Bear Tracks: Alumni News and Happenings June 2023

Congratulations to the Class of 2022

We celebrate another very successful year for both students and faculty of Mercer University College of Pharmacy. I congratulate the graduating class of 2022 for enduring and overcoming the challenges over the past two years. As they begin their careers as pharmacists, I encourage them to continue the vision of the College to empower ourselves and others to cultivate a passion for enriching health and improving lives.

I want to extend a huge congratulations to Dean Crabtree and the faculty and staff on the successful re-accreditation visit earlier this year. The process is a very intense review of the College’s performance meeting accreditation standards, and we complied with all standards. We are proud to be fully accredited until 2030. Job well done!

As my term as president of the Alumni Board of Directors comes to a close, I’ve been very fortunate to have had this opportunity to offer my service to this great institution. The Alumni Board members lend their efforts and diverse experience with the support of Dean Crabtree, faculty, and staff to keep pharmacy alumni connected and engaged with the College. If you have ever considered serving on the Alumni Board, I encourage you to look at the opportunities to give back on our website.

Thanks again to everyone who works tirelessly to keep our College ranked the #1 private pharmacy school in the Southeast. Our college motto, “A Tradition of Excellence, A Legacy of Caring,” remains true. We are proud to be Mercerians!

Renee Smith, Pharm.D. ’95
College of Pharmacy Alumni Board of Directors
President, 2020-2022

2022 Alumni Awards

Alumni Achievements

Lakesha Butler, Pharm.D. ‘05, has been named associate vice president for inclusion, diversity, and health equity and chief diversity officer at University of Florida Health.

• Valerie Prince Pharm.D. ‘93, BCPS, FAPhA, was sworn in as president-elect of the American Pharmacists Association, which was established in 1852 and is the oldest pharmacy professional organization in the United States. She is only the 13th female president of APhA.
• Cynthia Iyekegbe, Pharm.D. ’18, has transitioned to a new role at Sanofi Genzyme, Atlanta, Ga. in Regulatory Affairs as associate director.
• Henry Alexander Frazer, BSPharm. ‘75, was inducted into the Alabama Pharmacy Hall of Fame at the Alabama Pharmacy Association 141st Annual Convention and Trade Show.
• Adam Schnepp, Pharm.D. ’10, was promoted to director, Pharmacy Renewal at Walgreens Company.
• Nancy Heape Ross, Pharm.D. ’03, was among nine recipients of the prestigious Giants of Multiple Sclerosis Award presented at the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers meeting in June.
• Amanda Pradarits, Pharm.D. ’13, was promoted to director of pharmacy at Regency Hospital in Macon, Ga.
• Ashley Cole Jones, Pharm.D. ’14, recently transitioned to a benefits management position with Veracity Benefits, LLC in Smyrna, Ga. as the manager of patient assistance for specialty medications.
• Shontelle Towns-Seargent Dodson, Pharm.D. ’95, was promoted to executive vice president of medical affairs at Astellas Pharma. Shontelle is also a member of the College of Pharmacy Board of Visitors.
• Lea Johnson Winkles, PharmD. ’98, was promoted to associate dean for student affairs at the College of Pharmacy, effective Feb. 1, 2022.
• Luke Sowards, Pharm.D. ’09, assumed a new role as a clinical pharmacist at Parkwest Medical Center in Knoxville, Tn.
• Lily Bui, Pharm.D. ’14, was recently promoted to pharmacy manager at Publix Supermarkets.
• Corey Bates, Pharm.D. ’82, was promoted to manager of pharmacy operations at OSF Saint Anthony’s Health Center in Illinois.
• Ryan Cromer, Pharm.D. ’21, was accepted as the ambulatory care PGY2 pharmacy resident at Piedmont Columbus Regional Hospital in Columbus, Ga.

More News

• Shohna Neumann Castellanos, Pharm.D. ’17, and her husband Jeremy, welcomed their first child, Abigail Rose Castellanos, born July 23, 2021.
• Courtney Knight Jennings, Pharm.D. ’19, and her husband Ryan, welcomed their first child, Timothy Cade Jennings, on Nov. 14, 2021.
• Jonathan Taylor, Pharm.D. ’05, married Rebekah A. Stewart on May 14, 2022.
• Joey Entrekin, Pharm.D. ’95, announced his son, Chandler, has graduated from the Dental College of Georgia in Augusta with his Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry and got married on May 28, 2022, to his high school sweetheart.
• Mandy Plunkett, Pharm.D. ’16, married Brian Ramsey on May 21, 2022.
• Mark Barnes, BSPharm. ’81, and his staff celebrated Barnes Pharmacy‘s 101 years in business. Mark’s grandfather, Tom Barnes, started the business in July 1921 and his dad, Tommy Barnes, continued the family business in 1954. Mark joined the family business in 1981.
• Donald Roberts, BSPharm. ’60, is still working as a full-time pharmacist. Way to go Donald!
• Will Hudson, Pharm.D. ’96, and Janet (Freeman) Hudson celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary on May 24, 2022. Will is employed with HCA for the past 23 years and works in information and technology. Janet is employed with Lipscomb University in the health professions advising office.
• Cedric Baker, Pharm.D. ’91, was an invited keynote address speaker for the 12th International Phytocosmetic and Phytotheraphy Congress in Greece.
• Richard Greer, BSPharm. ’81, Pharm.D. ’82, has published his first book, “Crossing Paths, Finding Hope.”

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