Five University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Pharmacy graduates created a local landmark on one of their West Tennessee pharmacies with an “Everywhere You Look, UT” mural.
Derek Holyfield, PharmD ’02, along with partners Jennifer Hopper, PharmD ’98, Greg Emison, PharmD ’02, Brian Whitby, PharmD ’05, and Kelly Weaver, PharmD ’04, founded a chain of eight pharmacies, collectively known as West Tennessee Pharms, with the aim of providing high-quality pharmaceutical care to patients in mainly rural, underserved areas.
“We all felt that it’s better to work together in our rural home areas than with big pharmaceutical chains,” Dr. Holyfield says. “Pharmacy should be about taking care of patients, not just making profits.”
The team of friends own Duncan’s Pharmacy in Dyer, Duncan’s Express Pharmacy in Trenton, Duncan’s Pharmacy of Greenfield in Greenfield, Cavalier Pharmacy in Alamo, Three Oaks Pharmacy in Medina, Raines Pharmacy in Bells, and Hometown Drug Company in Brownsville.
However, it is Kenton Drug Company in Obion County that shows the owners’ passion and pride for the University of Tennessee. The UT System selected it as home to the 36th mural in the campaign.
Dr. Holyfield attributes West Tennessee Pharms’ success to UT Health Science Center’s curriculum, culture, and connections.
“My big takeaway from UT Health Science Center was that I was capable of doing whatever I chose,” Dr. Holyfield says. “But, at the end of the day, the patients always come first.”
Read more at our UTHSC news site.