Michelle Easton is the dean of the School of Pharmacy at the University of Charleston. The first graduating class presented her with this composite to commemorate their graduation.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Michelle Easton is the dean of the University of Charleston School of Pharmacy. And she's a mentor, a friend, and, yes, sometimes a mom to the nearly 300 students. But lately, she just calls herself proud.
To date, 97 percent of the 69 new pharmacists in the class of 2010 passed the national certification test (called NAPLEX) on the first try, exceeding both state and national averages.
"We put West Virginia on the top of a good list," Easton said. "They are my kids. We nurture the students to have compassion, to help a patient have the best use of medicines."
Easton is proud that one-third of the school's graduates stayed in West Virginia, and more than half are working in Appalachia. That number is significant, because only one-fourth of the class was originally from West Virginia. The UC program works to improve healthcare in underserved regions of West Virginia and Appalachia.
According to Easton, nearly 15 percent of the class of 2010 is doing post-graduate work: six in pharmacy residency programs and three in clinical research fellowships. About 70 percent of the graduates are committed to practicing as community pharmacists, and 10 percent will practice in institutional settings like hospitals and nursing homes.
The New Orleans native started her tenure at UC in 2005, long before the pharmacy building was built.
"We started on the third floor of Riggleman Hall, and then expanded and moved to Cox Hall," she said of the rapid growth of the program. A significant appropriation landed by the late Senator Robert C. Byrd allowed the building that bears his name to be built.
Richard Stull, founding dean of the school, recruited Easton when she was the Director of Experiential Education at Hampton University in Virginia.
"Dick Stull reached out to me," Easton said. "He wanted the program to be centered on advocacy, and rooted in professionalism. Those are areas I had an interest in, as well."
Her first few months in Charleston had added stress, thanks to Hurricane Katrina. Weeks after she moved to the Mountain State, her parents' home was destroyed by the flooding. They came to Charleston to live with their daughter while their house was being rebuilt.
Easton received her bachelor and doctorate pharmacy degrees from Xavier University of Louisiana. She's worked in a retail setting, and she's presented public health-related seminars on topics including smoking cessation, mental health issues and professionalism.
Easton said she sees the challenges facing pharmacists in West Virginia. The rising problem with drug abuse is the focus of a clinic that helps former addicts.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Michelle Easton is the dean of the University of Charleston School of Pharmacy. And she's a mentor, a friend, and, yes, sometimes a mom to the nearly 300 students. But lately, she just calls herself proud.
To date, 97 percent of the 69 new pharmacists in the class of 2010 passed the national certification test (called NAPLEX) on the first try, exceeding both state and national averages.
"We put West Virginia on the top of a good list," Easton said. "They are my kids. We nurture the students to have compassion, to help a patient have the best use of medicines."
Easton is proud that one-third of the school's graduates stayed in West Virginia, and more than half are working in Appalachia. That number is significant, because only one-fourth of the class was originally from West Virginia. The UC program works to improve healthcare in underserved regions of West Virginia and Appalachia.
According to Easton, nearly 15 percent of the class of 2010 is doing post-graduate work: six in pharmacy residency programs and three in clinical research fellowships. About 70 percent of the graduates are committed to practicing as community pharmacists, and 10 percent will practice in institutional settings like hospitals and nursing homes.
The New Orleans native started her tenure at UC in 2005, long before the pharmacy building was built.
"We started on the third floor of Riggleman Hall, and then expanded and moved to Cox Hall," she said of the rapid growth of the program. A significant appropriation landed by the late Senator Robert C. Byrd allowed the building that bears his name to be built.
Richard Stull, founding dean of the school, recruited Easton when she was the Director of Experiential Education at Hampton University in Virginia.
"Dick Stull reached out to me," Easton said. "He wanted the program to be centered on advocacy, and rooted in professionalism. Those are areas I had an interest in, as well."
Her first few months in Charleston had added stress, thanks to Hurricane Katrina. Weeks after she moved to the Mountain State, her parents' home was destroyed by the flooding. They came to Charleston to live with their daughter while their house was being rebuilt.
Easton received her bachelor and doctorate pharmacy degrees from Xavier University of Louisiana. She's worked in a retail setting, and she's presented public health-related seminars on topics including smoking cessation, mental health issues and professionalism.
Easton said she sees the challenges facing pharmacists in West Virginia. The rising problem with drug abuse is the focus of a clinic that helps former addicts.
"We counsel them on what to avoid, say, if they are going to the dentist, things like that," Easton said. "We understand our role in drug safety."
The pharmacy dean also sees the importance in interpersonal skills.
"Patients won't listen until they know you care," Easton said. "We teach the students to use empathy, and we teach them how to interact with social workers, nurses, physicians and professionals. Their first year is focused on service learning."
The school receives nearly 750 applications for the 75 to 80 slots in each class.
"We interview about 250 to 300 applicants, because we want to see how they communicate," Easton said. "The Gallup Poll lists pharmacists in the top five most trusted professions nearly every year. Communication is essential."
Two students chimed in about the importance of the skills learned beyond the typical pharmacy curriculum, and about the dean's dedication to the students.
"I love to interact and help people," said student Ginger Vance, 32. Vance and her sister, Tina, are both in the class of 2013. After helping a sister who suffered from chronic pancreatitis for years, Vance knew pharmacy was right for her. "I just want to help someone."
Mike Brown, class of 2014, attended graduate school at Marshall in biomedical science. He wanted patient interaction, so he applied to the pharmacy school. He's considering hospital pharmacy as a career.
"I'm one of the first ones here in the morning, but I've never been able to beat her here," he said, pointing to Easton. The students were comfortable joking and chatting with the professionally dressed dean, partially because of the communication skills learned in the school. Easton has instituted a dress code, as well.
"They hate it at first," she said. "But when they go out on rotations around the state, they find that people respect them when they are dressed professionally. They all come back and comment that they were dressed more appropriately than some students from other schools."
What she likes to do when she leaves the building? Easton quipped, "Do I leave here?" She conceded that she loves to read, and she enjoys cooking New Orleans-style food at home.
Reach Sara Busse at sara.bu...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1249.
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