September 27, 2023
As part of the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy’s Postgraduate Year One (PGY1) Community-Based Pharmacy Residency Program expansion, pharmacies in Eastern North Carolina’s Scotland Neck and Rocky Mount are coming together to offer a unique residency experience.
This expansion is focused on reaching Eastern North Carolina in rural and underserved areas. McDowell’s Pharmacy in Scotland Neck is a family-owned pharmacy with a rich history of serving the community since 1901. Thomas McDowell, Pharm.D. ‘16, is a fourth-generation pharmacist who owns McDowell’s and expanded his practice by purchasing Rocky Mount Medical Park Pharmacy in 2021.
Located only 30 miles from each other, the resident will have the opportunity to work in both pharmacies and communities. “There really will be two experiences – working in a family-owned Main Street pharmacy in a rural community and being in a medical park collaborating with about 50 other providers,” said McDowell.
The resident will be exposed to all the services the pharmacies offer—not just filling prescriptions. McDowell shared that the biggest driver are their diverse services, such as a transitional care management program, servicing long-term care facilities, reviewing labs and charts, running a robust adherence packaging program, running vaccine clinics and starting a new remote physiological monitoring program.
Kylie Lewis, Pharm.D. candidate Class of 2026, recently spent two months on rotation at McDowell’s Pharmacy. She shared, “The work being done to bring the best level of care to this rural area is definitely noticeable. McDowell’s is essential to life in Scotland Neck, and within the first couple of days there you will truly feel at home and supported by the community. Each pharmacist at this location, as well as at the sister company Rocky Mount Medical Park Pharmacy, truly wants to see you succeed and give you all the materials you need to make an impact.”
McDowell’s and Rocky Mount are excited to have a new resident join the team to focus on building out new services. Although there’s no guarantee, McDowell hopes that the goal of the resident will be to create a position for themselves that is sustainable.
Working in Scotland Neck and Rocky Mount comes with the small-town vibe, low cost of living and less traffic, but also easy access to Raleigh for city amenities and entertainment. Rocky Mount is revitalizing its downtown and transforming the historic Rocky Mount Mills into “a place for beers, bites and business.”
At the heart of these communities is the people. McDowell mentioned that the kindest individuals come in and out of the pharmacy every day sharing their appreciation.
“This won’t be your typical retail pharmacy experience. You can really practice at the top of your license and, if you enjoy interacting with patients, there’s no better place to be,” McDowell said. “Community pharmacy is the broadest and more rewarding career in pharmacy and is truly one of the most clinical.”
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