Meet Dr. David Roane
Dr. David Roane, from Ruston, Louisiana, joined Gatton College of Pharmacy in 2006 as the founding chair of the department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. His initial goals focused on hiring superior faculty and guiding the de novo development of the department. Previously, Dr. Roane served on faculty in the College of Pharmacy and chaired the Department of Biology as the DeGree endowed professor from 1989 to 2006 at the University of Louisiana at Monroe. Since arriving at ETSU, Dr. Roane has spent most of his time on administration, program development, and teaching. He relishes the opportunity to promote the empowerment of individuals and advance human potential and knowledge, be it through teaching in the classroom, mentoring, or facilitating collaborations.
Why did you want to pursue your chosen field?
DR: My doctorate is in Physiology. As an undergraduate I noted that physiological concepts “just made sense” and much was presented in graphical formats and equations which I found to both appealing and easy to understand.
How does research and work in labs help students make a greater impact in their profession?
DR: Several ways. Working in the labs show students what real data and real results look like. It is often very different from the tidy data presented in textbooks, which are often artists’ interpretations. Labs are a messier environment, but they are more honest. I’ve been impressed how students working in faculty labs start to develop a sense of ownership of the projects they’re involved with. They develop passion and will have genuine arguments over the meaning and interpretation of results. It gets deep, and it starts being fun.
What brought you to Gatton?
DR: Post Katrina job search, the opportunity to start a new pharmacy program after 17 years in an old one. Larry Calhoun.
What advice would you give to a graduating student?
DR: Don’t be scared, and if you can’t help being scared, don’t let that stop you. “Grab a root and growl.”
What is your greatest accomplishment?
DR: Assembling a group of highly talented faculty at Gatton. Something I’m working on and hope to accomplish soon – creating a new field of study: Interpretative Pharmacology.
What is your teaching philosophy?
DR: It’s not about me. It’s about the students. It’s about the science. Both matter.
What do you do in your free time?
DR: Hit golf balls and think about the meaning of life while creating difficult ethical scenarios to challenge Dr. Lugo
What is your last TV binge?
DR: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel on Amazon Prime. You can watch all of the episodes during the free 1st month.
What books are on your nightstand?
DR: How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan and Deep Work by Cal Newport
What’s a “weird” fact about yourself that many might not know?
DR: I once showed Julius Axelrod (Nobel Laureate, 1970) how to eat boiled crawfish. I’ve never seen a person genuinely care less.