Greetings from the Lipscomb University College of Pharmacy
Tom Campbell, Dean |
We are off to a fast start in the 2021 academic year. Our student pharmacists have returned to campus after a summer of work and rest in order to get ready for the work ahead. The College welcomed our newest students in August and we were able to have our White Coat Ceremony in person, albeit with limited attendance. It has been good to be back in-person for classes, even though, due to the ongoing issues with the COVID-delta variant, we are still taking precautions and allowing students to learn outside the classroom, when needed. We are very fortunate that most of our student pharmacists and faculty/staff have been vaccinated for COVID, which is important in keeping our family healthy and minimizing the chances of severe disease. We do know, however, that many have still been affected by this horrible virus, and we continue to be mindful and prayerful for those who have been affected.
Hippocrates is attributed with the following quote, “For extreme diseases, extreme methods of cure, as to restriction, are most suitable.” While that statement rings true, I am going to modify it related to what I have witnessed from our student pharmacists, faculty and staff, and alumni over the past 18 months: “For extreme times of illness, HEROIC actions are needed by those trained to care for human life.” Our Lipscomb family has risen to the occasion. We have administered thousands upon thousands of vaccines and diagnostic tests. Our family has run clinics in areas of town that are underserved and where our most vulnerable live. Our clinicians have worked in patient care units at hospitals and provided the best care to help heal, and, at times, be there to help families manage when healing is not possible. I am so proud of this family and how they have responded time and time again.
In the midst of the pandemic we have to keep pushing forward with our initiatives as a college. We continue to expand our opportunities in interprofessional education where our student pharmacists work side by side with medical students from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and Meharry Medical College to show how a team-based approach optimizes patient outcomes. We continue to research unanswered questions and our student pharmacists and faculty have generated publications, posters and have presented best practices at many conferences. We continue to see members of this family taking prominent leadership roles in local, state and national pharmacy/medical organizations. Great things continue to happen at the college!
We are hopeful that as the nation continues to emerge out of this pandemic, that we will have more opportunities to get our alumni and friends back on campus to show you the amazing things being accomplished. I’m also eager to come out and visit with you and your practice sites and places of work. I’m always eager to share the great things happening at Lipscomb and seeing how we can partner together to advance the college and the profession and to assure our patients are living healthier, better lives.
Go Bisons!
Thomas M. Campbell, Pharm.D.
Dean, College of Pharmacy