Jimmy Wilson, PharmD

Jimmy Wilson, a graduate of the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, is a first-time preceptor. He works at Dees Drug Store in Burgaw, North Carolina.

What made you decide to be become a preceptor?

I’ve decided to become a preceptor because I feel it is a way for me to teach young pharmacists about what lies ahead for them in their careers. I feel that UNC does an excellent job of teaching a very difficult curriculum, and it is up to the preceptors to polish students’ skills. Being a preceptor has not only allowed me to teach our students what I’ve learned, but its also a way for me to continually learn. I have only been out of school for a little over a year, so I still remember what it was like to be in these students’ shoes. The month of July 2005 was the first time that I was a preceptor, so I am still learning the best way to teach.

Please tell us a little about your background and work experience.

I graduated cum laude with a BS in biology from Pfeiffer University in May 2000. I entered the PharmD program at UNC in the fall of 2000, allowing me to pursue an advanced degree without having to take any time off from school. For about six months before I began pharmacy school, I worked full-time as a pharmacy technician at Kerr Drug in Concord, NC. During my career at UNC, I remained employed as a pharmacy technician at Kerr Drug at University Mall. I was always interested in pursuing a career in community pharmacy, and during my rotations, I felt it would be exciting to own a store. While doing a rotation in Wilmington, I was put into contact with Kevin Wilson, the owner of Dees Drug Store. The timing was right for him to offer me a position as pharmacist manager, and I felt that this would be a great location for me to enhance my knowledge of conducting a business.

As a recent graduate, how well do you think your UNC education prepared you for becoming a pharmacist?

I feel that the education at UNC is top-notch. I felt very prepared for all of my licensure examinations, as well as being confident in my drug knowledge. I do wish that UNC had better prepared me for some of the challenges in the business side of community pharmacy. However, I did have some good rotations that prepared me for many of these situations. I also feel that my work experience also prepared me for the position I have today. Overall, UNC does an outstanding job of preparing graduates for the work force, but the degree of preparedness depends on the initiative of the student.

While in school, did you work with any preceptors who made an impact on you?

I feel that all of my preceptors had an impact on the pharmacist I am today, yet I feel that my two community rotations influenced me the most. My first year, I trained under Joe Moose at Moose Professional Pharmacy. After his rotation, I began to have a true interest in owning an independent store. Also, I worked with Lance Wheeler at Medicap in Garner, NC. I really enjoyed these rotations because I got the chance to witness the impact of our profession on everyday patient issues. From counseling patients to administering immunizations, community pharmacists perform many vital functions. These rotations also showed me how important it is to give back to the community which supports your business.

What is your teaching/precepting philosophy?

I encourage students to ask as many questions as they can throughout the day. Being a recent graduate allows me to remember what being a student is like, and oftentimes students are reluctant to ask a lot of questions for fear of appearing less knowledgeable. I encourage my students from our introductory meeting to ask anything they want. I challenge my students to get as much as they possibly can from each rotation and have them develop a sense of “ownership” in their education. It is easy to get lost in the shuffle and sometimes students need to be reminded of the big picture. I encourage my students to be as proactive with patients as they are comfortable with, because ultimately we are training our future colleagues.

Have you had any particularly memorable experiences while precepting pharmacy students?

Although I have only had two students, the biggest thing that stands out for me is the development in each student’s confidence. Both of my students had just completed their first year, so they were a bit apprehensive about their rotations. However, by the end of their two weeks, each of them had enhanced their knowledge while accepting the challenge of getting the most of their education. I was very satisfied with my first rotations as a preceptor, and look forward to further developing my abilities to provide a memorable rotation.