Dr. Debbie Byrd Dean and Professor Interim Dean, College of Nursing
Dr. Ralph Lugo Executive Associate Dean
Dr. David Stewart Associate Dean, Academic Affairs and Assessment
Steve Ellis Assistant Dean, Student Affairs
Jonathan Roberts Marketing and Communications Specialist
Stephen Woodward ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy Marketing and Communications Manager
Dr. Kimberly D. McCorkle Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
Bruce Gannaway Assistant Dean, Finance and Administration
Dr. Stacy Brown Chair, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Dr. Sarah Thomason Chair, Department of Pharmacy Practice
John King Development Officer 423-439-5933 kingjw2@etsu.edu
Graphic Design
Jeanette Jewell Cody Ryans
Principal Photography
Ron Campbell, Larry Smith, Charlie Warden, Stephen Woodward
GREETINGS FROM THE DEAN
While it is certainly always an exciting time to be part of ETSU Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy, this past year has been truly special for our college and everyone who is part of the Gatton community.
Last year, we celebrated receiving state funding for the first time–funding we have used to lower tuition and elevate the student experience. This year has brought plenty of wins for us as our student pharmacists set new highs for academic excellence on the national stage.
In January, our Class of 2023 ranked second in the nation and first in the Southeast and Tennessee for its first attempt pass rate on the North American Pharmacist Licensure Exam (NAPLEX) with an incredible 95.4% pass rate. Then, in March, we celebrated Match Day, learning that our student pharmacists once again set a high bar nationally, ranking sixth in the nation and again tops in Tennessee and the Southeast for our PGY1 match rate.
Our wins have not stopped there, however.
This summer, we also learned the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) has given us full reaffirmation of our accreditation, a comprehensive program assessment conducted every eight years.
All of these accomplishments are a direct reflection of the people at this college who are committed to providing our students with a high-quality education and seeing them leave as highly competent, well-trained pharmacists.
Nothing we do as educators is more important than this, and I am proud of the work our faculty and staff do daily to ensure our continued success.
In this issue of GattonRx, you will read a lot about this commitment to our students and their successes–as well as the accomplishments of our exceptional faculty and staff.
From published research in national journals and conference presentations to taking on leadership roles in a variety of industry groups, our students, faculty, staff, and alumni are making an impact in many ways.
This past year has been wonderful, and I cannot wait to see where we go next.
Debbie Byrd, PharmD, MBA Dean and Professor, ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy Interim Dean, College of Nursing
ELITE PHARMACY TRAINING
In the past year, ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy has established itself as one of the nation’s elite institutions for pharmacy education.
A new year brought new highs for the college, which saw its Class of 2023 soar to among the top accredited pharmacy schools in the country with their incredible 95.4% first attempt pass rate on the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX).
That pass rate ranked second in the nation among accredited pharmacy schools–and nearly 20 percentage points higher than the national average of 77.5%.
ETSU ranked number one in the Southeast, Appalachian Highlands, and Tennessee–its core recruitment zones. ETSU surpassed the top 27 schools featured in U.S. News and World Report’s pharmacy school ranking.
“These scores are phenomenal and a testament to the quality of education that our student pharmacists are receiving at ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy,” said Dr. Debbie Byrd, Dean of the college and Interim Dean of ETSU College of Nursing. “I am so proud of our Class of 2023, as well as our faculty and staff, who all worked so hard for these results.”
Just a few weeks later, the college’s student pharmacists earned high marks in another national benchmark.
Gatton’s Class of 2024, which celebrated Match Day on March 13, achieved a stellar 92% Postgraduate Year One (PGY1) match rate–once again putting the college among the best in the nation, ranking sixth among accredited pharmacy schools, and tops in Tennessee and the Southeast, respectively.
And once again, they far surpassed the national average of 74%.
Many Class of 2024 graduates have remained local as well, practicing in Bristol, Kingsport, Johnson City, and Mountain Home. Others have spread out far and wide,
taking on residencies across the United States from Maine to Florida.
“Our match results, as well as our NAPLEX ranking, demonstrate the incredible work going on at our college,” said Byrd. “Our graduates are high achievers who are ready to make a positive impact on patients’ lives. I can’t wait to see what they do next.”
The Class of 2023 achieved a 78% PGY2 match rate, also above the national average. Pharmacy graduates, like other health professionals, can specialize their training in residency programs. The PGY2 residents are going into a wide range of specialties, including critical care, psychiatry, geriatrics, ambulatory care, internal medicine, emergency medicine, and infectious diseases.
Fortunately for the college, the wins didn’t stop there.
In June, Gatton celebrated a milestone that only occurs once every eight years: reaccreditation.
“ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy must undergo the reaffirmation process every eight years to ensure that our college continues to deliver a high-quality PharmD program, operate efficiently, and progress toward its mission to serve the rural and underserved,” said Byrd. “I am thankful for the years of hard work our faculty and staff contributed towards earning this reaccreditation.
“It is because of them that our college continues to provide elite pharmacy training and create a stellar learning environment.”
The recent successes did not occur overnight, however.
In addition to recent state funding which significantly decreased the cost of tuition for our students, faculty and staff have worked tirelessly to make significant changes to the curriculum and to the support services offered to students, including a revamped NAPLEX exam preparation process, faculty mentorship, recently hired student success coordinators, and a director of student success.
Our match results, as well as our NAPLEX ranking, demonstrate the incredible work going on at our college.
Dean Debbie Byrd
94% OF CLASS OF 2023 SAID THEY RECEIVED A HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION
HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION OF CLASS OF 2023 SAID THEY RECEIVED A
Approximately half of the student body are first-generation college students
Approximately ½ of the student body are first-generation college students
40 million dollars plus Annual Statewide Economic Impact Thirty plus career experiences
100 plus leadership opportunities and 14 student organizations
100+ leadership opportunities and 14 student organizations Student pharmacists collected more than of pharmaceutical waste at Drug Take Back events in 2023-24 1,250 POUNDS
Student pharmacists collected more than 1,250 POUNDS of pharmaceutical waste at Drug Take Back events in 2023-24
PRACTICE TRANSFORMATION
The Changing Role of the Pharmacist
The role of a pharmacist has transformed dramatically over the years, from a focus on dispensing medication to a comprehensive, patient-centered approach that embraces interprofessional collaboration. In the Appalachian Highlands, this transformation accelerated when ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy was founded in 2005, elevating the quality of pharmacy practice in our region and beyond. In this story, we explore some of the recent developments in practice transformation.
Flip the Pharmacy: Training Students in All Aspects
When Dr. Jessica Robinson (’17) was considering which career path she wanted to follow, she knew she wanted to be in health care. Pharmacy, in particular, was appealing to her, as she had developed a special connection to the locally owned pharmacy and its pharmacists in her hometown.
Now an Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice at ETSU Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy, Robinson may never have pursued a career in pharmacy were it not for the local pharmacy school nearby–the same one where she now works, dedicating her life to training the next generation of pharmacists to make a difference in rural and underserved communities.
“ETSU met that mission and really inspired me to want to give back,” said Robinson.
In addition to her role as a professor, Robinson is the Lead Coach for the Greater Appalachian Transformation Effort, one of several teams across the country selected to participate in the Flip the Pharmacy initiative.
Established in 2019, Flip the Pharmacy helps equip community pharmacies across the country with the tools, resources, and personnel they need to adapt from point-intime, prescription-level care processes to outcomes-based, patient-level care models.
And while the grant funding ended in 2024, the impact of the program will certainly continue to be felt across the region for years to come.
Working closely with local community pharmacy networks and a team of coaches across East Tennessee, Virginia, and western North Carolina, Robinson oversaw the implementation of practice transformation in more than 200 pharmacies in South Central Appalachia.
“As I learned more and began to understand health care and wellness, I realized how much I wanted to give back,” Robinson said of her time at Gatton. “I wanted to be an independent pharmacy owner when I came here, but the more I learned, the more I realized we needed this concept of practice transformation.”
“I could see that health care trends were pointing towards a different model of care that focused on value and outcomes and felt I could be a resource for pharmacists approaching this new frontier,” added Robinson, who is also the Lead Network Facilitator for the Community Pharmacy Enhanced Services Network (CPESN®USA) in Tennessee.
It’s not just the pharmacies who benefited from this, either, as students are now trained to “operate at the top of their license,” as Robinson puts it. It’s a two-pronged approach, she said, with the curriculum across the college enhanced to prepare students to be practice- and business-ready in addition to working with local pharmacies to keep them competitive in a rapidly changing health care landscape.
“ETSU has really positioned itself, not just among our students but for our preceptors and alumni as well, as a resource for them,” said Robinson. “We want to be a resource so these community pharmacists don’t feel alone–that they’ve got somebody they can call.”
It’s a fitting commitment for a school that was founded because of a desperate need to train more local pharmacists–pharmacists who would train, and remain, in rural and underserved communities here and across the region.
“I think ETSU has really become synonymous with community pharmacy practice transformation in the Southeast U.S.,” said Robinson. “It’s been a great five years for the college as we’ve worked on this.”
The Team Player: Ambulatory Care Pharmacist
For patients visiting an ETSU Health Family Medicine Clinic on any given day, they might assume they’re going to the “doctor’s office” to receive medical services from a physician. However, what they may not realize is that they’re really visiting an “interprofessional team’s office,” the members of which combine their expertise to review each patient’s case like a professional basketball team would huddle to review a play before a big game.
Those members include an ambulatory care pharmacist advising on medication usage; a social worker helping underserved patients with needs like housing and food; a nurse managing the intake of patients; a physician often leading the team and diagnosing the patient; and other medical and/or pharmacy residents and students.
On this team, an ambulatory care pharmacist focuses on how best to manage medications for the patient. Their
specialty provides medication management and other clinical services to patients in an outpatient setting. These pharmacists work closely with patients who have chronic diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, and asthma, to help manage their conditions and improve their overall health outcomes
“A normal day in my life is different every single day, which I think is why I love it so much,” said Dr. McKenzie Highsmith (’11), who has maintained a clinical pharmacy practice with ETSU Health Family Medicine in Kingsport and Johnson City specializing in chronic disease management and transitions of care for over 11 years. She is an Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice at the college and has an Associate Professor appointment in the Department of Family Medicine at James H. Quillen College of Medicine. She was recently named the Director of Ambulatory Family Medicine Pharmacy Services for ETSU Health Family Medicine.
“At the clinics, we very much adhere to the team-based care model,” Highsmith said. “So, for all of our patients who are coming in for chronic disease management, an ambulatory care pharmacist might be handling hypertension or depression; polypharmacy, lots of medications, specifically in elderly patients; diabetes management and insulin pump management; and anticoagulation monitoring and management.
“In addition to that, sometimes it's simply that we have a patient with two pages of medications and we just
A normal day in my life is different every single day, which I think is why I love it so much.
Dr. McKenzie Highsmith
need to spend some time educating the patient on what they’re taking as well as making sure that it's the best pharmacotherapy regimen for that patient.”
Highsmith explained that ambulatory care pharmacy practice was seen first in the 1960s and started largely in closed health care systems like Veterans Affairs. It’s only been in the past 20 years that it has become more prevalent in our region. Ambulatory care pharmacy was largely unknown to Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia before the founding of ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy in 2005 due to overwhelming demand from the community for highly trained local pharmacists. At that point, the profession began to change.
“All of a sudden we were able to expand,” said Dr. Larry Calhoun, founding dean of the college and Dr. Highsmith’s father. “We hired a pharmacist who was an expert in oncology. We had pharmacists who were experts in pediatrics. We developed the whole ambulatory care environment that really wasn't here 20 years ago.”
Prior to Gatton’s establishment, Calhoun said, pharmacy practice in the Appalachian Highlands consisted primarily of community pharmacists. As a result of a wide range of the highly trained specialty pharmacists coming to the region to teach at the college and practice in the community, “the level of health care went up.”
Quillen College of Medicine played an integral role in the new demand for pharmacists, said Calhoun, because its faculty and medical students began to ask for a pharmacist’s assistance on the health care team.
“That wasn't here when we started the college.”
“We now have 17 ambulatory care pharmacists and nine primary care pharmacy technicians between ETSU Health, Ballad Health, and State of Franklin Healthcare Associates,” said Highsmith. “This transformation is truly remarkable. Almost all of the ambulatory care pharmacists working in the Appalachian Highlands have some tie to Gatton. I truly believe there has been a significant and positive impact on the health of our region at the hands of these pharmacists and technicians.”
Highsmith said that the Affordable Care Act in 2010 dramatically changed the health care landscape because insurance payments to health care providers were now based on patient outcomes. With that change, the role of pharmacists on the health care team became more important than ever to make sure patients were getting the most out of their medications.
In addition to that, the scope of pharmacy continues to expand and transform pharmacy practice in our region.
Since 2015 in Tennessee, some pharmacists have had the ability to order labs and medications for patients under a collaborative practice agreement, which ETSU’s ambulatory care pharmacists have.
“For me, the collaborative practice agreement is really important because it demonstrates the value we bring to a team,” said Highsmith.
This year, Tennessee passed legislation that expands the scope of practice for all pharmacists.
Gov. Bill Lee signed Senate Bill 869/House Bill 282 into law as Public Chapter 824. According to the Tennessee Pharmacists Association, the legislation will “improve efficiencies in the health care system by providing pharmacists with independent prescriptive authority for various medication classes and disease states.”
“This legislation allows for better access to care,” said Highsmith. “With Tennessee’s rural populations as well as challenges in the health care workforce, we have a clear need for better access to quality health care. One thing that became clear during the pandemic is that pharmacists and pharmacies are a highly effective way to address accessibility. This legislation allows pharmacists to meet a critical need in some specific situations. What I am most excited about with the passage of this bill is that the Tennessee Medical Association, among others, supported it. Tennessee is showing the country that collaboration among health care professions really strengthens all of us and most importantly improves patient care.”
Faculty news
TEACHING IMPACT
Dr. Jessica Burchette, Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice, was awarded the university’s Distinguished Faculty Award for Teaching in August 2023 during Faculty Convocation.
The Distinguished Faculty Awards are the highest honors presented to faculty at ETSU for teaching, research, and service.
“Dr. Burchette is a standout faculty member in the Department of Pharmacy Practice at the GCOP,” wrote Burchette’s nominator. “She is a gifted teacher, who, despite the number of accolades she has already received, is committed to continuing to improve the learning experience for her students.”
Burchette, a native of Newport, Tennessee, earned her bachelor’s degree in biology at Tusculum University and was a member of Gatton’s inaugural Class of 2010. She completed her pharmacy practice residency at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville, and afterward returned to Gatton for her internal medicine residency.
She joined the college as an assistant professor in 2012, specializing in pulmonary disorders and basic critical care concepts.
“When I got to pharmacy school, the thing that really drew me to the educational piece was seeing what
impact that my educators and my professors had on me and really wanting to give that back to the students and the profession,” said Burchette. “I feel that, by teaching students, I impact so many more patients than I would if I practiced solely on my own.
“It’s really a chance to give more, and give back,” she continued.
Burchette’s love for teaching didn’t start during pharmacy school, however. It goes all the way back to her childhood.
“I actually always wanted to be a teacher,” said Burchette. “When I was younger, my family would laugh because I would sit around and make my cousins do classes when they were very young—I always kind of felt that pull.”
When it comes to the classroom, Burchette’s teaching philosophy is all about meeting the students where they are.
“Every student comes to us with a different background and each class has a different personality and a way that they look for things to go,” Burchette said. “My job is to really get to know them as people and to try to use that interpersonal relationship to be able to bring them along in their pharmacy education.”
Watch Faculty Convocation with Dr. Jessica Burchette
40 Under Forty
Congratulations to Drs. Katelyn Alexander, Director of Experiential Education, and Jessica Burchette, Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice, who were named new members of the Business Journal of Tri-Cities TN/VA’s class of 40 Under Forty.
CLUCK SETS BAR FOR EXCELLENCE IN INFECTIOUS DISEASE
Dr. David Cluck, Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice, has earned a rare honor for a pharmacist–being named a fellow of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA).
The IDSA is the nation’s leading infectious diseases professional society, and Cluck was recognized in this year’s class of distinguished physicians and scientists from the United States and around the world.
Fellowship in IDSA is one of the highest honors in the field of infectious diseases. It is given to those who have achieved professional excellence and provided significant service to the profession. It is also uncommon for pharmacists to earn this fellowship–since 2018, approximately 4% of those chosen were from the field.
“This honor represents a milestone in my career that is indicative of the time and effort I have put into caring for patients, educating trainees, and engaging in clinical research,” said Cluck, who specializes in Infectious Diseases Pharmacotherapy and is the course coordinator for the college’s Infectious Diseases course. He maintains a clinical pharmacy practice in infectious diseases at Johnson City Medical Center.
Dr. Sarah Thomason, Chair of the Department of Pharmacy Practice, recognized Cluck for his contributions to the pharmacy profession.
“Dr. Cluck is a valuable faculty member within the college in teaching, scholarship, clinical practice, and service,” said Thomason. “He is very deserving of this national recognition that honors his professional achievements in infectious diseases.”
Learn more about the IDSA, and find a full list of fellows at www.idsociety.org.
DOPESICK AUTHOR TO SPEAK
An upcoming conference focused on recovery and substance use disorder is available for college alumni and area pharmacists.
“Recovery Symposium: Champions of Support,” sponsored and presented by Ballad Health in collaboration with ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy, will take place on Monday, Sept. 30, at Bristol Regional Medical Center in the Monarch Auditorium, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. This symposium continues the annual conference for the Center for Pharmacy Education, Advocacy, and Outreach, formed as a partnership between Ballad Health and ETSU to improve the lives and health outcomes of people in the Appalachian Highlands.
Beth Macy, author of Dopesick and Raising Lazarus, will be the keynote speaker. Books, lunch, and registration are free, and continuing education credit is available.
Learn more and register here
RESEARCH FUNDING
Dr. Ashana Puri received $20,000 in funding for her ETSU Research Funding Program proposal which will bolster her research into exploring different delivery routes for administering antidotes for toxicity associated with substances of misuse.
In addition, she received a Presidential-grant-in-aid ($5,000) to attend a comprehensive workshop/ course over the summer focused on the implications and applications of additive manufacturing (AM) or 3D printing. It was offered by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
“I am looking forward to applying the skills that I learned from the course in my research focused on designing topical and transdermal drug delivery systems such as microneedles and patches as well as in my teaching of drug delivery systems to student pharmacists,” said Puri.
Dr. Katelyn Alexander, Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice and Director of Experiential Education
Alexander participated on a debate team as part of the Academic Leadership Fellows Program at the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy’s (AACP) Interim Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona. She also presented during two sessions at the AACP Annual Meeting in Boston, Massachusetts, related to experiential education and administrative leadership.
Dr. John Bossaer, Professor of Pharmacy Practice
Bossaer earned the college’s Faculty Award for Research at the winter retreat.
Dr. Stacy Brown, Chair and Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Brown published two papers and two review articles this year including a research paper with students on “Chemical Stability of Lorazepam Oral Solution Repackaged in Plastic Oral Syringes at Room and Refrigerated Temperatures” in Hospital Pharmacy with Sophia Sergent (’24), Samantha Morris (’24), and Michelle Tubolino (’25).
Dr. Debbie Byrd, Dean and Professor, GCOP; Interim Dean, College of Nursing
Byrd was selected to present to the AACP Council of Deans at the AACP Annual Meeting in Boston, Massachusetts, on the college's voluntary faculty buyout.
Dr. Kelly Covert, Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice
Covert was accepted into the AACP MidCareer Faculty Recharge Program, a 12-month program that includes a retreat and
coaching sessions. She earned the college’s Faculty Award for Teaching at the winter retreat.
Dr. L. Brian Cross, Assistant Vice Provost & Director, Center for Interprofessional Collaboration
Cross was inducted as a Distinguished Fellow into the National Academies of Practice at the spring 2024 annual meeting in Jacksonville, Florida. The organization is the only interprofessional group of health care practitioners and scholars dedicated to supporting affordable, accessible, and coordinated quality health care for all.
Dr. Siva Digavalli, Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences
The Society for Neuroscience invited Digavalli and a collaborator to chair a scientific mini symposium on brain waves related to sensation at its annual conference in Chicago, Illinois, in October 2024. In addition, he recently published in three scientific journals and was granted tenure. In 2023-24, he received $185,000 in research funding from pharmaceutical companies.
Dr. KariLynn Dowling-McClay, Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice
DowlingMcClay is testing medication adherence interventions in vulnerable populations, collaborating with the ETSU College of Public Health on an NIH award led by the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center. Their project involves nearly 400 Medicaid and uninsured patients at several large health systems across Tennessee.
Dr. Emily Flores, Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice
Flores graduated from the American College of Clinical Pharmacy’s (ACCP) Research and Scholarship Academy.
Dr. Kylie Futrell, Academic Pharmacy Fellow
Futrell co-authored "Naloxone access in perinatal substance use disorder" in the May 2024 edition of the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association
Dr. Jeff Gray, Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice
Gray was funded to investigate rabies postexposure vaccine access and innovative community pharmacist services to expand access to guideline-based health care. In addition, Gray, who has led the college’s drug take back efforts since 2009, held its largest event yet in Spring 2024. He earned the college’s Faculty Award for Service.
Dr. Nick Hagemeier, Vice Provost for Research and Chief Research Officer at ETSU; Professor of Pharmacy Practice
Hagemeier was selected for the 6th cohort of the Research Leader Fellowship Program through the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities Council on Research (COR). The program leverages COR’s network of research leaders to foster knowledge and connections across APLU institutions.
Dr. Rick Hess, Professor of Pharmacy Practice
Hess was elected to the Christian Pharmacists Fellowship International (CPFI) Board of Directors to serve a 3-year term. In addition, he was promoted to Professor status.
Dr. McKenzie Highsmith, Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice
Highsmith spoke at the Elizabethton Chamber of Commerce’s BOSS Lady (Building Our Strengths for Success) Conference. She also spoke at the Tennessee Pharmacists Association Winter Meeting in Nashville on "The Skinny on Obesity Pharmacotherapy."
Dr. Kaitlyn North, Assistant Professor in Pharmacy Practice
North’s poster won a prize from the Ambulatory Care and Endocrine and Metabolism PRN Walk Rounds at the 2023 American College of Clinical Pharmacy annual meeting. In addition, she was featured on the iForumRx.org podcast about supplements for cholesterol.
Dr. Victoria Palau, Faculty Emeritus, Pharmaceutical Sciences
Palau hosted a multi-day workshop with Dr. Ruben Torrenegra, a top natural products research scientist from Colombia.
In addition, she recently published "Achyrocline B (3,5 dihydroxy-6,7,8trimethoxyflavone) synergizes with 5-fluorouracil allowing for dose reduction and reduced off-target toxicity in the treatment of colonic and pancreatic cancers" in the journal Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy
Dr. Ashana Puri, Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Puri published five research and two review papers on microneedlebased drug delivery and cutaneous vaccines in the Journal of Controlled Release, Molecular Pharmaceutics, etc. Co-authors include Akeemat Tijani (PhD), Jordan Strauss (’26), Gabrielle Verana (’24), and Olasunkanmi Akinbote (’25).
Dr. Jessica Robinson, Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice
Associated Press and distributed nationally, she offers advice for patients seeking options for affordable medications.
Dr. Jeff Gray and Robinson earned the ACT Collaborative Educator’s Badge at AACP recognizing their work and expertise in communitybased practice transformation.
Dr. David Stewart, Professor and Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Assessment
Stewart and Dean Debbie Byrd were invited to the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy to share Gatton’s recipe for success with NAPLEX pass rates and curriculum revision. In addition, Stewart was granted tenure.
Dr. Jim Thigpen, Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice
Thigpen went on WJHL’s Daytime Tri-Cities to share tips on keeping harmful items out of the reach of children as part of Poison Prevention Week, March 18, 2024.
Dr. Sarah Thomason, Chair and Professor of Pharmacy Practice
Robinson was interviewed by Nerd Wallet about GoodRx, a free prescription drug card. In the article that was picked up by the
Thomason completed an interprofessional presentation at the American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists’ virtual conference in October 2023 on the integrated behavioral health model at ETSU Internal Medicine.
She was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Patient Access Network (PAN) Foundation in November 2023, which helps people afford their prescription medications.
WELCOME TO GATTON New Faculty for the 2024-25 Academic Year
Shelby Brooks
Dr. Shelby Brooks is from Asheville, North Carolina, and is serving as Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice. Her clinical interests include cardiology (specifically anticoagulation/ antiplatelets, post stroke management, dyslipidemia, and coronary artery disease), cirrhosis management, and pharmacy resident training.
Brooks graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy in 2019, then completed a 24-month Pharmacotherapy Residency Program at the University of Tennessee Medical Center. During her time in residency, she focused on inpatient and outpatient family medicine practice, as well as pharmacy academia. After residency in 2021, she accepted a position as an assistant professor at the University of Louisiana Monroe-Shreveport Campus. In her position at Gatton, she will continue to practice inpatient family medicine at both Johnson City Medical Center and Holston Valley Medical Center.
"I knew that I wanted to come to Gatton because of how kind the college is as a whole,” said Brooks. “Even during my interview process, I felt like family and knew the college would foster my wellbeing and growth as a faculty member, just as they do for their students.”
Kaitlyn (Phillips '22) North
Dr. Kaitlyn North is from Erwin, Tennessee, and a member of the Class of 2022. She is an Assistant Professor in Pharmacy Practice and in the Department of Family Medicine at James H. Quillen College of Medicine specializing in chronic disease state management and primary care.
North is serving as a clinical pharmacist faculty member at ETSU Family Physicians of Kingsport. She completed her postgraduate training at an ambulatory care-focused PGY1 residency program at Tandem Health-University of South Carolina and the PGY2 residency program in Ambulatory Care at the University of Tennessee Medical Center. She is a Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist. She is an active member of the Tennessee Pharmacists Association, iForumRx, and American College of Clinical Pharmacy Ambulatory Care Practice and Research Network.
“I am a proud Gatton alumna who believes in the college's mission to train future pharmacists to be collaborative, thoughtful, and resourceful,” said North. “I want to contribute to the high-quality education I received as a student pharmacist.”
Dr. Alex Surbaugh, from Franklin, Tennessee, is a clinical pharmacist in psychiatry, and is serving as Assistant Professor in Pharmacy Practice.
She previously came from the University of Kansas Health System, where she completed a PGY1 residency and a PGY2 psychiatric residency. Surbaugh completed her undergraduate degree in chemistry at the University of Mississippi and earned her PharmD at the University of Tennessee.
“As someone who was born and raised in Tennessee, I have always held a love for my home state,” said Surbaugh. “From my first interaction with the college in December through my interview days in February, it was truly apparent just how supportive and encouraging everyone at ETSU is. I enjoyed meeting the various faculty members, staff, and students during my time in Johnson City and ETSU truly felt like home.”
Alex Surbaugh
STUDENT SUCCESS
The college made three new hires to bolster student success: Justin White is working with the P1 class; Kerstin Kromker, P2 class; and Lindsey Feltman, P3 class. They report to Director of Student Success Dr. Michele Williams.
Learn more about what coordinators do to help students succeed in pharmacy school in this episode of our college podcast, White Coat Radio:
SAYING GOODBYE
The college said goodbye to beloved longtime faculty and staff, including several inaugural faculty members at the college, who were honored for their service.
At ETSU Faculty Convocation in August 2023, Drs. Victoria Palau and David Roane, both Professors of Pharmaceutical Sciences, received Faculty Emeritus honors.
Palau was part of the college's inaugural faculty in 2007 at which point she started her cancer research with plants. Her teaching specialties included tumor cell biology and cell signaling; antineoplastics; and DNA/small molecule interactions.
Roane, originally from Ruston, Louisiana, served as founding Chair of Pharmaceutical Sciences since 2006 and will continue to teach part-time at the college. His initial goals focused on hiring superior faculty and guiding the development of the department from the beginning. Previously, Roane served on faculty at the University of Louisiana at Monroe in the College of Pharmacy and chaired the Department of Biology as the DeGree Endowed Professor from 1989 to 2006. Since arriving at ETSU, Roane has spent most of his time on administration, program development, and teaching.
Roane's research interests are in the area of neuroscience and more specifically in the mechanisms of glucose-sensing within the central nervous system.
After his official retirement in 2018, Dr. Peter Panus, Professor Emeritus of Pharmaceutical Sciences, continued to teach part-time at Gatton until 2022 and in the Department of Physical Therapy until this year.
Panus served ETSU since 1995 and at Gatton since 2007. Of his many career highlights, he co-edited a pharmacology textbook for physical therapy education, and he was a national lecturer for the American Physical Therapy Association on the influence of pharmacology on PT practice.
The college held a farewell reception for Joy Hurley, who served the college's admissions efforts for 15 years. Her impact on students and alumni is far reaching, and the college wishes her the best in her future endeavors.
Donna Metcalf retired from the college after six years of service as the Office Coordinator for Student Affairs. She made a huge impact on the lives of students and the operations of her department.
Justin White
Kerstin Kromker
Lindsey Feltman
STUDENT NEWS
HONORS FOR PATIENT CARE
The college’s American Pharmacists AssociationAcademy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP) chapter continues to earn national recognition. Committees for APhA-ASP Operation Substance Use Disorders (APhA-ASP OSUDs) and Over-the-Counter Medicine Safety both earned first runner up at the APhA annual meeting in Orlando, Florida.
ETSU’s OSUDs chapter continues to be the most nationally recognized SUD APhA-ASP patient care committee in the country, and this marks the 11th consecutive year that the OSUDs committee has been recognized either regionally or nationally.
Megan Ellison (’25) received the award for OTC Medicine Safety, and Christina Tarasidis (’26) received the award for OSUDs.
Megan Ellison (’25)
Christina Tarasidis (’26)
DRUG TAKE BACK
Since 2009, ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy student pharmacists and faculty have been making a huge impact on the Appalachian Highlands through Drug Take Back events. This year was no exception, and the college hosted two events: one that was held across locations in the region and another for the first time on ETSU's campus. In total, over 1,000 pounds of unwanted, expired, or unused medications were collected, making homes and streets safer. All medications, containers, and labels were destroyed by incineration. Gatton appreciates all of the volunteers, law enforcement hosts, and substance misuse coalition partners and donors.
TPA EXPERIENCE
Tabitha Sineath (’24) enjoyed her Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience at the Tennessee Pharmacists Association in the spring. She attended the Tennessee Pharmacists Association’s Winter Meeting in February as well as Pharmacy Day on the Hill where she and other students engaged with state representatives. Sineath is pictured on the left in both photos.
TRAINING FOR COUNTRY AND A PHARMACY CAREER
As a currently enlisted serviceman and full-time student pharmacist, Jimmy Owens is no stranger to managing his time in the most efficient way possible. In the event he is deployed into active duty, he has to be ready; but he also has to be prepared for that next pharmacology exam.
“It's a lot of preparing for the weekend and then making up for the weekend at the same time,” said Owens, who is from Lewisburg, Tennessee. “It is difficult to do. But thanks to the military, I think I have the discipline to do it.”
Owens, who has served as a combat medic for the last few years in the Tennessee Army National Guard and is currently a fourth-year student pharmacist at ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy, has become an expert in time management, and honed a work ethic that he believes will serve him now and in a career to come.
He travels to Knoxville, Tennessee, once a month for a three-day weekend of training where he has to miss Friday classes and then make it up the following week. Owens said that he believes the selfdiscipline and grit he’s learning through his military experience will serve him well as a pharmacist.
“There's no task that I'm going to see and be like, �I'm a pharmacist, I'm too good for that,’” said Owens. “It gives me a better appreciation for the work that I'm going to be doing. And honestly,
I think it's just stoked a passion in me to be a pharmacist that is stronger than it was initially.”
The patient care aspects of being a pharmacist are what make Owens really excited about the career in which he can help patients manage their medications.
“I've always loved medications, the pharmacology that goes behind how everything operates and then the intricacies—it's like an entire puzzle.”
Ultimately, Owens hopes to either work on the Mountain Home VA Campus as a psychiatric pharmacist or do emergency medicine at a level one trauma center.
In his military combat medic experience, Owens said he has built relationships with providers at all levels and as a result gained a lot of perspective on the important role pharmacists play on an interprofessional team as well as in the health care system.
“Building relationships with them also allows you to see them as people and professionals rather than just a job with a title,” said Owens. “Spending time and building these relationships is something I believe all health care professionals should get the opportunity to do, and it should be encouraged. Seeing how the health care system runs from multiple perspectives allows me to see more ways that I can make a
positive impact for patients, providers, and the health care system as a whole.”
Owens came to ETSU in order to pursue pharmacy and because of the beauty of the Appalachian Highlands.
“I toured ETSU when I was a junior in high school and fell in love with it.”
Jimmy Owens
As an undergrad, Owens was able to fast track his pharmacy career and do two years of undergraduate work and then matriculate to Gatton.
Unfortunately, when he arrived, COVID-19 had spread to East Tennessee and classes went online. Owens had difficulty flourishing in the online learning environment and struggled academically. However, because of his work ethic and the college’s caring faculty and staff, he was able to turn his GPA around.
“Not every college would’ve given me a second chance after COVID,” said Owens, “but they did, and it has absolutely been a delight going to school here.”
HOODING AND COMMENCEMENT
Members of ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy's Class of 2024 received their doctoral hoods in May, officially becoming part of the college’s 15th graduating class.
The Hooding and Commencement ceremony was held in the ETSU Martin Center for the Arts, where 40 student pharmacists earned the Doctor of Pharmacy degree, part of ETSU’s commencement weekend.
Dr. Debbie Byrd, Dean of ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy and Interim Dean of the College of Nursing, thanked the graduating class for the mark they left on the college.
“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.”
Members of the graduating class helped the college’s American Pharmacists Association-Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP) Operation Substance Use Disorders (SUDS) win top honors for combating prescription drug misuse.
Bryce Sutton spoke on behalf of the graduating class.
“In all the challenges and complexities of our profession, let us never forget the impact we can have on the lives of
those we serve,” said Sutton. “Let us approach our work with humility, empathy, and a commitment to lifelong learning, knowing that the trust placed in us by our patients is a privilege that must be earned every day.”
Sutton was among the members of the ETSU Class of 2024 who were inducted into the 1911 Society. Named in commemoration of the year ETSU was founded, the organization honors the university’s most notable graduates from undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs.
In addition to the doctoral hooding, several individual awards were presented, including academic awards to Kellee Brynae Geren, who earned the Pharmacy Valedictorian Achievement Award recognizing the highest-ranking student in the graduating class. In addition, Geren earned the Merck Award for Pharmacy Excellence.
Other awards included the college’s Patient Care Award to Tabitha Sineath; the Gary Mabrey Community Service Award to Gabrielle Hall; the Guy B. Wilson Jr. Leadership Award to Riley Davis; the Viatris Institute of Pharmacy Excellence in Pharmacy Award to Sutton; the Wolters Kluwer Health’s Fact and Comparisons Award for Outstanding Communication Skills to Drew Smith; and the Baeteena M. Black Leadership Award to Samantha Keen.
CLASS OF 2028 BY THE NUMBERS
59% are from Tennessee
from this region
attended ETSU
9 States, 1 U.S. Territory 28% are first generation
36 different colleges and universities represented in the class
22% of the Class of 2028 came through the college’s Early Admission Pathway
ALUMNI NEWS
COMING HOME
Snapshots from Alumni Reunion Events at Homecoming in October 2023
CLASS NOTES
Where Are They Now?
ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy is proud to have trained more than a thousand incredible pharmacists who are practicing both in our region and across the nation–from New York to California, and Florida to Alaska.
Tennessee Pharmacists Association
Drs. Robbie Monahan (’10) and Danny Pate (’17) were elected to participate in the Tennessee Pharmacists Association's 2024 Emerging Leaders Academy.
The Emerging Leaders Academy is an annual leadership training program involving up to 25 new practitioners in Tennessee. The program is designed in partnership with the Pharmacy Leadership & Education Institute (PLEI) to help attendees develop leadership skills, enabling personal and professional growth.
Southeastern Residency Conference
Several alumni and postgrads attended the Southeastern Residency Conference that serves as a forum for pharmacy residents across the region to present their research projects.
In Memoriam
Passing of Dr. Rob Vincent
The college mourns the loss of Dr. Rob Vincent (’16), a Navy veteran who served our country proudly before coming to Gatton. Vincent went on to complete postgraduate training before returning to Johnson City Medical Center to work as an emergency department specialist.
Class of 2010
Dr. Melissa McCall (’10) was guest speaker for the college’s Class of 2028 White Coat Ceremony in August 2024. McCall serves as the Pharmacy Professional Services Manager at Food City/K-VA-T Food Stores, Inc., and also on the Tennessee Board of Pharmacy.
Class of 2013
Dr. Rebecca Leinart (’13) is now serving on the Tennessee State Board of Pharmacy, a seven-year term running until June 30, 2030.
Class of 2014
Two Class of 2014 alumni are demonstrating leadership in the profession. Drs. Chancey Carothers (’14) and Les Louden (’14) have both been elected to serve in President and President-Elect roles for their respective Regional Societies in the Florida Society of Health System Pharmacists (FSHP).
Class of 2016
Dr. Joshua Jones (’16) won the Unsung Hero Award this year from The Greater Wilmington Business Journal in North Carolina, which hosted its annual Health Care Heroes Awards honoring the community’s health care workers.
Class of 2019
Dr. Andrew Tarasidis (’19) was recognized by the Virginia Pharmacy Association as the 2023 Distinguished Young Pharmacist. The award recognizes young pharmacists for making outstanding contributions to their communities.
Class of 2020
Dr. Christie Monahan (’20) graduated from the University of Florida Family Medicine Fellowship Program in June 2023 and is now working at Cityblock care as the first ambulatory care pharmacist in the North Carolina market.
Dr. Jack Novansy (’20) was featured on the cover of America’s Pharmacist magazine in June 2024. In addition, he was part of a panel at CPESN-USA MidYear Meeting on "The Future of Healthy Aging: How Physiatrists and Pharmacists are Collaborating in a New Innovative Model." He serves as a Clinical Community Pharmacist at Avant Pharmacy in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Class of 2022
Dr. Jacquelyn Crawford (’22) taught Infectious Endocarditis to P2 students in Dr. David Stewart's Cardiology Integrated Series class. She is a PGY2 Critical Care Resident at Johnson City Medical Center.
Dr. Crystal Meadors (’22) published "Healthsystem specialty pharmacy: Overview of a hybrid clinical model" in the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy
Class of 2023
Dr. Taylor Coston (’23) was inducted into the Tennessee Collaborative Practice Society.
Dr. Jonathan Holan (’23) has taken a unique role in pharmacy informatics. He moved to Verona, Wisconsin, for a new position as a Clinical Project Manager at Epic Systems, a health care software vendor.
HOPA CONFERENCE
Several alumni presented at the Hematology Oncology Pharmacy Association Annual Meeting:
Dr. Les Louden (’14), a poster on the patient perspective of IV iron logistics. He's pictured with Dr. John Bossaer, Professor of Pharmacy Practice.
Dr. Abby Lopp (’22), a PGY2 Oncology Pharmacy Residency research project on real world use of fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan. She is pictured bottom left.
Dr. C. Brooke Adams (’15), a CE presentation on the use of bispecific antibodies in multiple myeloma.
DAY OF GIVING SUCCESS
Our college enjoyed an incredible ETSU Day of Giving in 2024, surpassing our donor goal with a total of 38 donors raising more than $57,600! Whether you were one of our amazing donors, shared a post on social media, or told a friend about the campaign, ETSU Gatton College of
Pharmacy greatly appreciates your help in making this year’s Day of Giving a huge success.
Your generosity will assist future pharmacists in pursuing their career at Gatton. Check out our final results:
$57,965 DONATED 38 DONORS
111% OF DONOR GOAL
PESTERFIELD SCHOLARSHIP
Third years Whitney Blessing (2nd from right) and Megan Ellison (2nd from left) were recipients of the Pharmacy Plus Community Pharmacy Scholarship and Travel Endowment. Funds were donated by Pharmacy Plus, which is owned by David (center) and Betty Jo Pesterfield, generous supporters of Gatton. Also pictured are Dean Debbie Byrd (left) and Dr. Ralph Lugo (right).
THANK YOU TO OUR 2023-2024 DONORS
Donors from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024
Anonymous
Leila Al-Imad
Katelyn Alexander
Alstel Associates LLC
Mary Atkins
Bridget Baird
Ballad Health Foundation Bank of America
Charitable Gift Fund
Janet Banks
Wilsie and Paul Bishop
Blackburn, Childers & Steagall PLC
Amanda Blair
Carol and Chester Blankenship
Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Tennessee Health Foundation
L. Jack Blythe
Holly Booth
Bill Breeding Jr.
Jerrie Bowers and James Schweitzer
Jessica and Darrin
Burchette
Debbie and Robert Byrd
Betsy and Charles Byrne
Rhett and Abby Byrne
Larry and Kathryn Calhoun
K. LaNae Calloway
M. Banks and Judith Camak
Phillip Carriger
Cheri and John Clavier
Rebecca Conkin
Donna Coleman
Jean and Joel Conger
Alan and Mary Lynn Corley
Corley’s Pharmacy
Kelly and Chad Covert
Mitch and Barbara Cox
Marion Crowell
Kenneth Curtis
CVS Health Foundation
Carol Danner
Ed and Dee Dee Dalrymple
Karen Davis
Herbert Dixon
Mark Dobbs
Ashley Dunwoody
Kimberly Dykes
Steve and Patricia Ellis
Catherine Engel
John C. Faris
Brandon Farmer
Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund
Catherine Fields
Ronald Franks
Bruce and Sarah Gannaway
Nancy Gekas
Mary Gibson-Valk
Taylor Gilbert
Whitney Goetz
Charles and Elizabeth
Gordon
Don Granger
Jeff Gray
Michele and Hunter
Graybeal
Victoria and Dana Grist
Charles Gunter Jr.
Nicholas and Molly Hagemeier
Jeffrey Harris
J. Craig Higgins
McKenzie Highsmith
Cindy and Steven Hildebrand
Linda Hubbard
James Hurst
Bruce Jones
Duffie Jones
C. L. Jones
Jennifer and Jeffrey Keller
Linda Keller
Beth Kerlin
Jerry and Kay King
John and Keyla King
David Kuhn
K-VA-T Food Stores Inc
Linda Larkey
Forrest Long
Les Louden
Ryan Love
Jackie and Gary Mabrey
Craig and Mary Frances Matherne
Brenda and Johnny McInturff
Margaret Moore
Claree and Minh Nguyen
Northeast Tennessee
Independent Pharmacy
Coalition LLC
Kim Odle
James Offutt
Martha Ormsby
Margaret Pate
Rebekah Skaggs
David and Betty Jo Pesterfield
Pharmacy Plus Programs
John Phillips
Brooks and David Pond
Anthony Pudlo
Ashana Puri
Morgan Randolph
Carolyn Repass
James Richardson Jr.
Willam and Miriam Rigdon
James Riley
Peggy Riner
Ronald Robeson
Jessica Robinson
Phil and Clarinda Jeanes Roe
Lottie and Eric Ryans
Nancy and Paul Scherrer
Schwab Charitable
Jessica Scrudder
Lucy and Eric Shell
John Shenouda
Dillard Sholes, III
Tabitha Sineath
Jennifer and Joel Skaggs
Mary and Anthony Smallwood
Bobby Smith, II
Brooke Stayer
Charles Steagall
David and Hillary Stewart
The Community Foundation of Louisville Depository, Inc
Sarah Thomason
Town & Country Realty
Joyce Treadway
Tracy Vanzant
Daniel Vanzant and Shara
Lange
Walgreens
Watauga Insurance Inc
D. Brent Welch
Joseph White
Michele Williams
Guy Wilson
Winston-Salem Foundation
Stephen and Katy Woodward
Lindsay Wortman
Tracy and Robert Wright
East Tennessee State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate, master’s, education specialist, and doctoral degrees. East Tennessee State University also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of East Tennessee State University 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).
ETSU is an equal opportunity employer. ETSU-250030-A-25
East Tennessee State University Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy’s Doctor of Pharmacy program is fully accredited by the Accreditation
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
and
of Pharmacy in the United States and selected non-US sites.
