On-campus pharmacy provides vital services for quarter-century

Chad Westmoreland (left), Michael Warren, Sandy Bentley, Erin Murphy, Alyson Hamm and Anne Marie Liles

onveniently located near the heart of campus, the Student Health Pharmacy at the University of Mississippi has been helping students with their medical needs for 25 years.

The Student Health Pharmacy is administered by the School of Pharmacy, under the direct leadership of co-directors Sandy Bentley and Anne Marie Liles.

“Our pharmacy provides on-campus pharmacy resources for students, from prescription medications to direct patient care services, such as tobacco cessation counseling and immunizations,” said Leigh Ann Ross, associate dean for clinical affairs for the School of Pharmacy. “With the recent reorganization to include a co-director of clinical services, we plan to continue to provide stellar medication delivery and counseling while expanding the clinical pharmacy services provided for our students and employees.”

Bentley, director of operations, said that the pharmacy primarily exists for the students.

“We exist to take care of their needs,” Bentley said. “We offer quick services – especially for students who need to get back to class. That’s the whole idea of having a health center on campus.”

Student Health Center pharmacists provide informational counseling to those students who are getting a prescription for the first time.

One of the staff pharmacists, Chad Westmoreland, said he finds it rewarding to provide services to the students.

“I answer any type of questions they have and educate them on prescription uses, so it’s nice to get to interact with students one-on-one,” Westmoreland said.

The clinic also provides counseling for students and employees who are trying to quit smoking and using tobacco products.  

“I am the primary tobacco cessation provider in the pharmacy,” Bentley said. “Students are able to quit tobacco, but the most important factor is their desire or motivation to quit tobacco use.”

The pharmacy offers immunizations and vaccines to students without an appointment. Often, these are vaccines required for different medical majors. Students in health care-related fields are required to have hepatitis B, chicken pox and yearly flu shots. Michael Warren, clinical assistant professor of pharmacy practice, provides vaccinations for students who are going on mission trips and other studies abroad. Employees are also able to take advantage of this service when traveling abroad.

Liles, who serves in the newly implemented role of clinical director of the pharmacy, is working to further develop existing clinical pharmacy services and expand these into new areas for both students and employees on campus. She said she hopes to offer disease and medication management as well.

“There are many unique aspects about working for a pharmacy on a university campus,” Liles said. “Certainly, the patient population is the most unique. When pharmacies in the community develop clinical services, college students are not the typical targeted population. So finding out what their needs are and how to address them is definitely a challenge.”

The Student Health Pharmacy works closely with professional pharmacy students, who receive hands-on training while completing Introductory or Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences.

 “We take pharmacy students on rotation,” Bentley said. “The students have the opportunity to counsel patients, interact with the clinic physicians and shadow the nurses to learn more about health care delivery in this setting.”

Alex Hudson, a rising third-year professional pharmacy student, works with Bentley. He said that counseling patients on their new medications gives him a better understanding of the importance of the pharmacist and patient relationship.

“I could not be happier with my experience working at the Student Health Center Pharmacy,” Hudson said. “The hands-on experiences I am gaining have taught me so much and will allow me to be a better, more competent pharmacist.”