Focus on practice partners with Erin Goodman, PharmD

Erin Goodwin, PharmD, is a 2004 alumna of the James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy and a clinical pharmacist at Mercy West Hospital. Goodwin rotates through several different areas of the hospital including the intensive care unit (ICU), the emergency department (ED), antimicrobial stewardship, and working on the medical/surgical floors. The rotation she precepts is an acute care rotation in general medicine and because of her involvement in the ICU and antimicrobial stewardship, this rotation focuses heavily on infectious disease, which is her passion. Goodwin precepts four to five students each year.

What is your educational background?

I attended the University of Louisville for undergraduate training for 3 years prior to my acceptance into the UC College of Pharmacy. I graduated from UC’s College of Pharmacy (‘04) and then moved to Columbus, Ohio to complete a PGY1 and PGY2 at Ohio State University (OSU) Medical Center, specializing in nephrology and transplant medicine.

How did you get to this position?

Upon completion of residency in 2006, I accepted a clinical generalist position at OSU East Hospital, a small community hospital affiliated with The Ohio State University Medical Center. Shortly after starting at OSU East Hospital, I accepted the critical care pharmacist position at that site and maintained that position for almost 2 years. For personal reasons, I moved back to the Cincinnati area at the end of 2009. At that time, I accepted a clinical pharmacist position that worked between what was then called Mercy Mt. Airy and Mercy Western Hills hospitals. Part of my role during that time was to educate and train pharmacists to perform clinical duties and aid in establishing an antimicrobial stewardship program. In November 2013, Mercy West Hospital was completed and the staff of both hospitals merged at that time. Since working at Mercy West Hospital, I have become increasingly involved in antimicrobial stewardship and continue to work on the floors, in the ED, and in the ICU.

Why did you choose pharmacy as a career?

I chose pharmacy because I enjoyed my first organic chemistry class at University of Louisville and a close family friend recommended I consider becoming a pharmacist. Developing the skills necessary to make pharmacotherapeutic recommendations for a patient’s medications was very appealing to me, as well as the potential to be an influential role in patients’ health. When I chose to pursue pharmacy, I never would have anticipated the experiences that would be afforded me throughout my career thus far.

Why choose UC?

The Winkle College of Pharmacy helped shape me and mold me into the pharmacist I am today. It is evident that the faculty is committed to providing a phenomenal education in pharmacy. Beyond graduation, the college provides numerous opportunities for alumni to excel and grow through continuing education and preceptorship. I love having the opportunity to precept students as I know I would not be where I am today if it were not for those who invested their time and energy in precepting me as a student and resident. I want to be a positive influence and role model for students on rotation and help encourage them along the path they choose.

As a practice partner, what experience do you offer PharmD candidates/residents?

For the past several years, I have precepted the early practice experience in an institutional setting for incoming first year students. This experience is a one day shadow experience that allows the student to spend brief amounts of time in each area that our pharmacists and technicians work in, including the operating room and emergency room, IV room, ICU, patient floors, anticoagulation clinic and retail pharmacy.

Additionally, I precept the acute care-general medicine rotation for fourth-year pharmacy students. This experience provides an opportunity to focus on infectious disease, drug dosing in renal dysfunction, patient counseling, medication reconciliation, TPN dosing, anticoagulant dosing, and much more.

Photo provided by Erin Goodwin