A generous donation from Food City Pharmacy has made training more realistic for students in Walters State Community College’s pharmacy technician program. The company’s donated pharmacy equipment has transformed a room of cabinets into a complete pharmacy lab.

“The college is very grateful for this donation. This equipment will enhance the real-world experience of our pharmacy technician students,” said Dr. Wade B. McCamey, president of Walters State.

Food City Pharmacy has worked closely with Walters State for many years, serving as a clinical teaching site and hiring many of the program’s graduates.   

“We are proud to be a long-time partner of this program,” said Mickey Blazer, vice president of pharmacy operations for Food City.

“We enjoy hosting the students who complete their clinical rotations in our pharmacies. When we became aware that Walters State was in need of this equipment, we were pleased to have the opportunity donate it to the college,” Blazer said.

Kimberly Brown, head of the pharmacy technician program, learned that a Morristown Food City would be moving to a new location from a student employed at the store. She approached the company, hoping to perhaps get a few items heavily discounted.

“Food City graciously agreed to donate the equipment that was not being relocated to their new site. The lab experience is so different that one of my recent graduates saw it and said she was jealous of our new students,” Brown said.

Once the equipment became available, Walters State’s Plant Operations staff began the difficult process of moving and re-installing the equipment.

“The Plant Operations staff did an excellent job.  Now, the clinical training we provide on-site is of the highest caliber. Before, we did not have a register, a narcotics cabinet or a dispensing cabinet.  Now, we have everything,” Brown said.
No actual medications are kept at or used in the pharmacy lab. Students instead use placebos for training purposes.

Graduates of the three-semester program are eligible to take the National Pharmacy Technician Certification exam.

PICTURED ABOVE (left to right):Dr. Wade McCamey, Walters State President Kimberly Brown, Walters State Director of Pharmacy Technician Program Brady Parvin, Food City District Manager Greg Neilson, Food City Pharmacy Manager Student Charlsey Livesay Johnny Hannon, Food City Store Manager Student Shandea Sturm Mickey Blazer, Food City Vice President of Pharmacy Operations Dr. Lori Campbell, Walters State Vice President for Academic Affairs

Headquartered in Abingdon, Virginia, Food City currently operates 105 retail outlets in the tri-state regions of Southeast Kentucky, Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee, including 78 pharmacies. 

About Walters State
Over 6,200 credit and 4,000 non-credit students attend Walters State. The college has campuses in Morristown, Greeneville, Sevierville and Tazewell. It offers over 100 associate degrees and technical certificates. Visit Walters State’s website at ws.edu.

About Tennessee’s Community Colleges
Tennessee’s Community Colleges is a system of 13 colleges offering a high-quality, affordable, convenient and personal education to prepare students to achieve their educational and career goals in two years or less. We offer associates degrees and certificate programs, workforce development programs and transfer pathways to four-year degrees. For more information, please visit us online at tncommunitycolleges.org.