COSAM News Articles 2022 July COSAM alumnus named Director, Adult Inpatient Pharmacy Services at Medical University of South Carolina, offers advice to biomedical sciences and pre-pharmacy students

COSAM alumnus named Director, Adult Inpatient Pharmacy Services at Medical University of South Carolina, offers advice to biomedical sciences and pre-pharmacy students

Published: 07/12/2022

By: Leslie Leak

Thomas Achey has been promoted to Director, Adult Inpatient Pharmacy Services at the Medical University of South Carolina, or MUSC, Health University Medical Center in Charleston.

Achey joins MUSC after 13 years within hospitals and health systems, including most recently serving as the Assistant Director of Pharmacy at Princeton Baptist Medical Center in Birmingham.

At MUSC, his role includes overseeing clinical and operational pharmacy teams within University Hospital, Ashley River Tower (cardiovascular, digestive disease and oncology) and Institute of Psychiatry. In addition, he will serve as an affiliate faculty member of the MUSC College of Pharmacy.

Achey previously completed a PGY1 pharmacy practice residency at Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin and a 24-month health-system pharmacy administration residency at the Cleveland Clinic. Achey received his Master of Science degree in Health-System Pharmacy Administration from Northeast Ohio Medical University. He is a board-certified pharmacotherapy specialist and past recipient of an American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Best Practices Award in Health-System Pharmacy.

A native of Helena, Alabama, Achey received his Bachelor of Science degree in biomedical sciences in 2010 and Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 2014 from Auburn University.

When asked what advice he might share with biomedical sciences students or those interested in pursuing a career in pharmacy, Achey stated, “Absolutely foster relationships with mentors – faculty and upperclassmen alike. Their impact will be innumerable in your progress throughout the curriculum, preparation for entrance exams and identifying shadowing opportunities.”

Achey noted that job shadowing is key—only 60 percent of pharmacists work in retail, yet it is almost always the sole representation of the profession.

“Shadow in hospital pharmacy to see the impact pharmacists have in interdisciplinary teams—often interfacing with physicians, midlevel practitioners, dietitians and nurses.”

He added that seeking involvement in clubs will help build a network of peers and foster a support group. For Achey, student involvement at Auburn included Pre-Pharmacy Club, Alpha Epsilon Delta and Beta Beta Beta.

“Fellow students will become your professional colleagues! I recently took an overnight call from an anesthesiologist who was in my biochemistry class; lectured in a course coordinated by one of my pre-pharmacy club presidents; rounded with an ophthalmology resident from my genetics class; and shared a room at a national conference with my organic chemistry lab partner. Relationships from COSAM have persisted throughout my career – a testament to the Auburn family.”