Meet Teri Templin ('23) from Graysville, Tennessee, who served on rotation at South
Texas Rehabilitation Hospital with Preceptor Vanessa Ramirez, PharmD.
What did your day look like on rotation?
My daily schedule was 8:30 - 5 pm. Each morning, we have a meeting with other staff
members to discuss patients. Throughout the day, I work on admission and discharge
documentation, counseling patients, medication reconciliations, audits, drug info
questions, preparing for and attending meetings (there are several within a week),
and more! Dr. Ramirez will involve you in whatever she can to get you exposure to
new things. You interact with physicians, nursing, technicians, administration, case
management, respiratory, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, dietitians,
and more. Interprofessional care is heavy at this site which makes it a great learning
environment. Another perk is that breakfast and lunch are free for students!
What is something unique about this rotation you might not experience elsewhere?
I was able to practice independently and even represent pharmacy in team meetings!
I always had a pharmacist with me for support but was able to get experience discussing
patient care with hospital leadership and delivering my own interventions.
What did you learn from this experience?
This experience allows you to work with a unique patient population after they leave
the acute care hospital. This showed me a new side of patient care and provided valuable
insight into what these patients experience and work through when rehabilitating.
You learn how to manage their comorbidities and medications at a time when their health
is stable but still constantly evolving. It’s also very rewarding to watch them improve
and eventually go home! This hospital calls staff to the front to clap and celebrate
each discharge. It is an emotional experience for everyone and really makes you feel
invested in your work.
Why did you choose Gatton?
Gatton was the only pharmacy school I applied to because I knew I wouldn’t be happy
anywhere else. The staff and faculty members were warm and inviting. They spoke to
me by name despite having not met me until that day. The welcoming environment and
beautiful East Tennessee scenery on campus made me feel right at home. Additionally,
I loved Gatton’s focus on interprofessional care and serving rural communities.