The college lost one of its most faithful supporters, Debra Wilson, PharmD, who passed away on June 22, 2023, in Johnson City Medical Center. She is the wife of Dr. Guy B. Wilson for 35 years. Together, they have been faithful supporters of the college even before its 2005 founding, serving as mentors and employers of countless ETSU pharmacy graduates.
Debra Wilson graduated with honors from the University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy
in 1975 and was a 2001 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School Executive
Management Program. Until her retirement in 2021, Wilson worked for 35-years as a
senior executive for her family’s diverse health organization reaching all areas of
pharmacy.
At the time of her retirement, she was the Co-Chair of Clinical Management Holdings.
Wilson served as past Vice President and past President of the Tennessee Board of
Pharmacy. Also, she served on the CareSpark Board, the Dispensary of Hope of Johnson
City Advisory Board, the East Tennessee State University (ETSU) Foundation, and the
Johnson City Chamber of Commerce. Wilson was a past recipient of the “Barbara McAndrew
Herald Award” from the Tennessee Pharmacists Association. She was recognized by ETSU
as an Honorary Alumna and was inducted into the ETSU Distinguished President’s Trust
– Silver Society.
Among her many accomplishments, she was particularly proud of her active role in the
founding of ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy, where she served on the college’s inaugural
Admissions Committee and was recognized as Preceptor of the Year.
In an article from 2015 in the college’s annual magazine, Wilson commented on the
impact ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy had on future pharmacists and told the story
of a single mother who was only able to pursue her dream of becoming a pharmacist
because of the college’s location.
“We hear those stories over and over and over again,” said Wilson at the time. “Stories
about people who lived in this area who wouldn’t have had the chance to go to pharmacy
school if it hadn’t been for that school opening.”
Even in her passing, Wilson’s impact on the profession of pharmacy continues. In lieu
of flowers, the family requested donations be made to the Guy and Debra Wilson Family
Pharmacy Scholarship to benefit future pharmacists at ETSU, and there has been an
outpouring of support. If you would like to donate, visit www.etsu.edu/give or mail
a check to the ETSU Foundation, PO Box 70721, Johnson City, TN 37614. Memories and
condolences may be shared with the family via www.morrisbaker.com.