The PGY1 Independent Pharmacy Ownership Residency at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy welcomed its second class of residents as the program expands to sites outside of North Carolina.
The program trains Doctor of Pharmacy graduates to be owners of independent community pharmacies. The residents receive a practical business education to complement their pharmacy education.
“A lot of new pharmacists are bursting with ambition and are motivated to work in the community pharmacy environment, but many don’t yet have the business savvy and skills necessary to succeed in that environment. We think our program will give these young pharmacists a critical advantage,” said Stefanie Ferreri, Pharm.D., co-director of the program and a clinical professor in the Division of Practice Advancement and Clinical Education.
Ferreri also highlighted the recent expansion of the program, which this year includes two residents in Wisconsin. There are four residents total, introduced below.
More information on the program can be found at pharmacy.unc.edu/ipor.
2017 Independent Pharmacy Ownership Residents
Michael Verble, Pharm.D., is a graduate of the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. His recent projects include Assessing the Impact of a Pharmacy Business Class on Pharmacy Services in North Carolina, and WeCare Pharmacy Business Plan Proposal. WeCare was the second-place winning proposal in the 2016 Good Neighbor Pharmacy NCPA Pruitt-Schute Student Business Plan Competition. He will be practicing at Central Pharmacy in Durham, North Carolina.
Chase Sasser, Pharm.D., is a graduate of the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. Sasser served as president of Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity and was the treasurer of the UNC-Chapel Hill Pre-Pharmacy Club. He is currently completing research on North Carolina Controlled Substances Reporting Systems, as well as an automated refill reminder study on which he is the principal investigator. Sasser will be practicing at Drugco Discount Pharmacy in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina.
Brian Hoppe, Pharm.D., is a graduate of the Concordia University Wisconsin School of Pharmacy. Since 2010 and while pursuing his Pharm.D., Hoppe worked as a pharmacy intern and technician. He is the upcoming student chapter secretary for CUW’s National Community Pharmacists Association and a member of four other professional organizations at both the national and state level. He has participated in community efforts including Be the Match Bone Registry Drive and Medication Collection day, both in Mequon, Wisconsin. Hoppe will be practicing at Skywalk Pharmacy in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Tanner Kowalski, Pharm.D., is a graduate of the Concordia University Wisconsin School of Pharmacy. In November 2015 he presented a mock business proposal to professors, pharmacists and local businessmen with a goal of convincing investors to finance the automation of a fictional independent pharmacy. He created Healthcare BINGO for a local skilled nursing facility to help increase health-care knowledge among the geriatric community. Kowalski will be practicing at Skywalk Pharmacy in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.