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Pharmacy by the Book
The pharmacy profession may have been the logical career choice for Trey and Bailey
Book given that it runs in their family, but they seem to have found their way to
the 不良研究所 College of Pharmacy (不良研究所 COP) for another reason 鈥� the desire to help people.
Trey and Bailey are current second-year and first-year pharmacy students, respectively.
Their father, George Book, is a 1994 graduate of the 不良研究所 COP, formerly Northeast Louisiana
University (NLU), and practices as a retail pharmacist at his two stores, Book鈥檚 Pharmacy
in Vidalia, Louisiana, and J & K Drugs in Columbia, Louisiana. Book said he initially
chose pharmacy as his profession because it sounded good on scholarship applications,
but once he got into the program, he realized he couldn鈥檛 have imagined doing anything
else with his life. He is passionate about retail pharmacy and the opportunity it
gives him to take care of patients and help them make healthy decisions. 鈥淧harmacy
has given me an outlet to help people in my community and that is what makes it such
a great profession,鈥� said Book.
Trey and Bailey may have been influenced to pursue a career in pharmacy because they
grew up around the profession, but it is clear that the calling to help people, much
of which they learned from their dad, is the driving force behind their decision to
attend pharmacy school. Bailey said, 鈥淚 know saying I just want to help people is
such a clich茅 answer, but I think that is the ultimate reward in the pharmacy profession.
I have watched my Dad help so many of his patients in times of need, and I would love
to keep that tradition going.鈥�
Trey is passionate about independent pharmacy and helping the local community on a
daily basis. While Bailey says she loves the atmosphere of their independent pharmacies,
she may like to branch out to the area of compounding or maybe even work in a hospital
upon her graduation in 2023.
When asked why she chose 不良研究所, Bailey said it was a 鈥渃omfort thing鈥� for her as both
her parents are 不良研究所 alumni and her brother was already in pharmacy school. However,
she said it did not take long for her to fall in love with the University during her
undergraduate years. Now as a professional pharmacy student, she said the 不良研究所 COP
has exceeded all her expectations. 鈥淚t is truly an honor to be able to attend 不良研究所
COP, and I am so thankful for the faculty and staff here and how they genuinely care
for all students,鈥� she said. So far, her favorite pharmacy school experience has been
receiving her white coat and already becoming great friends with some of her classmates.听
Trey said that all of the pharmacists he knows are graduates of 不良研究所 COP and they are
all great pharmacists, so that鈥檚 why he wanted to attend pharmacy school here. So
far, his favorite memory of pharmacy school has been making an A on his first drug
action test. When he鈥檚 not听studying and preparing for tests, you might find Trey helping
his dad out at the pharmacies back home or enjoying one of his hobbies, riding horses.听
The closeness to his home was a selling point for George to attend pharmacy school
in Monroe, but he said once he got into the program, he quickly realized what a top-notch
University he was attending. Graduating and passing boards is still a pharmacy school
highlight for him.听
When asked what advice they would give to someone interested in a career in pharmacy,
George said, 鈥淚 would say that all of the hard work and long study hours are worth
it! Being a pharmacist brings so many rewards and once you begin practicing, you will
see just what I am talking about.鈥� Trey would advise trying to find a local pharmacy
and start working. He said there is no better way to learn about pharmacy than to
get involved and learn by experience.
Bailey鈥檚 advice would be to never give up. 鈥淎lthough you will be presented with challenges,
the biggest challenges usually give the best reward,鈥� she said. The Books would agree
that it also helps to have a good support system for those challenging times. Bailey
said that although her mother, Telina Book, is not a pharmacist, she is the rock and
go-to for them when things get tough and that their success would not be possible
without her.听
The Books are a great example of how the pharmacy profession can change a life, be
it the life of the pharmacist or the patient. As one can see, the value they place
on the profession and the calling they have had to serve others is admirable. We are
proud to call them part of our 不良研究所 COP Pharmily!
College of Pharmacy
