2022-23 McWhorter School of Pharmacy Year in Review

Samford University McWhorter School of Pharmacy

FROM

McWhorter School of Pharmacy has equipped those called to our profession for over 95 years. Our mission is to prepare students in a nurturing, Christian environment to be exemplary pharmacists and improve health worldwide. This approach means our faith calls us to a greater purpose as educators and professionals, and it’s central to what we do and what makes us different.

Here, learning comes to life through our unique Practice & Team Ready curriculum that offers a practical, hands-on approach where we prepare graduates for team-based care. We do this in state-of-the-art facilities, including our Experiential Learning and Simulation Center, accredited by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare. McWhorter School of Pharmacy is fortunate to be part of and housed in the College of Health Sciences. This connection promotes interprofessional education, and our students train alongside learners from the Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing, the School of Public Health and the School of Health Professions.

It’s an honor to serve as dean of McWhorter School of Pharmacy. Through this year in review, I would like to share the fantastic work of our faculty, staff, students and alumni as we continue to prepare pharmacists who transform lives.

Michael A. Crouch, Pharm.D., M.B.A., FASHP Fred E. McWhorter Dean and Professor

School-Wide Achievements

Vision Preparing Pharmacists Who Transform Lives

Mission To prepare students in a nurturing, Christian environment to be exemplary pharmacists and improve health worldwide through innovative pharmacy practice, scholarship and service

Practice & Team Ready Curriculum.

Throughout 2022, McWhorter School of Pharmacy implemented its novel “Practice and Team Ready” curriculum. It’s designed to engage students in an active learning environment, empower them to be strong critical thinkers and transform them to be exemplary pharmacists.

Doctor of Pharmacy Concentrations. The school implemented two new Doctor of Pharmacy concentrations in 2022: Research and International Pharmacy

Joint Degrees. The school started its sixth joint degree this year, combining the Doctor of Pharmacy degree with a Master of Healthcare Administration in coordination with the School of Public Health. Other joint degrees include business, public health, informatics, law and nutrition.

School-based Residencies. This past year, the school began planning and recruitment for its third pharmacy residency. McWhorter School of Pharmacy will have a PGY2 Pediatric residency working with Children’s of Alabama. This residency is in addition to the existing PGY1 Community Pharmacy and PGY2 Ambulatory Care residency programs.

Global Engagement. The school continued to expand its international footprint in 2022 by adding a new Memorandum of Understanding with Universitas Pelita Harapan in Jakarta, Indonesia. This marks more than a dozen affiliations on five continents.

Distinguished Alumni. The school celebrated the professional successes and appointments of numerous alumni this past year, including Lea Wolsoncroft ‘94 (pictured above, president-elect of the National Community Pharmacists Association), Anne Marie Nolen ’18 (collaborative practice manager, Alabama Board of Pharmacy), Donna Yeatman ’94 (executive secretary, ALBOP) and Thomas Cobb ’09, Rob Colburn ’84 and Christy Garmon ’09 (board members, ALBOP).

95th Anniversary. Throughout 2022, the school celebrated its 95th anniversary. This celebration included Dean Crouch visiting with alumni, such as Allana Alexander ’14 (pictured above) as part of the 95 for 95 tour.

Assistant professor Stephen Brown and professor P.J. Hughes received funding as part of a $0.5M grant from the Alabama Department of Public Health for “Initiative to Increase Quality Diabetes Self-Management Education Services for People with Diabetes in Alabama.”

Professor Kim Benner served on the board of directors of American Society of HealthSystem Pharmacists.

Professor and department chair Marshall Cates served as past president of the College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists.

Professor Valerie Prince (pictured right) served as president-elect of the American Pharmacists Association.