Ohio Northern University pharmacy students unexpectedly meet their new Raabe College of Pharmacy Dean during OPA’s Student Pharmacist Legislative Day. 

On March 7th, 2023, Ohio Northern pharmacy students gathered at the Ohio Statehouse for “Student Pharmacist Legislative Day,” sponsored by Ohio Pharmacists Association (OPA). 

OPA’s Student Pharmacist Legislative Day is an advocacy event that affords student pharmacists the opportunity to meet with legislators to educate them about pharmacy-related issues and the value of the pharmacist. These students have the opportunity to learn about the latest legislative issues in the Ohio Statehouse, how to effectively communicate those issues, hear from the legislators themselves, and have a chance to visit with their respective legislators. 

This program allows student pharmacists to become involved in the issues impacting Ohio pharmacy practice. Some of this year’s discussion surrounded new pharmacist-payment models, Medicaid issues, PBM reform, new laws and rules from 2022, scope of practice expansion, and other critical pharmacy issues – but this year came with a twist for ONU students. 

With Dean Steve Martin’s announcement of his retirement at the beginning of the 2022-2023 academic year, the search for a new Dean has been ongoing with several student and faculty committees. Students and faculty alike did not know who the new Dean would be or when it would be announced. 

At roughly 11:00 am on the morning of the event, President Melissa Baumann sent an email detailing the appointment of the new Dean – Dr. Stuart Beatty. 

Dr. Beatty is a 2003 PharmD Polar Bear graduate with 20 years of experience serving patients, teaching students, authoring papers, conducting research, and delivering presentations in the areas of ambulatory care clinical practice and management. Dr. Beatty is currently serving as a Professor of Clinical Pharmacy for The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy.  He has also been active in leading Ohio’s provider status implementation efforts in partnership with OPA. 

With the emailed announcement and the student pharmacists’ curiosity, they began to notice Dr. Beatty’s presence at the very same event. Students flocked to Dr. Beatty to meet their new Raabe College of Pharmacy Dean.