P3 PharmD Student
UT Health Science Center College of Pharmacy
I was inspired to pursue the Rural Health Certificate because I am from a rural community where I would like to practice. So, I felt this certificate would help me gain extra knowledge for my future pharmacy practice.
I enjoy learning about different cultures within rural populations in the Rural Health Certificate program. These cultures tend to have specific healthcare needs that differ from one another. This fascinates me, as helping these communities in specific areas can make a large impact versus doing a “one-size-fits-all” fix for all rural communities.
My typical day at my rural health community IPPE included filling prescriptions, counseling patients, and completing MTM calls. In addition to the pharmacy tasks, I also got to talk to local patients who told me a little bit about the Oak Ridge community. One of these interactions included discussing a new seafood restaurant in the area – Long John Silver’s.
This Certificate program has changed many of my views on rural health in TN. To begin, it has enhanced my knowledge of the struggles that many people go through. One of the main areas is a lack of healthcare access. This is due to few healthcare professionals wanting to practice in these areas and people having unreliable transportation methods. Also, it has shown me that this is an area of pharmacy where I could have a large impact in the community, as a local pharmacist can provide education on not only prescriptions but also on healthy lifestyle factors.
Obtaining the Rural Health Certificate will enhance my ability to improve healthcare in rural TN, as I will have a deeper understanding of the struggles that my patients may face. When these struggles are then expressed to me, I will be able to provide solutions learned from this certificate. Additionally, if there is a common issue within the community, I can use the resources learned to set up a large-scale system to address a deficit in the community.
About the Rural Health Certificate Program
The Rural Health Certificate Program promotes access to health care and pharmacy services in rural areas. It prepares future pharmacists at the UT Health Science Center College of Pharmacy with the expertise needed to practice in diverse rural health care settings by incorporating pharmacy curricula, experiential learning, and rural pharmacy partnerships. This post is part of a series highlighting the benefits of the Rural Health Certificate program to our students.