PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State University College of Pharmacy students Priya Bhatia and Rachel Lindgren are recipients of the $2,500 Bill Gaskins Pharmacy Scholarship, established in 2013.
“I want to encourage people to live a healthy and active life, educate patients about preventive techniques and show concern and sympathy,” said Bhatia who has volunteered as a pharmacy assistant at Pullman Regional Hospital and Sid’s Pharmacy.
“The elderly need someone that they can trust to provide them with equal medical care,” said Lindgren, who has worked as a hospitality aide to seniors in the Bremerton, Wash., area. “I want to be a trusted healthcare professional and have a positive influence on their lives.”
Gaskins is a WSU alumnus and retired director of the Pullman Regional Hospital pharmacy. Upon his retirement, the hospital foundation raised money for a scholarship to honor him and assist pharmacy student interns and residents training in rural pharmacy via clinical rotations at the hospital.
“Pharmacists working in a rural environment have a unique opportunity to be an important healthcare practitioner for members of their community,” said Gaskins. “A pharmacist in a rural setting is more likely to be a generalist in health care.”
“The scholarship creates a unique intersection of quality education for future pharmacists and well-trained pharmacists as an integral part of the overall health care team,” said hospital CEO Scott Adams.