CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Of course, you can get your prescription filled here and go home. But you'd be missing out on what separates this pharmacy from the rest.

At the University of Charleston's new Wal-Mart pharmacy, pharmacists will talk to you about your medication, how it will interact with other drugs, how to store it, what side effects to watch out for, what you should do if your miss a dose, and whatever else you want to know.

The Wal-Mart pharmacy - housed at UC's School of Pharmacy - quietly opened on campus Jan. 12.  

"We're hoping to change how patients perceive the pharmacist," said Michelle Easton, the pharmacy school's interim dean. "We want patients to come in wanting to speak to their pharmacist."

A grand-opening ceremony is set for Friday at the school.

UC is the first college in the nation to house a pharmacy owned by a chain store in a pharmacy school.

Wal-Mart and UC already have fielded phone calls from other U.S. pharmacy school programs, asking about the partnership.

"We're starting a model for other schools to follow," Easton said. "Our students will be getting practical experience."

UC students will train at the Wal-Mart pharmacy, learning how to fill prescriptions and answer patients' questions. They'll work alongside licensed pharmacists who also serve on UC's pharmacy faculty.

UC students already receive training at pharmacies - housed in drugstores, hospitals and nursing homes - each year of the four-year program. Students' experiences at the on-campus pharmacy are expected to be much different.

"The volume is so high at most retail stores, the pharmacists don't have time to consult with patients," said Tammy Mullins, one of two pharmacists who works at the Wal-Mart pharmacy at UC. "Many times, patients don't even get to see the pharmacist when they come to get a prescription filled. And some people don't even read the labels and end up taking the medication incorrectly."

The Wal-Mart pharmacy is located on the school's first floor in an area called "PharmUC," which includes five "counseling rooms" where students and pharmacists can speak to patients in private.

The rooms have digital video cameras that can tape the discussions - with a patients' consent. The students - and their professors - can later review and critique their interactions with patients.  

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Of course, you can get your prescription filled here and go home. But you'd be missing out on what separates this pharmacy from the rest.

At the University of Charleston's new Wal-Mart pharmacy, pharmacists will talk to you about your medication, how it will interact with other drugs, how to store it, what side effects to watch out for, what you should do if your miss a dose, and whatever else you want to know.

The Wal-Mart pharmacy - housed at UC's School of Pharmacy - quietly opened on campus Jan. 12.  

"We're hoping to change how patients perceive the pharmacist," said Michelle Easton, the pharmacy school's interim dean. "We want patients to come in wanting to speak to their pharmacist."

A grand-opening ceremony is set for Friday at the school.

UC is the first college in the nation to house a pharmacy owned by a chain store in a pharmacy school.

Wal-Mart and UC already have fielded phone calls from other U.S. pharmacy school programs, asking about the partnership.

"We're starting a model for other schools to follow," Easton said. "Our students will be getting practical experience."

UC students will train at the Wal-Mart pharmacy, learning how to fill prescriptions and answer patients' questions. They'll work alongside licensed pharmacists who also serve on UC's pharmacy faculty.

UC students already receive training at pharmacies - housed in drugstores, hospitals and nursing homes - each year of the four-year program. Students' experiences at the on-campus pharmacy are expected to be much different.

"The volume is so high at most retail stores, the pharmacists don't have time to consult with patients," said Tammy Mullins, one of two pharmacists who works at the Wal-Mart pharmacy at UC. "Many times, patients don't even get to see the pharmacist when they come to get a prescription filled. And some people don't even read the labels and end up taking the medication incorrectly."

The Wal-Mart pharmacy is located on the school's first floor in an area called "PharmUC," which includes five "counseling rooms" where students and pharmacists can speak to patients in private.

The rooms have digital video cameras that can tape the discussions - with a patients' consent. The students - and their professors - can later review and critique their interactions with patients.  

UC's pharmacy school, which opened three years ago, has about 240 students, with 80 more expected next year.

Pharmacy school leaders predict the Wal-Mart partnership will help UC recruit the best and brightest students. West Virginia has a shortage of pharmacists, especially in rural parts of the state.

"People are seeing this as an opportunity to get first-class top-notch training within a fully-functional pharmacy right on site," Easton said.

On Wednesday, Jennifer Widdig, a high school student from Minford, Ohio, stopped at the Wal-Mart pharmacy while taking a tour of UC's Kanawha City campus.

Last year, Widdig followed a hospital pharmacist in Ohio as part of a mentoring program. She now plans to major in pre-pharmacy. UC's on-campus pharmacy impressed her.

"It's good to get one-on-one experience before you go out in the real world," Widdig said. "It would be better if all pharmacy schools had this."

Many pharmacy schools have simulated pharmacies where students practice their future profession, but nothing like UC's full-service pharmacy that's open to the public and serves anyone with a prescription.

UC's Wal-Mart pharmacy also sells a variety of over-the-counter items - everything from cold medicine to lip balm.

"The less she has to go off campus the better," said Widdig's mother, Debbie.

UC plans to host frequent clinics at the pharmacy where students and professors talk to patients about medical conditions such as hypertension and high cholesterol, and chronic diseases such as diabetes and asthma.

"Not only can people get their medications, they can get an education," Easton said. "It's going to be so good for the pharmacists and students and patients. This is the start of something really outstanding."

The pharmacy is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. The pharmacy is closed Sundays, and between 1:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. weekdays. For information, call 304-342-0166

Reach Eric Eyre at erice...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-4869.