Focus on Faculty With Andrea Wall

To mark her 25 years of service at UC’s James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy, interim associate dean for student and alumni affairs Andrea Wall chose a GPS as one of her employee recognition gifts—an appropriate choice for a faculty member who is always on the go and very adept at "recalculating.”

A registered pharmacist, Wall fills a role that is very similar to that of a guidance system. She helps pharmacy students navigate the demands of earning their PharmD at one of the most respected pharmacy colleges in the country. And UC pharmacy students know they can go to Wall for the answers to most anything, including questions concerning required or elective courses, intern licensing, board exams, and career development. But it doesn’t stop at graduation. Wall is still on hand to assist PharmDs with continuing education and professional development.  

She is also committed to providing students experiences that go beyond the prescription counter, by creating opportunities for them to see the scope of patients in the "real” world. To do so, Wall was part of the original interprofessoinal team from the UC Academic Health Center that helped establish a free pharmacy at the St. Vincent de Paul clinic in Cincinnati’s West End neighborhood.
 
Oh, and by the way, she also oversees all of the student professional organizations—all 10 of them!

When did you come to UC and how did your employment progress over those years?
"I came to UC in 1987 as an adjunct instructor in the pharmacy practice dispensing lab at the college. I joined the faculty full time in the fall of 1988 as field service assistant professor and taught in pharmacy practice courses and experiential education. I became the director for professional experience programs and experiential education in 2000 and coordinated all of the clinical training for pharmacy students. In 2005, I assumed the position of assistant dean."

What would you tell a new employee about what it means to work for an academic health center?
"The AHC is a wonderful environment to work in because of the education, training and research that is going on. Working in this environment provides lots of opportunity for innovation and collaboration." 

What makes your role different than in other departments?
"I think many of us wear several hats in our jobs—what is rewarding for me because I do wear so many hats is the chance to admit a student, be a small part in their education and training to be a pharmacist and then become their colleague in the profession after graduation." 
   
Have you had a mentor here, and if so, who and what did they teach you?
"I have had several mentors including emeritus faculty Anne Feuer, J. Richard Wuest and Wayne Conrad and our interim dean, Bill Fant. All of them in their own ways taught me about a career in academia and gave me tools to be successful in leadership roles here and in the profession." 
  
What do you like to do in your spare time?
"Spend time with my family. I love cooking and am always trying some new recipe!"