Page 25 - Rx Bound - Summer 2014
P. 25
“WesternU student pharmacists exhibit overall performance
excellence, and are a reason we concentrate so much of our
recruiting efforts on WesternU.”
Alumni and Preceptor Profile: Greg Collins, PharmD
Alumnus makes an impact with
WesternU and its students
By Jeff Malet, Writer/Photographer
Western University of Health Sciences College of Pharmacy graduate attributes these abilities to some of the unique aspects of the
Greg Collins, PharmD, from the inaugural Class of 2000, says his WesternU College of Pharmacy curriculum, and specifically, the
alma mater prepared him well for his career with CVS Caremark Interprofessional Education Program (IPE). The IPE program
Corporation. provides group training for students from all nine of the University’s
disciplines together in small groups working with facilitators to
In 1996, Collins began as an intern for Sav-On Drugs, which was
eventually bought by CVS. Upon graduation from WesternU’s discuss cases from multiple points of view. Similarly, the Objective
College of Pharmacy, he moved to La Quinta, Calif., where he Structured Clinical Exam (OSCE) program, assesses the behavior of
steadily rose through the ranks at CVS to become a Pharmacy a student pharmacist or clinician in live-patient simulations.
Manager, a Pharmacy District Supervisor and his current role as WesternU student pharmacists learn how to work as part of a
Manager of Professional and College Relations. cohesive health care team in realistic patient care situations, and it is
this training, combined with the one week intensive Pharmacist In
“WesternU provided a terrific curriculum preparing me for where I Charge (PIC) course, that prepares them so well for the real
am today,” Collins said. “I enjoyed the curriculum and the workplace.
integration of presentations in front of the class in every single
subject, which prepared me for public speaking and enabled me to Collins pointed out that he too has benefitted from his own
hone that skill. Students who are good at public speaking, good at WesternU training over the years, sharing the story of his coworker’s
delivering presentations, really stand out in the professional world.” automobile accident a few years ago. Collins’ colleague was in a
severe auto accident in the high desert region of California, and
Collins is the CVS liaison for 14 colleges of pharmacy in the western ended up being admitted to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in
United States, helping to manage the intern pipeline of student Colton, Calif. with an acute foot injury.
pharmacists who he says, “become our future clinicians, managers,
and leaders.” Collins maintains strong ties to WesternU, and is While visiting her, Collins noticed that she was in severe pain, and he
always happy when he learns that another College of Pharmacy wondered if her treating physicians weren’t dosing her correctly. He
alumnus has joined CVS. then recognized the ER attending physician as a WesternU College of
Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific (COMP) grad whom he had
“WesternU continues to have a high number of pharmacists hired known when he was at the College of Pharmacy. Collins pulled her
annually by CVS,” Collins said. “WesternU student pharmacists aside to talk about his coworker’s pain management, and together
exhibit overall performance excellence, and are a reason we they were able to make adjustments to improve her level of pain.
concentrate so much of our recruiting efforts on WesternU. The
College of Pharmacy has produced great pharmacists, and it’s a Collins said that CVS normally hires 40-50 WesternU graduates a
tribute to the curriculum, the faculty and the Dean’s leadership.” year in his territory covering the western United States. This
represents close to 20% of the graduate hires for his 5 regions
Collins said he believes that WesternU student pharmacists exhibit encompassing over 800 stores.
an exceptional ability to speak to customers in layman’s terms, are
sound in their pharmacy knowledge and understand customer “I get very excited about the WesternU student pharmacists and
service. His time as a preceptor for rotation students has reinforced what they are going to do for our businesses at CVS,” Collins said.
his feelings about the strengths of a WesternU graduate. Collins “It’s really enjoyable to see the pharmacists from your own school
states that he “enjoys being around and challenging young performing well and succeeding. Whether that means they are a staff
professionals to understand how to put their knowledge, experience, pharmacist, pharmacy manager, or pharmacy supervisor, it’s neat to
and compassion for patients to work in the real world.” He know that they all started at WesternU.”
WesternU, College of Pharmacy 23
excellence, and are a reason we concentrate so much of our
recruiting efforts on WesternU.”
Alumni and Preceptor Profile: Greg Collins, PharmD
Alumnus makes an impact with
WesternU and its students
By Jeff Malet, Writer/Photographer
Western University of Health Sciences College of Pharmacy graduate attributes these abilities to some of the unique aspects of the
Greg Collins, PharmD, from the inaugural Class of 2000, says his WesternU College of Pharmacy curriculum, and specifically, the
alma mater prepared him well for his career with CVS Caremark Interprofessional Education Program (IPE). The IPE program
Corporation. provides group training for students from all nine of the University’s
disciplines together in small groups working with facilitators to
In 1996, Collins began as an intern for Sav-On Drugs, which was
eventually bought by CVS. Upon graduation from WesternU’s discuss cases from multiple points of view. Similarly, the Objective
College of Pharmacy, he moved to La Quinta, Calif., where he Structured Clinical Exam (OSCE) program, assesses the behavior of
steadily rose through the ranks at CVS to become a Pharmacy a student pharmacist or clinician in live-patient simulations.
Manager, a Pharmacy District Supervisor and his current role as WesternU student pharmacists learn how to work as part of a
Manager of Professional and College Relations. cohesive health care team in realistic patient care situations, and it is
this training, combined with the one week intensive Pharmacist In
“WesternU provided a terrific curriculum preparing me for where I Charge (PIC) course, that prepares them so well for the real
am today,” Collins said. “I enjoyed the curriculum and the workplace.
integration of presentations in front of the class in every single
subject, which prepared me for public speaking and enabled me to Collins pointed out that he too has benefitted from his own
hone that skill. Students who are good at public speaking, good at WesternU training over the years, sharing the story of his coworker’s
delivering presentations, really stand out in the professional world.” automobile accident a few years ago. Collins’ colleague was in a
severe auto accident in the high desert region of California, and
Collins is the CVS liaison for 14 colleges of pharmacy in the western ended up being admitted to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in
United States, helping to manage the intern pipeline of student Colton, Calif. with an acute foot injury.
pharmacists who he says, “become our future clinicians, managers,
and leaders.” Collins maintains strong ties to WesternU, and is While visiting her, Collins noticed that she was in severe pain, and he
always happy when he learns that another College of Pharmacy wondered if her treating physicians weren’t dosing her correctly. He
alumnus has joined CVS. then recognized the ER attending physician as a WesternU College of
Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific (COMP) grad whom he had
“WesternU continues to have a high number of pharmacists hired known when he was at the College of Pharmacy. Collins pulled her
annually by CVS,” Collins said. “WesternU student pharmacists aside to talk about his coworker’s pain management, and together
exhibit overall performance excellence, and are a reason we they were able to make adjustments to improve her level of pain.
concentrate so much of our recruiting efforts on WesternU. The
College of Pharmacy has produced great pharmacists, and it’s a Collins said that CVS normally hires 40-50 WesternU graduates a
tribute to the curriculum, the faculty and the Dean’s leadership.” year in his territory covering the western United States. This
represents close to 20% of the graduate hires for his 5 regions
Collins said he believes that WesternU student pharmacists exhibit encompassing over 800 stores.
an exceptional ability to speak to customers in layman’s terms, are
sound in their pharmacy knowledge and understand customer “I get very excited about the WesternU student pharmacists and
service. His time as a preceptor for rotation students has reinforced what they are going to do for our businesses at CVS,” Collins said.
his feelings about the strengths of a WesternU graduate. Collins “It’s really enjoyable to see the pharmacists from your own school
states that he “enjoys being around and challenging young performing well and succeeding. Whether that means they are a staff
professionals to understand how to put their knowledge, experience, pharmacist, pharmacy manager, or pharmacy supervisor, it’s neat to
and compassion for patients to work in the real world.” He know that they all started at WesternU.”
WesternU, College of Pharmacy 23
