College of Pharmacy

May 26, 2022 - Union University College of Pharmacy Class of 2021 has earned the state’s highest pass rate for first-time testers of the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) according to the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. Union University College of Pharmacy has earned top honors in the state for three consecutive years. Additionally, Union has scored higher than the national average for the last nine years. “Excellence in educational outcomes continues to prevail at the Union University College of Pharmacy, despite interruptions by a global pandemic,” said Sheila Mitchell, Dean of the Union University College of Pharmacy. “We are proud of the performance by our Class of 2021 graduates on their licensing board exam. We congratulate them on this outstanding achievement.” The NAPLEX is designed to evaluate general practice knowledge and is taken by pharmacy students shortly after graduating. It is one component of the licensure process, and boards of pharmacy use the exam to assess a candidate’s competence to practice as a pharmacist.

Dec 9, 2021 - Joanne Shen (P2) has been appointed as a member of the Pharmacy Education Subcommittee for IPSF PARO. The Pharmacy Education Subcommittee has the responsibility of developing pharmacy education projects and campaigns, such as scientific and educational articles, Poster Competitions, and recent events in pharmacy education and research.

Dec 3, 2021 - The class of 2023 held their pinning ceremony this week! Congratulations, Class of 2023!

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Dec 1, 2021 - The Union University College of Pharmacy Christian Pharmacists Fellowship International organization served the community by offering meals and sharing a devotional at the RIFA soup kitchen! The mission of CPFI is to encourage spiritual growth among fellow pharmacy students, faculty, and staff through Bible study, prayer, and fellowship to in turn be as a city on a hill that cannot be hidden and the light to a darkened world (Matthew 5:4).

Dec 1, 2021 - Introducing the 2021 Battle of the Student Orgs winners... 1st place winners, Apha-ASP/TSSP, and 2nd place winners, PLS! Because of the generosity of the UUCOP family, we are able to donate 32 winter coats, 41 uniform polo shirts, 17 pairs of uniform pants, and 20 pairs of tights to Isaac Lane Technology Magnet Elementary!

Nov 2, 2021 - Natalie Crockett (P3) has been announced as the first recipient of the John E. Goodrich Construction of Interprofessional Practice Scholarship.

Oct 12, 2021 - Union University College of Pharmacy has ranked #1 this year for the 2021 Ranking of ACPE Accredited Pharmacy Schools in Tennessee by the Pharmacy Technician Guide. This ranking is based on the NAPLEX first time pass rate, and our performance earned us the #1 spot with a 98%! Congratulations to the UUCOP faculty, staff and students for your hard work and dedication!

Oct 11, 2021 - Natalie Mausey (P2) has been selected as a recipient of a Student Award for the 2021 ACCP Annual Meeting.

Jun 22, 2021 - Third-year student Morgan Martin represented northwest Tennessee and the Union University College of Pharmacy during the recent Miss Tennessee Volunteer pageant. The COP is beyond proud of how well she represented herself, the University, and student pharmacists!

Jun 21, 2021 - Fourth-year student pharmacist, Olivia Waters, presented on Generic Drug Regulation: Impact of a Global Pandemic during the virtual Summer Tennessee Pharmacists Association Meeting. She was mentored in her presentation by Dr. Jennifer Byrd.

Jun 14, 2021 - The Union University College of Pharmacy hosted an overnight camp providing an opportunity for high school and college students to explore training and careers in pharmacy. Students received hands-on training in our state-of-the-art pharmaceutics, research and simulation labs, learned counseling skills for common and current medications, gained a deeper knowledge of anatomy in the gross anatomy and plastination labs, interacted with local community and hospital pharmacy professionals, enjoyed fun evening activities, and participated in a Q&A session with several of our alumni. We had a great week and look forward to next year and a reUNION with this group!

May 21, 2021 - UUCOP is pleased to announce that Caroline Sockwell has been named to the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) Student Leadership Council (SLC). Founded in 1898, NCPA is the voice for the community pharmacist, representing 21,000 pharmacies that employ 250,000 individuals nationwide. NCPA selects a total of 16 students to serve on the SLC, serving their region for 2 years. Only 8 students in the nation are selected each year for service. Caroline also serves as UUCOP NCPA Chapter President and will be the third student from Union University College of Pharmacy to represent the program as an SLC member.

May 15, 2021 - Union University celebrated spring commencement May 15th on the Great Lawn. The UUCOP graduated 38 pharmacists ready to excel in the profession. Congratulations to the Class of 2021!

May 14, 2021 - On the afternoon of Friday, May 14th, the Class of 2021 Honors & Awards Ceremony was held in the G.M. Savage Memorial Chapel. We sincerely appreciate Dr. Oliver offering the Invocation for the class. We are also thankful to Mrs. Rita Conaway, mother of Brandon Conaway ('21), and husband, for joining us to read the ceremony scripture, Philippians 3:7-16. Dr. Mark Stephens, Faculty Member of the Year selected by the graduating class, gave the charge to the students. The presentation of the Honors and Awards was led by Dr. Kim Jones. The program concluded with Dean Mitchell and the Class of 2021 reciting the Oath of a Pharmacist. Dr. Chris Stoltz closed with the Benediction.

Honors & Award Recipients include:
• APhA-ASP Mortar & Pestle Award - Kate Norville
• Student Society of Health-System Pharmacy Award - Ashley Sidebottom
• Award of Excellence in Clinical Communication - Martina Goings
• Merck Academic Excellence Award - Ngoc Nguyen
• Viatris Excellence in Pharmacy Award - Brandon Conaway
• Douglas R. Duncan Community Practice Award - Brianna McKinney
• West TN Pharmacists Association Student Pharmacist Award - Kassy Twitty
• JMCGH APPE Excellence in Hospital Pharmacy Practice Award - Kelsey Rowland
• Tennessee Pharmacists Association Student Champion for Change Award - Brittany Kelley
• APPE Preceptor of the Year Award - Dr. Luke Knox
• Faculty Preceptor of the Year Award - Dr. Zac Halford
• Academic Excellence Award - Brandon Conaway, Kate Norville and Kelsey Rowland
• Pharmaceutical Sciences Award - Victoria Downs
• Pharmacy Practice Award - Carli Coalter
• Experiential Education Award - Diana Barajas
• John E. Goodrich Construction of Interprofessional Practice Award - Britney Beard
• Makepeace Servant Leadership Award - Kaitlin Byrd
• Sheila L. Mitchell Leadership Award - Kate Norville
• Class of 2021 Outstanding Student Award - Victoria Downs and Kate Norville

Apr 22, 2021 - First-year students Paeton Poynter and Anna Grace Woodis joined UUCOP alumnus, Dr. Brooke McMaster ('12), to administer Moderna vaccines at Vantreese Discount Pharmacy.

Apr 20, 2021 - P2 Ashley Mendez presented her poster titled "Uvaria afzelii (UA) Induce Tumor Suppressor Proteins and Induction of ROS in SK-N-SH Human Neuroblastoma Cells" at the virtual Union University Scholarship Symposium on April 20, 2021. Faculty Advisor is Dr. Luna Bennett.

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Apr 19, 2021 - UUCOP Students held a brunch banquet in honor of the Faculty and Staff on Monday, April 19th. During the banquet, each cohort recognized their Professor of the Year: Dr. Blake Watkins (P1 cohort), Dr. Ashok Philip (P2 cohort), Dr. David Kuhl (P3 cohort) and Dr. Mark Stephens (P4 cohort). Thank you, students, for a wonderful banquet!

Apr 14, 2021 - The College of Pharmacy celebrates with four additional students who have matched with a residency program in Phase 2. We are proud of you!

PGY-1
Kaitlin Byrd, Baptist Hospital, Pensacola, FL
Martina Goings, Henry County Medical Center, Paris, TN

PGY-2
Bryan Keen, Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta, GA
Tanya Tye, DCH Regional Medical Center, Tuscaloosa, AL

Apr 14, 2021 - In recognition of their upcoming graduation, P4 students were treated to a celebration luncheon with Dean Sheila Mitchell and Administrative Assistant, Rita Conaway, in the Grant Center on April 12. Following the luncheon, student focus groups collaborated and gave feedback on key aspects of their pharmacy educational experience at the College of Pharmacy.

Apr 9, 2021 - Congratulations to our P1 ladies, Lauren Rhodes, Elizabeth Rottmann, Alexis Osteen and Taliesha Hart, for winning the Union 3v3 Women’s Intramural Basketball Tournament! They won every single game! Way to go ladies!

Mar 22, 2021 - The highly anticipated residency Match Day proved to be a cause for celebration for Union University College of Pharmacy PGY-1 and PGY-2 candidates. The College is proud of these students and is excited to see Union’s program expand across the nation. Please see below for a list of candidate match positions.

PGY-1
Mary Kate Anderson, Children's Hospital at St. Francis, Tulsa, OK
Christian Lyons, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare/Germantown Hosp, Germantown, TN
Orlean Patterson, Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport, Shreveport, LA
Diana Barajas, St. Luke's Hospital, Chesterfield, MO
Britney Beard, University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy, Lexington, KY
Carli Coalter, Le Bonheur Children's Hosp/Univ Tennessee HSC, Memphis, TN
Brandon Conaway, Baptist Memorial Hospital - Memphis, Memphis, TN
Victoria Downs, Veterans Affairs Medical Center - Washington, Washington, DC
Kaitlyn Inman, Baptist Memorial Hospital-Desoto, Southaven, MS
Brittany Kelley, Jackson-Madison County General Hospital, Jackson, TN
Ngoc Nguyen, Navitus Health Solutions, LLC, Madison, WI
Kate Norville, Mayo Clinic Hospital - Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ
Kelsey Rowland, Jackson-Madison County General Hospital, Jackson, TN
Ashley Sidebottom, Baylor St Luke's Medical Center, Houston, TX

PGY-2
Tabitha Brown, Johnson City Medical Center, Johnson City, TN
Jonathan Moody, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
Jenna Summerlin, Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, St. Petersburg, FL
Drew Wells, Methodist Healthcare/University Hospital, Memphis, TN

Mar 22, 2021 - UUCOP APhA-ASP and NCPA student chapters assisted with a COVID-19 drive through immunization event held by Phipps Pharmacy in Jackson, TN on March 20, 2021. Tennessee State Senator Ed Jackson was also in attendance to show his support of the event. The three-hour event provided vaccinations to over 300 patients.

Mar 12, 2021 - Congratulations to third year student pharmacist Olivia Waters on her recognition by the American Pharmacists Association-Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP) as one of only four recipients of a Student Leadership Award. Olivia was recognized during the APhA-ASP Virtual Awards Show on March 11. She previously served as the UUCOP APhA-ASP Chapter President and Patient Care Vice President and currently serves as the P3 Policy Liaison.

Mar 5, 2021 - Second-year student, Ashlee Tinker, assisted UUCOP alumna Dr. Kayla Agee (2020) with the administration of COVID vaccines at Cavalier Pharmacy in Alamo, Tennessee. The COP is proud to aid our community partners in efforts to vaccinate West Tennesseans. Please contact Kim Jones (kjones@uu.edu) if you need assistance.

Feb 22, 2021 - The week of February 15-19 proved to be an interesting one for much of West Tennessee. COP faculty and students continued teaching and learning via Zoom during the week-long snow and ice storm. In between online classes and exams, COP members made time to have a little fun! Enjoy this peek into our creative side!

Jan 30, 2021 - On Saturday, January 30th, the UUCOP sent teams of faculty members, preceptors, alumni, and students to 11 different counties in West TN to assist with COVID vaccination clinics. UUCOP assisted Health Departments in the following counties: Benton, Crockett, Dyer, Gibson, Haywood, Hardeman, Hardin, Henderson, McNairy, Obion, and Tipton. The COP is especially grateful for the help provided by our amazing preceptors, Dr. Donna Buss and Dr. Holly Foster (Dyer County), Dr. Angie Etheridge (Hardin County), Dr. Jamie Hopkins (Haywood County), and current TPA President, Dr. Jason Kizer (Obion County), as well our #UUCOPstrong alumni, Dr. Jill Eason ('19), Dr. Lacey Freeman ('17), Dr. Brooke McMaster ('12), and Dr. Sara Cox ('20).

Jan 29, 2021 - On Friday, January 29th, Dr. Kim Jones and second-year students Kristen Go, Andrea Hundley, and Nolan Holyfield assisted 2012 Alumnus Dr. Kristen Self, administer COVID vaccines at Jackson Meadows. Fifty-nine residents and employees received their first dose!

Jan 29, 2021 - Dr. Zachery Halford, Dr. Tabitha Brown (2020 alumna) and P4 Carli Coalter recently published “A Systematic Review of Blinatumomab in the Treatment of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Engaging an Old Problem With New Solutions” in Annals of Pharmacotherapy.

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Dr. Zachery Halford

Dr. Tabitha Brown

Carli Coalter

Jan 28, 2021 - On Thursday, January 28th, UUCOP faculty and students assisted the Jackson-Madison County Regional Health Department in providing 2nd doses of the COVID vaccine to Madison County residents over 75 years of age during a drive-thru clinic at the Jackson Fairgrounds.

Jan 23, 2021 - On Saturday, January 23rd, faculty and students from the College of Pharmacy assisted the TN Health Department in three different counties administer COVID vaccinations. Teams worked in Fayette, Carroll, and Henry County administering 2nd doses to individuals 75 years and older.