I graduated from West Virginia University in 2004 with a degree in chemistry, and in 2006, became an inaugural member of the University of Charleston School of Pharmacy where I served as class president for 3 years, I graduated in 2010 and returned to Wheeling to start working as a floater pharmacist for Kroger around the Ohio Valley. In 2012, I was assigned to my hometown as the pharmacy manager at Kroger Pharmacy and have worked diligently to provide the Warwood community with outstanding healthcare since.
I served as the Employed Pharmacy Director for the WV Pharmacists Association – representing chain pharmacists – for four years from 2016-2020, and have served as President-Elect since November 2020.
In my 12-year tenure as a pharmacist, I have been awarded Kroger’s Shining Star Award twice in 2010 and 2011, WV Society of Health Systems Pharmacists Young Pharmacist of the Year in 2011, Ohio-Marshall County Pharmacist of the Year in 2014, Kroger’s Leader in Clinical Care Award in 2016, WVPA Distinguished Young Pharmacist in 2019, and WVPA Excellence in Innovation Award in 2021. I appreciate the recognition for my hard work, but all of those are possible because of the outstanding staff I have that allow me to do all that I do. These accolades are shared with them because of how hard they work.
My pharmacy has been a champion for COVID immunizations by providing ample access to it. We provided COVID-19 vaccinations since Dec 30th, 2020 and vaccinated Ohio County Schools employees and healthcare professionals before it was available to the general public.
In May 2021, I began volunteer work with the Soup Kitchen of Greater Wheeling for what was originally providing a few additional access points for COVID immunizations to an underserved population. Now over a year later, I still make myself available for general health and medical needs once or twice a week.
It has been very rewarding to be able to make an impact back in the hometown that shaped me. I continue to be humbled by the opportunities I have received in the profession of pharmacy. My role as the community’s pharmacist has allowed me to do far more in the community, and my work in the community has made me a better pharmacist. It’s a unique and powerful relationship.