Whether Patrick Devereux, Pharm.D. ‘05, is counseling a patient at his community pharmacy, mentoring a student or presiding at his Rotary Club, he can trace his passion for the activity to his Samford University student days.

He had already claimed the profession for his future vocation when he entered Samford, having been drawn to the career while working at a pharmacy as a high school student in St. Augustine, Florida.

“I liked the personal interaction between the pharmacists and patients,” recalls Devereux, who identified his particular niche after entering the professional curriculum at Samford’s McWhorter School of Pharmacy.

“I decided on independent community pharmacy through my involvement with student organizations in pharmacy school, especially the National Community Pharmacists Association,” he said.

Advancing quickly in his career, he is now vice president of clinical services at Family Medical Services, Inc., and managing pharmacist at the company’s Bessemer, Ala., location.

Earlier this year, he received the pharmacy school’s Shaddix Award, an honor given to recognize a graduate who has made a difference in pharmacy within five years of graduation.

Devereux was cited for his efforts to create and implement new forms of pharmacy services. Specifically, he garnered the accolade for his implementation of medication therapy management. MTM encompasses a variety of patient-specific and specialized services--all designed to help patients improve their medication use.

The MTM concept is important to him and to his patients, says Devereux, because informed and empowered patients make the best health decisions.

“If I am able to provide some peace of mind to patients with their medications, while at the same time reducing or eliminating drug interactions and adverse reactions, I have truly done my job as a pharmacist,” says Devereux.

Too often, he explains, patients are given prescriptions by their doctor with little or no guidance as to what to expect, or how a medication fits in with their health care plan.

“That is where we come in and why medication therapy management is so important,” he said.
Devereux gladly incorporates his patient care experiences into lectures he gives on campus and in his work as a preceptor to pharmacy students who do a rotation at his store.

“I do this to offer some real world perspective to the students. This helps reinforce what they are currently studying and shows them that there are different avenues in pharmacy open to them,” said Devereux.

President-elect of Rotary International’s Shades Mountain Sunrise Club, Devereux is also active in Jefferson County and Alabama pharmacy associations, National Community Pharmacists Association and the American Association of Diabetes Educators. He is also a member of the pharmacy school’s newly formed leadership team.

This commitment to community service and professional development can also be traced back to his Samford roots.

“Many of my professors taught me that this was the way to shape the future of our profession and give back to the community through service,” recalls Devereux, who served as president of his 2005 pharmacy class.

Devereux’s decision to attend Samford came easy, in part because he had already made his career choice in high school.

“I wanted to attend a school where I would be able to do both my undergraduate work and attend pharmacy school,” said Devereux, who researched possible schools around the country. “I was convinced that Samford was the school for me when I made a campus visit. It felt like home to me.”

Now, five years out of school, he remains very happy with his choice.

“I believe I emerged from Samford a well-rounded pharmacist,” said Devereux, who participated in a variety of campus activities outside of pharmacy. “My experience in undergraduate Greek life formed friendships with people that I am still very close to and see regularly.”

Perhaps Devereux’s strongest testimonial for Samford is his desire that his younger sister choose to attend his alma mater.

“I think she will benefit from the sense of community and friendship that helped me to get where I am today.”

Not a bad endorsement.