Tim is a from Hudson, Ohio. He has an undergraduate degree in biology and minors in chemistry and psychology.
Why did you choose pharmacy as a career?
After I graduated in 2007, I took a research position at NIOSH in Morgantown, where I studied cardiovascular responses to inhaled substances using a rat model. After work, I would come home and bombard my wife with questions and musings about potential drug interactions I was concerned about. She encouraged me to apply to pharmacy school to follow those interests, which was great advice!
Why did you choose West Virginia University for Pharmacy School?
I have a good friend who is a WVU SOP graduate, so I reached out to her first when I started thinking about pharmacy school. She highly recommended WVU SOP and gave me contact information for people within the school to get the ball rolling.
How has your experience at the WVU School of Pharmacy prepared you for your future career?
WVU does a great job of combining faculty with clinical experience with faculty who have specialized knowledge. We are exposed to a wide variety of career paths, and that exposure was helpful in evaluating where I could and couldn’t see myself in the future.
What is your favorite memory from the WVU School of Pharmacy?
I think about our camaraderie as a class. Everyone seemed to get along, and during our fourth-year rotations, if any classmates saw me in the hospital, they would always smile and wave. We would see each other around lunch and eat together, no invitation necessary. Building these bonds and relationships was the most memorable part for me.
Is there a professor/staff member at the School of Pharmacy who has significantly influenced your journey?
Our professors/staff have gone above and beyond to help us through four years of pharmacy school. I could put all their names in a hat, pull one out, and write about how that person helped me. Dr. Callery was invaluable early on and helped me learn and understand the chemistry concepts of pharmacy. He was always patient and encouraging. Dr. Goodhart, our class advisor, stands out to me as well. She equally understood the importance of presenting information in a way conducive to learning. She was always happy to answer questions to clarify or elaborate on concepts and was available outside class times for help.
What will you miss the most about the School of Pharmacy?
I’ll miss seeing all of my classmates the most. Their kindness, intelligence and humour made it easy to show up every day. They inspired me to be the best person I could be during pharmacy school and beyond. I feel fortunate to be a part of the class of 2025.
What advice do you have for incoming P1 students?
Find a routine that works for you, and stick to it. For some people, listening to the lectures more than once is enough to reinforce the information. Others have to read the slides or write out information for it to stick. Speaking the information is helpful for some. Experiment and find the strategy that works best for you!
What is a fun or surprising fact about you that most people might not know?
A fun fact is that I've swam all the Class V rapids (and most of the Class IV) on the Lower Gauley River in West Virginia, and I'm not a strong swimmer.