Meet the CHS Pharmacists

UNC’s Community Pharmacy

 “At Campus Health, we feel we have an impact on the overall care students receive, which is professionally and personally rewarding.  It’s also a responsibility we don’t take lightly.  A supportive administration gives us the opportunity to provide the absolute best care for our students,” says Chris Goodman, “You often don’t get that in the more traditional pharmacy settings in the community.”  At Campus Health Pharmacy, the needs of the students remain at the forefront of every service. Travel clinics, individual counseling sessions, mobile refills, dedicated prescription pickup parking spots, medical provider education, and an over-the-counter pharmacy are all part of the well-rounded service.  The pharmacists who lead these efforts are also leaders in their field, with certifications that put them in an elite group of advanced practice pharmacists in the state and nation, providing compassionate, student-centered care, all while educating students and providers alike.

The team

Amy Sauls, Chris Goodman, Rachel Selinger, and Gwen Swenberg make up the exceptional team of pharmacists at Campus Health. They have proven records of providing high-quality, compassionate, and dedicated pharmaceutical care to the diverse student body at UNC. Motivated by the gratitude of the students they serve and the support of UNC leadership, these four women are integral partners with medical providers and health educators to provide seamless patient care.

Top-notch services

Students may not recognize all the value provided by this easy-to-access pharmacy. Need emergency contraception? CHS pharmacists are also Certified Pharmacist Practitioners and can write a prescription (if necessary; for some EC, no prescription is needed) and offer EC requests via an unobtrusive form at the window. Do you ever drink alcohol? The pharmacists can help you understand how alcohol might impact the safety or efficacy of your prescription.  Traveling abroad? The pharmacists participate in the travel clinic, keeping information up to date and educating students about travel medications.  Have extra meds that you don’t need? Go Green and return them to the pharmacy for safe disposal.  Need a flu vaccine but running short on time?  Stop by the pharmacy and get your flu shot while you wait on your prescription.   All this and an experienced, compassionate, and friendly staff providing it all.

The Campus Health Pharmacy team also includes four pharmacy technicians – without whom none of the first-rate services could happen.  “We stand on the shoulders of the pharmacy technicians,” says Sauls. “The reason one pharmacist can spend a few extra minutes with a student in need is because the others are doing the legwork of entering prescriptions, answering the phone, consulting with insurance companies, and  completing all of the other tasks that keep the pharmacy running smoothly. ” As Goodman points out, “We do much more than just hand out medications.”  Even the physical space points towards a more holistic pharmacy approach than can be found in most community settings. Three marked counseling rooms line the waiting area, providing a confidential space for patient education.

The team of pharmacists and technicians educates virtually everyone on campus: students, medical staff, and future pharmacists. They use the counseling rooms to speak confidentially with those students who wish to learn more about their medications’ benefits, possible side effects, and interactions with other medications or foods. They provide timely and evidence-based continuing education for physicians and other medical providers within Campus Health. The pharmacists also serve as clinical preceptors for students at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, allowing future pharmacists to gain experience working for a full-service community pharmacy.

A note to students

When asked to offer advice to students headed their way, Sauls responded. “Bring your insurance card. We accept almost all prescription benefit plans in the pharmacy.  If you have the student insurance plan, your prescription copay will be less at our pharmacy than in any other pharmacy.  Don’t worry if you’re low on cash or credit - you can charge items to your student account. Be willing to ask questions. We truly are an outstanding resource for students regarding health care, prescription insurance benefits, and more.”

Stop by and see for yourself

The Campus Health Services Pharmacy which serves as the workplace for Goodman, Sauls, Selinger, and Swenberg is located on the ground floor of the James A. Taylor building.

P.S.  When you stop by, ask to see the stuffed microbes decorating the desks and walls of some of the counseling rooms!