking for insurance or payment, and clients do not need to have a primary care provider to receive the vaccine at a mobile clinic We also provide education about the COVID vaccines to help people reduce their risk of becoming very sick or hospitalized with COVID-19 ”

“The majority of individuals served by our ETSU Health College of Nursing practice sites are uninsured and underserved,” said Dr . Kayla Norman, Clinical Director of the ETSU Health nursing practice network. “Specifically, our patients often struggle with transportation and the financial resources needed to participate in preventative care The grant is providing our patients with a greater opportunity to receive the much-needed vaccine at no cost to them ”

The new initiative will provide important training opportunities for student pharmacists

“The program will enhance the educational opportunities for ETSU student pharmacists by allowing them to not only practice skills related to vaccination, but also to better understand patient and community needs and to foster preventative health,” Rapier said “Our students are involved in all aspects of the mobile clinics, which allows them the opportunity to provide care in settings outside of the traditional pharmacy experiences in order to expand care and to ensure equitable care to patients in Northeast Tennessee . ”

ON TO THEIR NEXT CHAPTER

ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy celebrated its 14th graduating class in May, honoring 66 students with their doctoral hoods

Dr Debbie Byrd, Dean of ETSU Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy, thanked the graduating class for the mark they left on the college during the ceremony on May 5, 2023

“We are so pleased you chose to go on the journey to become a pharmacist with us,” said Byrd “You made this college your own, and you’re leaving it a better college of pharmacy than the one you found ”

Byrd also praised their impact on the opioid crisis, as well as their success in research, leadership, and their student organizations, which has led to multiple national honors .

Dr Brian Noland, ETSU President, addressed the graduates, noting their significant accomplishments both in the region and in national leadership positions within student organizations

“Your resilience and determination to persevere have not gone unnoticed,” said Noland “Gatton student pharmacists have continued to win national awards and earn service accolades, which is at the very heart of our purpose and vision: to improve the lives of the people of this region ”

Dr Jonathan Holan (’23), who spoke on behalf of the graduating class, talked about their experience through the COVID-19 pandemic

“We seized the opportunity to serve our patients on the front lines, providing thousands of vaccinations while growing as pharmacists,” said Holan . “The faculty and staff at Gatton did all they could to support us, rapidly adapting to the virtual format and consistently addressing each of our concerns We will forever be thankful for their support and flexibility. There were certainly some rough patches, but while we may not have expected it, we successfully rode that surf and made it to where we are today ”

Dr Kimberly D McCorkle, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academics, also spoke at the ceremony

“As you conclude your time at ETSU and begin your career in pharmacy, I encourage you to remember the mission of this college and to stay true to its principles,” McCorkle said “Remember the value of team-based care Focus on how you can improve health care for everyone, never forgetting the lessons you have learned about the importance of providing excellent care to everyone, including the underserved . ”

Class of 2027 BY THE NUMBERS

attended

49% are from Tennessee

71%

29% from a rural area

1/3

49% are from Tennessee

71%

ETSU 36%

are first generation

Attended 25 different colleges and universities

29% from a rural area

Attended 25 different colleges and universities

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

East Tennessee State University graduate Dr Taylor Coston (’23) realized she could make a difference during her time at ETSU, so she did

As a student in ETSU’s PharmD/ Master of Public Health dual degree program, Coston organized vaccination clinics for the region’s unhoused population, developed a well-being plan for the ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy, and did public outreach to educate people about mental illness and resources in the area, among other achievements

For her efforts, Coston was awarded the prestigious U .S . Public Health Service (USPHS) Excellence in Public Health Pharmacy Award – and was one of 10 students nationwide selected by the Pharmacist Professional Advisory Committee (PharmPAC) Student Awards Program as a “Top Award Recipient” for their public health work that positively impacted their local communities and beyond

This honor recognizes student pharmacists who have made significant contributions to public health by promoting wellness and healthy communities Students are evaluated on their contributions toward voluntary health-related services or an emerging public health issue or contributions that advance the goals of Healthy People 2030 or the National Prevention Strategy .

Coston, who graduated in May and plans to pursue a career in pharmacy,

will spend the next two years as a pharmacy resident at Prisma Health Richland Hospital in South Carolina, specializing in pharmacy administration and leadership

In total, just 88 pharmacy students from across the country received Excellence in Public Health Pharmacy Awards

that lead to big downstream effects that impact patient care ”

“I feel so blessed to attend an institution where community engagement is such a significant part of the school's culture and identity,” said Coston

“This honor has encouraged me in that I actually can make a significant difference in my community by integrating pharmacy and public health,” said Coston . “Having such a strong background in public health gives me a greater systemic or global perspective of health care operations and allows me to identify small upstream procedural changes

“I am so proud of Taylor and the impact she has made on our college,” said Dr . Debbie Byrd, Dean of ETSU Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy “This is an incredible honor that proves how far ETSU students go beyond the classroom to impact the lives of the underserved in our rural communities Taylor’s accomplishment not only elevates our college but also the profession of pharmacy ”

“We are very proud of this recognition of Dr Coston’s contributions,” said Dr Randy Wykoff, Dean of the College of Public Health “It is an important reminder of the value of interprofessional education - one of the areas in which ETSU is a national leader . It is also a reminder of the impact that individual students can have on their communities . I join the entire faculty in congratulating Dr Coston and in wishing her the very best for her career ”

I feel so blessed to attend an institution where community engagement is such a significant part of the school's culture and identity.

Taylor Coston

FINDING HER CALLING IN RURAL HEALTH CARE

Hailing from a small village in Nigeria, Ethel Akuabata Ngene (’23) has always had a passion for rural health care in underserved communities

It was through that passion, and connection to the underserved populations she hoped to serve, that she found her calling as a pharmacist, graduating from ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy in May 2023

As she approached graduation at Georgia Gwinnett College, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in biology, Ngene was torn between medical and pharmacy school .

She made her decision following a visit to her home in Nigeria .

“I realized we don’t actually have a hospital very close,” she said “Most people utilize pharmacy as their main point of care I thought, ‘You know, I would really like to be involved in pharmacy ’ If I end up going back to Nigeria, I know I’ll be offering a lot to the community ”

During her interview process, Ngene was impressed by the care shown by the staff and faculty at ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy, and appreciated not only the interest that the college's faculty and staff take in students, but also their focus on rural medicine

She points to the Remote Area Medical clinics, vaccine clinics, and other volunteer opportunities where students have to learn their trade and interact with patients, such as her participation in the Tennessee Area Health Education Centers, which help enhance access to quality health care through partnerships with academic programs, communities, and professional organizations

Ngene was selected by the U S Public Health Service (USPHS) to participate in its Senior Commissioned Officer Training and Externship Program Through this program, students entering their final year of graduate school or professional training receive the basic pay and allowances of an ensign while in school in exchange for committing to enroll in the USPHS Commissioned Corps for two years upon graduation Ngene began work for the Federal Bureau of Prisons under the USPHS following her graduation in May

While she initially thought she would eventually go back to Nigeria to live and work, Ngene finds herself drawn to stay in the U .S . by the family she has found in the Gatton community and the need for health care workers in underserved communities

“I have already gone beyond as a person, coming from the community that I came from and being the first in my family to have a doctoral degree and work for the U S Public Health Service,” she said “The underserved population is very important to me, as well as the geriatric population So, I would like to go beyond my role as a pharmacist to help out in the community – whichever community I find myself in – by assisting in other things like meal services and donation services for clothing ”

STRONG INSIDE THE CLASSROOM – AND OUT

Earning a Doctor of Pharmacy degree is a heavy lift, but student pharmacist Brie Levy (’25) has shown that her strength goes well beyond the classroom

Levy, from Chattanooga, was named a World Powerlifting Champion in three categories for her weight class – bench press, deadlift, and squat – while competing with Team USA in the International Powerlifting League Drug Tested Worlds in Surfers Paradise, Australia, in November 2022 In addition, she broke eight world records, six national records, and eight Tennessee records

“I think the best part of it is being able to hold some of the non-drug-tested records being a drug-tested lifter,” said Levy I think this is a huge accomplishment and a testament to my hard work and dedication to the sport . ”

But how does she do it all?

“It is definitely tough managing both the rigorous pharmacy school curriculum and a rigorous training regimen, but it is doable,” Levy said. “I train five days a week, and my workouts can take anywhere from around an hour to two and a half hours or more. I always find a way to work my training into my schedule because I have goal numbers I want to hit for powerlifting, and working out is a mental break that helps me not stress out as much in pharmacy school ”

“We are extremely proud of Brie’s tremendous accomplishments, both in the classroom and in powerlifting competitions,” said Dr Debbie Byrd, Dean of ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy “She represents the school incredibly well, and I look forward to seeing her continued success ”

Levy has competed in a total of seven matches since December 2020

Ultimately, after she graduates, Levy hopes to use her pharmacy training to help the powerlifting world “educate lifters on safe medicinal and supplement use when it comes to training and performance . ”

WHITE COAT RADIO PODCAST ENCOURAGES STUDENT SUCCESS

When Dr Michele Williams set out to find a way to get valuable information about classes and how to succeed at the college in front of more student pharmacists, there was an easy answer

A podcast

“I think most students really dislike workshops; even if you have food, getting them all together in a room is difficult, especially because pharmacy students are so busy,” said Williams, Director of Academic Success and Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice at ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy

“I wanted to figure out a way we could give really valuable information and insights on their classes and help them get to know their professors in a way that’s bite-sized, accessible, and available when students need it," Williams said “Podcasts are kind of the obvious answer ”

That led to the creation of “White Coat Radio,” a monthly podcast that provides helpful advice, stories, and insights from the college’s faculty and staff, hosted by Williams and Dan VanZant, Gatton’s Instructional Design and Technology Manager .

And though neither is a pharmacist by trade, both feel that helps make the podcast better for students

“I like to think I bring something to the table as far as questionasking, bringing things to more of a student level that other people can understand,” said VanZant

Williams said they try to take the students’ perspective on the podcast, allowing students to be a fly on the wall during the duo’s conversations with faculty and staff from the college

“That’s one of the best things about this,” said Williams “It lets students hear faculty talking about their research and what their experiences were in pharmacy school, both their successes and their failures . ”

VanZant said their strategy of keeping things conversational has been well received, and both he and Williams have been pleasantly surprised by the success and buy-in from faculty and staff

“I wasn’t sure how willing faculty would be to come on the podcast, but everyone we’ve interviewed has been really great and very accommodating,” said VanZant “And then every interview we do, I learn something new about what our faculty are doing, and I love that ”

“White Coat Radio” is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Podbean .

“This is not a canned podcast; students will hopefully learn something useful or that helps them feel more connected to a faculty member, which is great for motivation,” said Williams “And if you’re a student wanting to get involved with research, it’s a great way to shop around ”

LISTEN TO “WHITE COAT RADIO”

ALUMNUS DEMONSTRATES CRITICAL ROLE OF PHARMACISTS IN MEDICAL EMERGENCY

water, and even showing her pictures of his cats to help calm her while waiting for EMS

Callerhorn believed he took all the right precautions for this medical emergency: staying calm, going through procedures, and helping her get the treatment she needed

“He did all the right things in a scary situation, and I am so thankful for him,” she said “Although our interprofessional education and training scenarios may not have given him someone like me, I definitely felt that he channeled some communication skills in our encounter that, on the other side as a patient, really helped ”

When alumnus Hayden Stanton (’22), PharmD, MBA, went to work at Food City Pharmacy in early December 2022, it was just another day in the life of a community pharmacist: verifying prescriptions, giving vaccinations, and counseling patients to aid in taking medications effectively

But what he didn’t expect was a medical emergency that would have him go beyond his usual community pharmacy role and put his medical training to the test .

Katie Callerhorn, a current medical student at ETSU Quillen College of Medicine, had trouble breathing during what she thought was an allergic reaction — she needed to get medical help quickly

The closest place she found was the Food City Pharmacy on North State of Franklin in Johnson City, Tennessee She knew she could rely on the local pharmacist to get help quickly, and Stanton was managing the pharmacy that day

“She was crying, very short of breath, and red in the face,” said Stanton “Physically, she was in distress ”

Having only been a professional pharmacist for less than a year after graduating from ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy, he stayed calm, quickly retrieved an EpiPen©, and invited her to the patient counseling room He then walked her through the steps of administering it

After administration of the epinephrine, Stanton comforted Callerhorn by offering her his coat for warmth, giving her

In addition to his clinical rotations at ETSU, Stanton said his patient communications training paid off during this moment

“It gave me a better arsenal and made me more prepared for a scenario like that,” he said “Communications training builds a lot on your professional personality You can’t teach empathy and you can’t teach how to be caring, passionate, and loving That comes from each person’s heart, personality, and love for the profession . But communications training can definitely better prepare you for some scenarios you may see . ”

For Stanton, this medical emergency spoke to the vital role pharmacists have in the community

“This is the whole reason why I got into pharmacy,” said Stanton “You don't have to have an appointment to come see us You don't have to pay a co-pay to come see us We are part of the community as accessible health professionals who are always willing to serve when needed ”

Stanton says he hopes the role of the pharmacist continues to evolve in years to come

“I see pharmacists more hands-on as far as being a part of the actual health care team,” Stanton said “Gatton did a great job training us as students to work with nurses and medical students and incorporating everything as a team

“At the end of the day, it’s all patient-centered care . That’s what we’re there for . ”

We are part of the community as accessible health professionals who are always willing to serve when needed.

Hayden Stanton

COMING HOME

Snapshots from our alumni reunion in October 2022

OCT.

Class notes

AAPP Meet-Up

Several alumni who are now serving as psychiatric pharmacists met up in April at the American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists Annual Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia. L-R: Dr. Rebecca Maloney (’21); Dr. Caroline Barnard Richmond (’17); Dr. Sarah Thomason, Chair of Pharmacy Practice; Dr. Jake Peters (’15); and Dr. Aaron Salwan (Fellow, ’21).

Class of 2011

ETSU’s National Community Pharmacists Association welcomed Dr. Blake Musick this year to speak to its students. Musick is the owner of Life Well Pharmacy in Johnson City.

Class of 2013

Dr. Courtney Dugas (formerly Pitre), Owner/Pharmacist at Courtney’s Thriftway Pharmacy in Arnaudville, Louisiana, married Max Dugas in Glacier National Park, October 2022.

Class of 2014

Dr. Chris Lopez, of Morristown, Tennessee, joined Mooney’s Pharmacy of Johnson City.

Award this year at the Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association (HOPA) conference in Phoenix, Arizona.

Dr. LaNae Calloway has taken a position as Pharmacy Market Manager at Sam’s Club in Kansas City, Missouri. She will supervise 15 total Sam’s Club pharmacies across Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa. She was recently presented with the company’s “Healthcare Hero” award for her selfless efforts and dedication to patients and members during and after Hurricane Ian.

Dr. Colby Newsome was named Director of Inpatient Pharmacy for Highlands ARH Regional Medical Center.

vintage collection. Lee was featured in their February 2023 magazine. He was flown to Oregon, followed by Paris, France, in April for different Pokémon-related events. In addition, Maxwell and alumna Dr. Kyli Lee (ʼ19), a Clinical Pharmacist at Asheville VA Medical Center in North Carolina, married on August 6, 2022, in St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. “Gatton helped us find each other and some of our closest friends,” said Kyli.

Class of 2018

Alumna Dr. Amanda Johnson, Adjunct Professor of Allied Health Sciences in the ETSU College of Clinical and Rehabilitative Health Sciences, plans to pursue a PhD in Infectious Diseases through the Center for Tropical & Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia Integrated Life Sciences program.

Class of 2020

Dr. Auggie Bui was named to the 2022-2023 American Pharmacists Association’s New Practitioner Network National Standing Committee on Communications.

Dr. Tory Minnix, Advanced Clinical Pharmacist at El Rio Health, in Tucson, Arizona, is now a Board Certified Ambulatory Care Pharmacist, which she completed in 2022.

Class of 2021

Dr. Chelsea Renfro co-authored "Making the Case for IDNs as Specialty Rx Innovators" in Specialty Pharmacy Continuum, March/ April 2023.

Class of 2016

Class of 2015

Dr. Brooke Adams, Bone Marrow Transplant/ Cellular Therapy Clinical Pharmacy Specialist at the University of Florida Shands Hospital, Gainesville, Florida, won the New Practitioner

We know our alumni have a wide variety of interests, and Dr. Maxwell Lee is an expert in the popular Pokémon trading cards game. He recently won a contest with the Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) grading company and was flown out to the PSA headquarters in Santa Ana, California, to show off his

Dr. Jessica Brumit, PGY2 Cardiology Pharmacy Resident at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, is now a BoardCertified Pharmacotherapy Specialist (November 2022). In addition, she published in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, “The association between empiric antimicrobial therapy and the risk of clinical failure in critically ill patients with aspiration pneumonia” (September 2022).

Dr. David McWethy, a pharmacist at Kroger in Swartz Creek, Missouri, and married in May 2023.

Maxwell Lee at PSA headquarters in Santa Ana, California, recording a video showing off his collection.

Have news to share?

Recently had a child and want a free “Future Pharmacist” bib?

Share your good news and update your info at etsu.edu/pharmacy/alumni!

Future Pharmacist Refer a Future Pharmacist

Did you know that the best source of referrals to ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy is 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 is a great candidate for Gatton?

Scan or visit

etsu.edu/pharmacy/alumni to refer a future pharmacist.

In Memoriam

PASSING OF DEBRA WILSON

The college lost one of its most faithful supporters, Dr Debra Wilson, who passed away on June 22, 2023, in Johnson City Medical Center Together, she and her husband of 35 years, Dr Guy B Wilson, have been faithful supporters of the college even before its 2005 founding, serving as mentors and employers of countless ETSU pharmacy graduates

Debra Wilson graduated with honors from the University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy in 1975 and was a 2001 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School Executive Management Program . Until her retirement in 2021 as Co-Chair of Clinical Management Holdings, Wilson worked for 35 years as a senior executive for her family’s diverse health organization reaching all areas of pharmacy

Wilson served as past Vice President and past President of the Tennessee Board of Pharmacy Also, she served on the CareSpark Board, the Dispensary of Hope of Johnson City Advisory Board, the East Tennessee State University Foundation, and the Johnson City Chamber of Commerce Wilson was a past recipient of the Barbara McAndrew Herald Award from the Tennessee Pharmacists Association She was recognized by ETSU as an Honorary Alumna and was inducted into the ETSU Distinguished President’s Trust –Silver Society

Among her many accomplishments, she was particularly proud of her active role in the founding of ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy, where she served on the college’s inaugural Admissions Committee and was recognized as Preceptor of the Year .

In an article from 2015 in the college’s annual magazine, Wilson commented on the impact ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy had on future pharmacists and told the story of a single mother who was only able to pursue her dream of becoming a pharmacist because of the college’s location

“We hear those stories over and over and over again,” said Wilson at the time “Stories about people who lived in this area who wouldn’t have had the chance to go to pharmacy school if it hadn’t been for that school opening ”

Even in her passing, Wilson’s impact on the profession of pharmacy continues. In lieu of flowers, the family requested donations be made to the Guy and Debra Wilson Family Pharmacy Scholarship to benefit future pharmacists at ETSU, and there has been an outpouring of support Those who wish to donate may visit etsu edu/give or mail a check to the ETSU Foundation, PO Box 70721, Johnson City, TN 37614 Memories and condolences may be shared with the family via www morrisbaker com

THANK YOU TO OUR 2022-2023 DONORS

Donors from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023

Alstel Associates LLC

Bridget and Buddy Baird

Janet Banks

George Bell and Tracy Moats

Wilsie and Paul Bishop

Carol and Chester

Blankenship

Holly Booth

Jerrie Bowers and James

Schweitzer

Jessica and Darrin

Burchette

Debbie and Robert Byrd

Lyn Byrd

Rhett and Abby Byrne

Paula and Dwight Carter

Cheri and John Clavier

David Cluck

Karen Cober

Jean and Joel Conger

Sara and Joel Cook

Alan and Mary Lynn Corley

Corley's Pharmacy

Kelly and Chad Covert

Mitch and Barbara Cox

Leonard Cross and Patricia Amadio

Douglas and Debbie Cross

Marion Crowell

CVS Health Foundation

Charlena and Chad Davis

Trey and Lucy Doak

Mark Dobbs

Courtney and Max Dugas

David Dugger

Marty Dunn

Jeffrey and Ricki Dykes

Kimberly Dykes

Eastman Credit Union

Angela Edmondson

Steve and Patricia Ellis

Lindsey Embry

Rob Ervin

Brandon Farmer

Don Granger

Julie Gray

Michele and Hunter

Graybeal

Nicholas and Molly

Hagemeier

Rachel Hargreaves

Susan and Nathan Haynes

Richard and Dawn Hess

Gwen Hobbs

James Hurst

Imad Hussein

Amy and General Johnson

Lou Johnson

Stacey and Scott Jones

K-VA-T Food Stores Inc

Linda Keller

Pete and Kay Kelly

John and Keyla King

Jerry and Kay King

Linda Larkey

Les Louden

Gary and Jackie Mabrey

Ryan McDade

Tom and Joy McGinnis

Brenda and Johnny McInturff

Jewell McKinney

Mooney's Pharmacy

Claree and Minh Nguyen

Northeast Tennessee Independent Pharmacy Coalition LLC

Kim Odle

P & S Pharmacy

Peter and Leslie Panus

Margaret Pate

Amy and James Perkins

David and Betty Jo

Pesterfield

Pharmacy Plus Programs

Brooks and David Pond

Anthony Pudlo

Ashana Puri

Chelsea and Zac Renfro

James Richardson

James and Dorothy Riley

Peggy Riner

Emily Ritchie

Shana Robinson

Marci Russum

Nancy and Paul Scherrer

Lucy and Eric Shell

Tabitha Sineath

Jim Sledge

Mary and Anthony Smallwood

Jeffrey Sondergaard

Marcia and Lewis Songer

Karen Sorah

Paul and Nancy Stanton

Donna and Allen Stewart

David and Hillary Stewart

James and Dawn Thigpen

Sarah Thomason

David and Marisa Thompson

Marcia Trantas

Tracy Vanzant

Mary and Harry Vick

Walgreens

Joseph White

Jackie Willis

Guy and Debra Wilson

Stephen and Katy Woodward

Tracy and Robert Wright

East Tennessee State University (ETSU) is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate, master’s, education specialist, and doctoral degrees. ETSU may also offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of ETSU may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www sacscoc org)

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-29833-24