Faculty and Staff News
Congratulations to Dr. Jodi Taylor, Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice, on being elected as the Secretary-Treasurer Elect for the Tennessee Society of Health-System Pharmacy (TSHP) 2012-2013 year. She will assume the office of TSHP Secretary-Treasurer in the TSHP 2013-2014 year. She also received the Tennessee Society of Health-System Pharmacy (TSHP) Pharmacist of The Year award.
Congratulations to Dr. Mark Stephens, Director of Experiential Education, who recently graduated from the 2011-2012 American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy's (AACP) Academic Leadership Fellows Program (ALFP). He and his colleagues presented their group's research entitled "Vertical Alignment of Faculty Mentoring Programs Within and Across Pharmacy Programs" at the 2012 AACP Annual Meeting held recently in Kissimmee, Florida.
We are thrilled to welcome the following individuals to the UUSOP family:
Dr. Mary Day, Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice, received her Pharm.D. from the University of Oklahoma College of Pharmacy. She completed her PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, Arkansas. She then went on to complete her PGY2 Ambulatory Care Residency with Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana. She is excited to begin her work here at UUSOP stating that "there are so many aspects of pharmacy that directly relate to the Christian life such as: integrity, care of others, service to the poor, and empathy." Dr. Day feels she can effectively share these characteristics with students when the origin of these principles of a Christian life is actively discussed in the classroom.
Dr. Deidra Easley, Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice, received her B.S. in Biology from the University of North Alabama and her Pharm.D. from the University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy. She completed her PGY1 Pediatric Residency at Le Bonheur Children's Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. Before joining the UUSOP she has also worked as a consulting pharmacist with Medicap Long-Term Care Pharmacy in Memphis. She is looking forward to working in an institution, which actively promotes the Christian faith and trains the next generation of pharmacists. During her residency at Le Bonheur she learned that being a clinical pediatric pharmacist can be very difficult at times but the knowledge that God is in control has helped in coping with the loss of such young patients. She hopes to teach her students that same peace that comes with a strong faith in God.
Dr. Melanie Michaels, Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice, received her B.S. in Microbiology from Mississippi University for Women and went on to receive her Pharm.D. degree from the University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy. She completed her PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. Prior to joining UUSOP she has also worked with Kroger Pharmacy in Brandon, Mississippi. Dr. Michaels feels that promoting Christian principles will give students the foundation that is necessary to exhibit professionalism, empathy and other attributes that are vital to the profession of pharmacy. Working at UUSOP gives her the faith-based environment in which to accomplish these educational goals.
Dr. Kent Stoneking, Chair of Pharmacy Practice and Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice, received his B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Memphis and his Pharm.D. from the University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy. Dr. Stoneking has worked for Peoples Custom Rx and Clinical Care Center in Memphis; served as Pharmacy Director for the Memphis Branch of Pediatric Services of America, Inc.; worked with the Hematology Oncology team at Accredo Health Group, Inc.; and since 2007 has worked as the Clinical Care Coordinator of the multi-state Delta Division for the Kroger corporation, overseeing medication therapy management and clinical pharmacy services. He has also been instrumental in the development of their very successful residency program. Dr. Stoneking is a leader in the profession of Pharmacy, most recently serving on the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Pharmacy Association as Chair of TSCP. He is a well-known speaker sought out for his expertise in diabetes education, as well as medication therapy management. Dr. Stoneking is a deacon at Bellevue Baptist Church. He is excited about working in a Christian institution of higher learning and sharing his vast knowledge of the profession of pharmacy coupled with his conviction that "because God is the creator and sustainer of all things, all teaching and learning activities should revolve around discovering His marvelous designs and sovereign purposes."
Janie Steinbach recently joined the Department of Experiential Education as the Coordinator of Continuing Education and Faculty Support. She is a graduate of the University of Memphis with a BBA in Finance. She came to Union from Sumner Bank and Trust where she was a community banker. Janie previously worked for Union in Communication Arts and the Honors program until 2010 and is thrilled to be back. She lives in North Jackson with her husband, Mike, and 5 children (the oldest is enrolled as a Nursing Student at Union University). Janie and her family are very active at Englewood Baptist Church where she works with the middle school youth group.