Office assistant ready to help handle changes in pharmacy department
Terri Rothwell is proud to represent one piece of the larger picture.
As an office assistant in pharmacotherapy at WSU Spokane, she supports students who are going to impact others, so
“through them, I’m able to help people.”
Rothwell, who has been with WSU four years, is one of two assistants who support the 28 faculty members and 197 third- and fourth-year pharmacy students in pharmacotherapy. Support includes anything from making copies to posting information to making lab handouts.
“Just about everything falls under our umbrella,” she said. “My job is multitasking to the extreme.”
The hard work, endless support and friendly environment Rothwell helps provide have received more than common appreciation. She recently was awarded a Staff Excellence Award from the College of Pharmacy.
Changing curriculum
Beginning next fall, the pharmacy program will launch a new curriculum. Rothwell said the change isn’t going to initially impact WSU Spokane, because the program still has two classes of students who need to graduate under the current curriculum.
But the change will pose a challenge in the future.
“It’s going to be insane,” she said. “Until then, we’ll just try to get students through the process.”
(Photo curtesy of College of Pharmacy)
Working with students
Rothwell’s responsibilities include collecting and filing certification documents of practicing pharmacy students, such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation cards, immunization records and blood-born pathogen training records.
Rothwell’s responsibilities include collecting and filing certification documents of practicing pharmacy students, such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation cards, immunization records and blood-born pathogen training records.
“It’s difficult to keep track of so many students and where they’re at,” she said. But despite the hustle and bustle of activities, Rothwell said every bit of work is worth it.
“After 25 years of being a member of the workforce, I’m finally sincerely enjoying what I do, who I work with and who I work for,” she said.
“It’s so rewarding to know that I had an important part in students’ learning.”
