Dr. Chase Ballinger (14) earns military honor
Meet alum Dr. Chase Ballinger (’14), from Chattanooga, Tennessee, who serves as an Air Force Commander over Pharmacy, Lab, Radiology, and Immunizations departments, where he manages over thirty people across those sections. In this role, he serves as a health care administrator while also having the opportunity to work within the pharmacy and interact with patients and active-duty members. He's served for over seven years and lived in South Carolina, Germany, and now Wichita, Kansas.
How do you make an impact in your profession as a pharmacist and military serviceman? The pharmacy touches almost every Airman, family member, or retiree. We provide a service that helps to keep our military mission running by providing medications and clinical pharmacy services to keep everyone healthy. We also provide medications that can protect our Airmen in certain biological or chemical warfare situations. So we are truly protecting those that protect us.
How did you pursue this career path and why? I pursued this career path for a couple of different reasons. One, I’ve always been interested in health care and the science behind how medicine works. I actually worked in banking before going to pharmacy school so it was a big career shift for me but one that I definitely do not regret. Two, I’ve always wanted to do something that made a difference in people’s lives. I want to know I’m providing a service to them that they find beneficial. And three, the military became an option when I learned about their scholarship program for professional school. I could graduate with minimal debt while serving my country. So the scholarship program was my foot in the door to where I am currently.
How did Gatton prepare you for it? I was thankful that Gatton allowed the Air Force recruiter to speak to us in the first place. That set the ball rolling for my entire Air Force experience. But even more than that, Gatton provided me the basic professional and clinical skills that have prepared me for the positions I’ve held within the military. I had some great mentorship from professors (Dr. Nick Hagemeier in particular) and Dean Emeritus Larry Calhoun at Gatton, as well. I still stay in touch with them and both invite me back every year to speak to our current pharmacy students about military medicine and my unique experience.
What honor did you receive? I was chosen as Field Grade Officer of the Year for the 22nd Medical Group. A Field Grade Officer is the grade of O-4 to O-6 or Major, Lieutenant Colonel, and Colonel. The 22nd Medical Group is my clinic.
How will this impact your service? Being picked as officer of the year helps to set myself apart from my peers and makes me more competitive for promotion to Lieutenant Colonel. It also helps to emphasize to myself and others that hard work does pay off in terms of recognition.