Chadley Uekman

Student Profile – Rachel Hardke – ’13

Hometown: Alma, Ark.
Undergraduate major/university: B.S. Biology/ University of Arkansas at Fayetteville

Background & Reason for Choosing Pharmacy
After graduating from Alma High School in 2004, I received a scholarship to attend the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. My senior year of college I was crowned Miss Arkansas USA 2008 and took a semester away from school to compete in the Miss USA pageant in Las Vegas. The three weeks I spent in Las Vegas were amazing! After I finished my year as Miss Arkansas, I completed my degree and applied to pharmacy school. I was accepted and here I am today just a few months from graduating.

I knew in high school that I wanted to be a pharmacist. I loved healthcare and the idea of helping patients. I was fairly certain one of the prerequisites for medical school was the ability to stay conscious upon the sight of blood. Pharmacy school, gross anatomy-free, sounded like a much better option.

Choosing UAMS & Opportunities It Provides
I decided to attend UAMS because the institution and the College of Pharmacy have extremely respected programs. The COP has put together an amazing team of administrators, professors, and support staff that truly care about their students, not only academically, but personally as well. One unique opportunity I have had as a student was winning the UAMS Patient Counseling Competition in 2011 after finishing as first runner-up in 2010. Winning this competition allowed me to represent UAMS at the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) Annual Meeting in New Orleans, La. in March 2012. I was honored to finish as first runner-up in the National Patient Counseling Competition. I was also awarded the APhA-ASP Arkansas Patient Counseling scholarship. Another honor I am especially proud of is being named the APhA-ASP P3 Student of the Year.

Plans after Graduation
I am currently interviewing for a position as a nursing home consultant. I did not even know what a pharmacy consultant was until my first APPE rotation of my fourth year. I fell in love with both the job and working with geriatric patients. I would like to become certified in geriatric pharmacy at some point in the future.

Advice for Prospective Students
Make friends. It is a short, but long four years. You will need them.

Something That Surprised You About Pharmacy School
I had no idea how many opportunities there are for pharmacists. You can really be any type of provider you want to be. It is just up to you to take advantage of the time you have as a student to figure it out.

Student Profile – Marlene Battle ’14

Hometown: Eudora, Ark.
Undergraduate major/university: B.S. Biology University of Central Arkansas at Conway/M.S. Biology Texas A&M University-Commerce

Background & Reason for Choosing Pharmacy
I am a married mother of four children. Before attending pharmacy school I lived in Dallas, Texas where I was a science teacher for three years. I decided to pursue a career in pharmacy because I have always had a strong interest in science and medicine. Through a very personal experience during my adolescent years, my interest in pharmacy was sparked. I definitely decided to pursue a career in pharmacy after gaining hands-on experience by working as a technician at a retail pharmacy during my college years. After teaching science for a few years, I started the journey of becoming a pharmacist.

Choosing UAMS
Staff members from the UAMS Diversity Affairs office spoke with me on a regular basis during my high school and college years about the College of Pharmacy program and curriculum. From speaking with them and previous UAMS students, I decided that UAMS was definitely the school to attend. The College of Pharmacy has great professors who really take a genuine interest in the students and in helping each student find success in the program.

One unique opportunity I have had as a student is being a research fellowship recipient. I have had the opportunity to work on several research projects under the guidance of Drs. Denise Ragland & Nalin Payakachat. Last year I traveled to the APhA-ASP conference in New Orleans, La. for a poster presentation for one of my research projects. I recently attended this year’s APha-ASP conference in Los Angeles, Calif. for another poster presentation. Through this research experience, I have had two journal publications.

Leadership Roles
Professional Projects Chairperson of the Student National Pharmacist Association (2012-2013), Vice President of the Student National Pharmacist Association (2011-2012), Summer Research Fellowship Recipient (2011 & 2012), Member of the 2011-2012 Orientation Committee

Advice to Potential Students
My advice is to never give up and always follow through with your dreams and goals. If pharmacy school is what you want to do then pursue it wholeheartedly until you achieve it. And after you have made it in the door, keep pushing forward until you complete it. I did not take the traditional route to pursuing a career in pharmacy and am proof that if being a pharmacist is your goal, you can work hard and achieve it.

Student Profile – Kristen Glover ’16

Hometown: Stuttgart, Ark.
Undergraduate major/university: B.S. in Chemistry/Ouachita Baptist University

Background & Reason for Choosing Pharmacy
Although I grew up in a small town, I don’t think I am your average “small town” girl. I have always set big goals and worked hard to achieve them. I was accepted to pharmacy school in 2011, but soon after won the title of Miss Arkansas. UAMS postponed my acceptance for a year, allowing me to tour the state of Arkansas and compete in the 2012 Miss America pageant.

By choosing pharmacy as my career path, I am allowed to further my chemistry education in a way that will directly help and serve others. I love the patient interaction and varied health care opportunities that come with a pharmacy career.

Choosing UAMS
I believe the College of Pharmacy at UAMS does an excellent job of connecting students with Arkansas’s pharmacy network. Because I want to live in Arkansas long term, it is important for me to make job connections during school so that I am one step closer to employment after graduation. Although we have several students from out of state attending UAMS, it is an obvious choice for an Arkansas resident.

Community service is highly encouraged at UAMS and I love being involved in our student organizations. I have been involved with several service projects including free health screenings, visiting elders, speaking to elementary classrooms, promoting National Pharmacists Month, and volunteering for National Drug Take Back Day. We are one of the most active colleges in the nation and positively impact the state of Arkansas.

Advice for Prospective Students
Find upperclassmen and exchange contact information. You will want to ask for advice when deciding where to live, which books to buy, how to study for exams, etc. You definitely want a mentor before and during pharmacy school! It just makes life much better. The College of Pharmacy recruiter can help connect you to current pharmacy students. Also, each class of students is on the same, rigorous track for the first three years in the classroom. Because all the courses are together, classmates begin to feel like family. After one semester, everyone has learned how to help each other study by often sharing notes and study guides.

Favorite Course
This is an unusual answer, but I liked Health Care Systems from my first semester. I enjoy politics and appreciated the discussions throughout the course. You will take several classes outside of the sciences, which will help you to better understand the professional and political atmosphere of health care.

Student Profile – Tristan Myers ’14

Hometown: Springdale, Ark.
Undergraduate major/university: B.A. History & International Relations/ University of Arkansas Fayetteville & Master’s Degree in International Affairs/Texas A&M

Background & Reason for Choosing Pharmacy as a Career Path
I did my undergraduate coursework at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville where I studied History and International Relations. During that time I took a two-year break from school to serve as a missionary in the Philippines. I pursued graduate studies at Texas A&M University in International Affairs with an emphasis on national security and East Asian affairs. While I enjoyed my studies there I still didn’t feel like I had found exactly what I wanted to do.

That was when I discovered pharmacy and decided that it was exactly what I was looking for. I spent another year of school finishing prerequisites. I knew pharmacy was the right career path for me because it satisfies my intellectual curiosity while providing a breadth of practice opportunities. As a pharmacist, I can have a direct impact on the quality of life of my patients. My family has been with me along this journey. I met my wife in Fayetteville when we were undergrads. We married in 2005 and have three children: Zella, 6, Harper, 4, and Beckett, 1.

Choosing UAMS
UAMS offers a great education at a great value. I didn’t apply to any other pharmacy school because I knew that I only wanted to go to UAMS. One great opportunity I have had as a student was receiving a research fellowship during the summer between my first and second year. As part of the project, I was able to present a research poster at the AACP (American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy) annual meeting in San Antonio, Texas. Our research was later published in the American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education. I have also received the State of Arkansas scholarship for the past two years.

Plans after Graduation
I’m still undecided. There are so many great opportunities for pharmacists that I haven’t been able to settle on one yet. I’m taking advantage of the nuclear pharmacy electives and have really enjoyed those. I’m also considering a residency.

Advice for Prospective Students
The most important thing in preparing for pharmacy school is learning how to learn. Pharmacy school will push you beyond what you previously thought you were capable of.

Student Profile – Dylan Jones ’15

Hometown: Conway, Ark.
Undergraduate major/university: B.S. Biology/ University of Arkansas Fayetteville

Reason for Choosing Pharmacy as a Career Path
Pharmacy was the right career path for me because of its job satisfaction and flexibility. It will allow me to utilize my healthcare training in a way that directly benefits the community, yet it still provides the flexibility to do the other things I want to do in life that might be sacrificed if I pursued other healthcare professions.

Choosing UAMS
I decided to attend UAMS after realizing how widely recognized it is nationally for the quality of its program. I knew it was a good value, but I did not realize how respected it was in the pharmacy community. I feel very lucky to have the opportunities UAMS provides for its students. Our school strongly supports student involvement in professional organizations, and provides financial reimbursement to students for attending regional and national meetings. Our College of Pharmacy recognizes the value of these meetings, and does everything possible to facilitate students to attend.

Plans after Graduation
I’m most interested in clinical and community pharmacy, but I haven’t necessarily ruled out other areas of specialization. What is so great about a degree in pharmacy is that I will have the opportunity to pursue a large variety of career paths when I graduate.

Advice for Prospective Students
The best advice I could offer to an entering pharmacy school student is to be prepared to treat school like it is your job. The course load is manageable as long as you do your part outside of the classroom each day.

Favorite Course
My favorite class so far is Therapeutics because it begins to pull everything you learn in previous classes together. It is the class that makes you actually start feeling like a pharmacist.

Student Profile – Cora Housley ’16

Hometown: Russellville, Ark.
Undergraduate major/university: B.S. Biology & minor in Chemistry/ Arkansas Tech University

Background & Reason for Choosing Pharmacy as a Career Path
I graduated from Russellville High School and began attending Arkansas Tech University with dreams of going to medical school. While attending school, I began working as a pharmacy technician to see what pharmacy was about. I quickly learned that it was much more than counting pills and decided that pharmacy was a perfect match for me. A fundamental part of my decision to be a pharmacist was based on observing my pharmacist in action. Her patients rely on her not only for pharmaceutical dispensing, but also for medical counseling, emotional support, and friendship. My desire is to fulfill that same role in hundreds of lives with my own Doctor of Pharmacy degree.

Choosing UAMS
My initial attraction to UAMS was that it is not far from home, but it has so much more to offer. UAMS has one of the most diverse programs and is one of only a few colleges that have a nuclear pharmacy option. It has wonderful faculty that are invested in the future of their students. UAMS is also very involved in national organizations and has one of the top ranked programs in the United States.

Leadership Roles & Involvement on Campus
I am on a committee that is planning a service project for the first year pharmacy and medical school students. We are collaborating to organize a screening at a local free clinic to utilize the skills we have learned to benefit our community. The College of Pharmacy has very high chapter involvement in national organizations. I am involved with the American Pharmacists Association this year which is a great opportunity to network, make new friends, and travel the country. I also have a job on campus working in the Evidence Based Prescription Drug Program office. The pharmacists that I work with share any interesting findings in their research, which keeps me informed about new studies happening in the world of pharmacy.

Advice for Prospective Students
My advice to incoming students is to make sure you have a solid background in your biological and physical sciences. Your first semester requires you to recall all of the information you learned in undergraduate school, so make sure you do not take it lightly.

Something That Surprised You About Pharmacy School
I had heard that the first year of pharmacy school was mostly building on your prerequisite classes. I was not expecting to get real pharmacy practice so quickly. During the first semester, we have already learned how to take blood pressure and administer glucose tests, participated in health screenings, and worked on basic counseling skills.

Favorite Course
My favorite class so far has been Pharmaceutical Calculations. Dr. Reinhardt is great to work with, and I feel confident that I can perform any calculation my job will require.

Dean Stephanie Gardner Elected ACPE Vice President for 2013-2014 Term

The Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) recently announced that Stephanie F. Gardner, Pharm.D., Ed.D., dean of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Pharmacy, was elected vice president of ACPE. She will serve as a member of the ACPE Executive Committee for the 2013-2014 term.

Dean Gardner, who formerly served as a member of the Editorial Advisory Board Member for the American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, was appointed to the ACPE Board of Directors by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP).

ACPE is the national agency for the accreditation of professional degree programs in pharmacy and providers of continuing pharmacy education. ACPE also offers evaluation and certification of professional degree programs internationally. The mission of the organization is to assure and advance excellence in education for the profession of pharmacy.

ACPE is an autonomous and independent agency whose Board of Directors is derived through the AACP, the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP), and the American Council on Education (ACE). To learn more about ACPE visit www.acpe-accredit.org.

Student Profile – Kevin Barton ’13

Hometown: Greenwood, Ark.
Undergraduate major/university: Chemical Engineering/ UCA

Background & Reason for Choosing Pharmacy
I completed my pre-pharmacy requirements at UCA and was accepted into the UAMS College of Pharmacy before completing my undergraduate degree. My dad persuaded me to pursue pharmacy after being friends with a pharmacist. I was always interested in science and math in high school, so I took my dad’s advice.

Choosing UAMS
I chose UAMS because it had built a name for itself not only in the state, but in the nation while staying very affordable compared to other colleges of pharmacy. I love the College of Pharmacy program at UAMS because it has not only molded me into a knowledgeable pharmacy student, but it has created networks and connections for me that will last a lifetime.

Opportunities like competing in the NCPA Foundation Student Business Plan Competition have helped me have an amazing experience at UAMS. Our team won the national competition and received an all-expenses paid trip to Aruba to present our plan at the NCPA Multiple Locations Conference. We were also invited to Palm Springs, CA to present at the Independent Pharmacy Cooperative annual conference. We would not have been able to participate in and win this competition without the help of the College of Pharmacy and its faculty members.

Plans after Graduation
After receiving my degree, I have accepted a community residency with Walmart. My dream would be to oversee pharmacy projects and help evolve the profession through innovative technologies and processes.

Leadership Roles
2012 NCPA Pruitt-Schutte Student Business Plan National Winner, Excellence in Pharmacy Informatics Award, USA Drug Student Leadership Scholarship, State of Arkansas Endowed Scholarship, Member of National APhA-ASP Communications Standing Committee, President of Student Honors Council, Vice President of Phi Lambda Sigma Leadership Fraternity, Vice President of Communications of APhA-ASP, Region 6 Representative of National Student Pharmacist Editorial Advisory Committee, Vice Chair of Audio and Visual Effects of APhA-ASP, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd year Class Representative of Student Honor Council

Dr. Nicki Hillard & P3 Student Brandi Hamilton Join APhA’s Board

Photo courtesy of the Arkansas Pharmacists Association

Congratulations to our faculty member Nicki Hilliard & our P3 student Brandi Hamilton! Dr. Hilliard was sworn in as president of the American Pharmacists Association (APhA)– Academy of Pharmacy Practice and Management and Ms. Hamilton was installed as president of the APhA-Academy of Student Pharmacists during the 2013 national convention in Los Angeles, CA. They join our UAMS alum Tery Baskin, who serves as the Association’s Treasurer.

UAMS Students Win APhA-ASP Chapter of the Year Award & More

APhA_9093(3-4-13) — Congratulations to our students for winning the APhA-ASP Chapter of the Year Award!

March 4, 2013 | Congratulations to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) student pharmacists! They won the prestigious national champion award of APhA-ASP Chapter of the year. This is the fourth time the College has received the award since it was started in 2000. This award was for work done during 2011-12 under the leadership of Allison Hollis (P4). Dr. Eddie Dunn and Dr. Melanie Claborn are the ASP advisors. Dr. Charles Born also served as an advisor during this year. Andy Roller (P3) is the current APhA-ASP president. In addition, students also won the National Patient Care Award-Operation Heart, as well as Region 6 awards for Operation Diabetes and Operation Heartburn. The APhA 2013 Conference was held March 1-4, 2013 in Los Angeles, CA.

Brandi Hamilton installed as national president APhA-ASP — Brandi Hamilton & her parents at the APhA 2013 Conference

Brandi Hamilton (P3) was installed as national president of the APhA-ASP and Dr. Nicki Hilliard was installed as president of the American Pharmacists Association (APhA)-Academy of Pharmacy Practice and Management, both for 2013-14.

Other honors included Bri Morris (P4), who is national project coordinator for the International Pharmaceutical Students Federation (IPSF), Kevin Barton (P4), who served on the standing committee for communications, and Amy Hilliard (P2) who serves as the Region 6 representative on the National New Business Review Committee. In addition, Brooks Tune (P2) represented UAMS in the National Patient Counseling Competition, Bobby Glaze (P3) was awarded the National Association of Nuclear Pharmacies scholarship and Amanda Stolarz (P4) received the 2013 Rho Chi American Foundation for Pharmaceutical Education First Year Graduate Fellowship.