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Posts Tagged ‘Andy Hall’

Our Former Students Are Now Doctors of Pharmacy! We Are Very Proud!

Lindsey Steichen Rice with her mom.

Yesterday, June 12, Joe and I attended the “Doctoral Convocation Hooding and Awards Ceremony” for The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy with Kelly Hawk Jackson, our current pharmacy student. Kelly will participate in this ceremony next year as a 2011 graduate, so she got a taste of what she can expect.

Three of our former pharmacy students were being “hooded’ and receiving their doctor of pharmacy degree after many, many long years of hard work. These faces will look very familiar to you, as you’ve seen all of them in the drugstore.

The first student is Lindsey Steichen Rice, who started working for us in the pharmacy shortly after she began her studies in pharmacy school. Lindsey has lots of family in Plain City, so the pharmacy allowed her to see many of them on a regular basis. Lindsey not only graduated Cum Laude (with honors), she also recently got married and moved to Washington D. C. Lindsey is going to be working in a Walgreens in the D. C. area. We wish her much luck and hope she stops in to see us when she is home visiting family.

Dr. Sarah McGinnis with Kelly.

Kelly and Sarah worked a lot of Saturdays together while they were both in pharmacy school. Because Kelly is one year behind Sarah, Sarah very kindly loaned Kelly old study materials to help her with her classes. Sarah McGinnis worked for us throughout pharmacy school until she and her husband moved to the Dayton area her fourth year, while she did her experiential rotations. Sarah graduated with highest honors, Summa Cum Laude, and was the recipient of the Merck Award. Sarah will be working in a Rite Aid in Dayton.

Are you seeing the pattern here? All of our students are the brightest, winning awards and graduating with honors.

The same can be said for our final student, Dr. Andrew Hall.

Joe and Doc Andy.

Andy also graduated Cum Laude. Additionally, Andy won the prestigious Stephen W. Birdwell Student Award. This award is in honor of a professor from the College of Pharmacy who died several years ago. Joe actually had Dr. Birdwell in school, but he was already ill by the time I arrived for classes. Dr. Birdwell was well loved and respected by the students. And this is what this award honors–a student whose peers select them as being respected and loved, someone who will be a wonderful pharmacist due to, not only their knowledge, but their ability to interact with people and make them feel good about themselves. That is definitely Doc Andy.

Andy receiving the Stephen W. Birdwell Student Award.

Since the doctor of pharmacy program did not start until Joe and I had already graduated with Bachelor degrees in Pharmacy, the hooding ceremony was all new to us. It is a very formal and lovely ceremony (if a bit long). It is also something that we know these graduates will not soon forget. Just as we will not soon forget them.

Congratulations Lindsey, Sarah, and Andy!

Congratulations to All the 2010 Graduates!

We want to wish all the 2010 graduates throughout Union and Madison Counties a future filled with happiness and success.

We also have two college graduates who we must extend congratulations to. It has been a long road for both of them, but we know that road is only leading to good things.

Our first graduate is Andy Hall, who was our fourth year student from The OSU College of Pharmacy last year. Andy has kept in touch with us and remains a good friend. Andy will be working in southern Ohio/KY after his graduation with his PharmD degree from The Ohio State University this Sunday, June 13. We know Andy is going to be a wonderful pharmacist. He hopes one day to own an independent pharmacy similar to Plain City Druggist. Congratulations, Andy!

Congratulations to Andy Hall, shown here enjoying The Circus Sideshow at our 10-year-anniversary party, and doing the Twist with Margie.

 

Our second graduate is Nikolay (Nik) Soloha, who has worked in the pharmacy since 2005 and is a graduate of Jonathan Alder and a Plain City resident. Nik had planned to go to pharmacy school at Ohio State right after high school, but some unforeseen circumstances led him off his intended path. He is graduating this Sunday, June 13, from OSU with his BSPS (Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences) degree. Getting a BSPS is usually a good stepping stone toward pharmacy school, which is where we still hope Nik is going to end up.

Nik working behind the counter in the old pharmacy. We hope his degree from OSU will lead him to be a pharmacist so he can continue behind the counter (and maybe even with Plain City Druggist).

 

Nik working with Joe and Margie at the old store.

Joe was named Preceptor of the Year By The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy.

Joe with Andy Hall, one of our former pharmacy students, who nominated Joe for the Preceptor of the Year award.

On Wednesday, June 2, Joe and I attended a Preceptor Award Banquet at the Fawcett Center at The Ohio State University. Joe had been nominated as “Preceptor of the Year” by Andy Hall, one of our former pharmacy students, who did a fourth year rotation through Plain City Druggist last August.

Being nominated as “Preceptor of the Year” is a huge honor. Joe has been nominated several times in the past by students, but had never won the award until this year.

A “preceptor” is the same as a “mentor” in the world of pharmacy. You have to sign up to allow your site, Plain City Druggist in this case, to be an educational venue for pharmacy students. Then you agree to be their on site teacher or preceptor, showing them what they will be doing once they are a pharmacist, guiding them and preparing them to do your job.

The Preceptor of the Year award is only given to a select few each year and the preceptors are nominated by the students.

Joe with the Dean of the College of Pharmacy, Dr. Robert Brueggemeier, who presented Joe with the plaque for Preceptor of the Year.

Joe was presented a plaque by Dr. Robert Brueggemeier, Dean of the College of Pharmacy, and our former medicinal chemistry professor in pharmacy school. The plaque said, “Preceptor of the Year, Joe Craft, RPh. In recognition of outstanding contributions to the educational development of future pharmacists by demonstrating high standards of professionalism, ethics, and clinical practice. By the Ohio State University, College of Pharmacy, Class of 2010.”

Joe thanking everyone for his award.

In his award speech, Joe said, “I am very grateful for the education the OSU College of Pharmacy gave me.  My education has exposed me to great people who have inspired me to always do my best.  My education has brought me opportunities–opportunities such as owning an independent pharmacy.

“I wouldn’t have known about independent pharmacy if I had been someone who stood on the sidelines and never got involved. One of my earliest forms of involvement was just registering to vote, which led me to jury duty and an experience that eventually made me a pharmacy owner.

“Before I started my rotations my last year of pharmacy school, I was called for jury duty in Madison County. While serving on a grand jury, I took a walk through London, Ohio.  I went for lunch and decided to stop in The Medicine Shoppe located just beside the courthouse.  I walked in and the place was packed. I liked the energy in that little prescription shop. Then it occurred to me–I could pick this site as one of my rotations.  I approached the owner, Ernie Sparks, and he told me I could rotate there.

“The rotation opened up a new world for me. It was like no other experience I’d ever had. I knew by the last week of the rotation that I wanted to own an independent pharmacy–an idea that only a year before, I would never have thought possible.

“I went home and told my girlfriend, now my wife of 15 years, about my dream. We opened Plain City Druggist 4 years after I graduated.  It has been very challenging for us.  I am proud to say that last October, we celebrated our 10-year anniversary.

“I try to give each student what I found in the Medicine Shoppe. I try to give them enthusiasm and the tools they need if they choose the path of pharmacy ownership.  I offer to be their pharmacy owner mentor, like Ernie has been for me.

“I am so happy to be recognized for getting involved and taking advantage of my biggest opportunity, giving back to the College of Pharmacy as a preceptor.”

Joe with all of the award winners and Dr. Milap Nahata and Dean Brueggemeier (on either end).

When Joe was a pharmacy student, he nominated Ernie Sparks, who was the owner of The Medicine Shoppe in London as Preceptor of the Year. Ernie didn’t win, but he started Joe off on a path that eventually led to Joe being honored in the same way he had hoped to honor Ernie.

As Andy told Joe later in the day after hearing Joe’s speech, “You are my Ernie.”

Joe and I both hope that Andy can now go on to succeed in the same way Joe has, eventually owning his own store and someday being “Preceptor of the Year.”

For a really good preceptor, that is what you always wish for your students–that they imitate you and do all that you hoped they could do and more.

Joe with Dr. Milap Nahata, one of our favorite professors in pharmacy school.