Veterans Day Spotlight

 

On this Veterans Day, we honor the many ETSU Gatton College of Pharmacy student pharmacists, alumni, faculty, staff, and preceptors who have served in our nation's military. Since our college is located on the Mountain Home VA Campus, we see the evidence everyday of the ultimate sacrifices our veterans have made.

Meet P1 Lieutenant Andrew Hensley, from Valdosta, Georgia, who served in the U.S. Navy as a Surface Warfare Officer (SWO) and retired after nearly six years.

How did your military career help you in your pharmacy career?

AH: The military gives one an experience you cannot get anywhere else. I learned more about leadership and what it is and what it is not than what most people will get in a dozen lifetimes. Being a medical professional of any kind requires one to be a leader. That training will be invaluable in school and in my future career. I find the discipline one learns in the military to be the most helpful. The discipline required for medical professionals is similar to that of the military. I am extremely glad to have my experience in the military and will always know and appreciate the lessons it taught me.

Why do you want to be a pharmacist?

AH: I have always enjoyed science in general and the idea behind medications and their mechanism of action are extremely appealing to me. When medical issues came up that ultimately prevented me from continuing my Naval service my first thought was pharmacy. My goal in life is to add to the net positive good of the world while I am here. One way I set about doing that was serving in the armed forces. Since I knew the military chapter of my life would eventually come to a close, I wanted to find another way to continue add to the "net positive good." I knew I would like pharmacy and knew I could make a real difference.

What brought you to Gatton?

AH: When I interviewed at Gatton, I could tell the staff here really care about their students. My intuition was right because I have never met faculty so honest and caring in my life. Second, in real-estate they say location is everything and, in my case, it was a big factor. I wanted a beautiful and quiet place for my wife and I to raise our daughter. The mountains took me away, it seems! Lastly, and this may seem small, but Dean Byrd called me the day I interviewed to tell me I was accepted. That small act confirmed it for me!