Meet Dr. Rick Hess
Meet Dr. Rick Hess, from Lutz, Florida. He received his Doctor of Pharmacy from Mercer University Southern School of Pharmacy in 1998. He completed his post-graduate residency in community practice specializing in providing diabetes care in community pharmacy. In 2007, Dr. Hess joined ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy as assistant professor of pharmacy practice. He currently provides diabetes care with State of Franklin Healthcare Associates.
Why did you want to pursue pharmacy?
RH: I wanted to be in health care and especially was interested in how medications could either help or harm people. I wanted to understand it more fully in order to help people get the most benefit from medications they were taking.
What is the most misunderstood aspect of the pharmacist profession and how do they make an impact in their field?
RH: Most misunderstood is that people think we control the pricing of medications. Finding a less expensive alternative that works just as well can make a big impact on patient care.
What advice would you give to a graduating student?
RH: Always do the right thing for your patients and you’ll never regret it
What is something you’re working on and hope to accomplish soon?
RH: I am hoping I can run 10 miles soon without stopping
What is your teaching philosophy?
RH: I love learning new things and I love helping others learn too. I strive to make learning enthusiastic and fun. I feel teaching needs to be flexible too depending on the learner(s) and knowing how they learn best. Adults typically learn best by hands-on, application based activities and I try to incorporate as much of that style as possible.
What do you do in your free time?
RH: Enjoy my family, work out with a great group of guys (F3) and serve at my church.
What books are on your nightstand?
RH: The Bible and The Hobbit (reading through it with my kidos)
What’s a “weird” fact about yourself that many might not know?
RH: I played guitar in a punk rock band in the late 1980s and early 1990s. We toured the country 3 times before I decided to go back to school (and become a pharmacist).