Q: When did you join the faculty here at UTHSC and what drew you here?
I joined faculty at UTHSC in 2012 after being a faculty member at Auburn University School of Pharmacy for three years. I knew I wanted to join faculty here because I am an alum of the college and loved my experiences at UTHSC. Plus, my family lives in East Tennessee, so I wanted to be closer to family.
Q: When did you know you wanted to become a pharmacist?
I knew I wanted to be a pharmacist when I was a junior in high school. We did a healthcare shadowing day and after watching a colonoscopy, I realized I didn’t necessarily want to be a physician (I almost passed out when watching the procedure). I like helping people and solving problems in healthcare, so pharmacy seemed right up my alley. It is ironic now since I work in the ICU, which I didn’t think I would do when I was in high school.
Q: What was it like getting a job after you graduated from pharmacy school?
I knew I was interested in being a faculty member, so after completing my PGY2 Critical Care residency at Regional One in Memphis, I looked for faculty positions. My first position was in pulmonary/critical care at Auburn.
Q: What advice would you give a student currently in pharmacy school?
This may sound generic, but work hard and keep a positive attitude. When I work with students, half of the battle is putting in the work and those are habits that are important to form now while you are still in a training environment. A positive attitude can go a long way because your attitude can greatly affect those with whom you work.
Q. What you do at UTMC is quite unique. Can you tell us more about it?
I am a Neurocritical Care pharmacist at UT Medical Center. I round with a large medical team and take care of patients with ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes, brain tumors, status epilepticus, and other types of neurological disorders. We respond to code strokes throughout the hospital and prepare tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and anticoagulant reversal agents, so days can be quite busy, but very rewarding. My favorite part of my job is that no two days are the same and that we can help patients in their most critical time.
Q: Who has influenced you most in your life?
My parents have been my greatest influence, in addition to other teachers/mentors I have had throughout my life.
Q: What is one place in the world you want to travel to?
I hope to go to Greece in the next few years!
