College of Pharmacy Celebrates Opening
Speakers Look to Future of UACP, Impact on Area

by Cathy St. Clair
News Editor
Photos by Cathy St. Clair
(Reprinted with permission from the Virginia Mountaineer)

August 18, 2005

Buchanan County residents, federal legislators, public officials and the University of Appalachia College of Pharmacy faculty, staff and students gathered last Wednesday to celebrate the grand opening of UACP.

Five days later, on Monday, 77 pharmacy students walked through the doors to the new University of Appalachia College of Pharmacy campus on Slate Creek as the school marked the start of a three-day orientation program to be followed today (Thursday) by the start of regular classes.

Frank Kilgore, chairman of the UACP board of trustees, served as the master of ceremonies for the event which drew keynote addresses from Ninth District Rep. Rick Boucher, U.S. Sen. George Allen and former Virginia Attorney General Jerry Kilgore.

The event was marked by two good news events as Steve Smith, president and CEO of K-VA-T Foods, parent company of Food City, presented UACP Dean Dr. Edgar Gonzalez with a check for $100,000 to be used to fund student scholarships; and as Linda Carne, with the Virginia Institute of Forensic Science and Medicine delivered the results of a feasibility study for the location of a private forensics lab in the county and announced those results had been favorable.

Frank Kilgore gave a brief history of efforts to establish UACP, noting that the process began more than two years ago when the Buchanan County Board of Supervisors asked him and County Attorney Mickey McGlothlin to look into the concept of opening a medically-related school in Buchanan County.

Kilgore and several other speakers referred to the success of the Appalachian School of Law as being the catalyst for additional economic growth in the county and for proving that institutions of higher education can be successful economic stimulators.

He added UACP has collaboration agreements with several other colleges and universities including King College, Lincoln Memorial University, the University of Virginia at Wise and Southwest Virginia Community College, as well as the Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine.

Additionally, he noted the college of pharmacy is the first three-year pharmacy program in the state and he said as a result of the hard work, vision and energy of UACP Dean Edgar Gonzalez, the college was opening three years earlier than initially anticipated.

“Today, as we open our doors, we are creating history,” Gonzalez said. “Virginia is known for many firsts and we are the first college in Virginia to provide an advanced accelerated degree in pharmacy.”

He recognized the hard work of UACP staffers including Vickie and Amanda Keene, Tonya Hurt and Dr. Susan Mayhew.

Gonzalez noted the college of pharmacy is already on the fast track, having achieved precandidate accreditation status without a single objection.

He gave a breakdown on the student population noting 47 percent are male and 53 percent, female and those students hail from Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, California, New Jersey, New York, South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida and Connecticut. The entering class GPA, he added is 3.2.

Boucher, who Mickey McGlothlin referred to as the “mayor of southwest Virginia,” noted the opening of the college of pharmacy is another step toward progress being made in Buchanan County.

He updated those present on other federally funded projects including the Grundy Flood Control Project, Wi-Max technology and the Coalfields Expressway.

“All these elements together create a new confidence in Buchanan County,” Boucher said. “I look forward to the day when Grundy will become a vibrant center for higher education and today we take another step toward achieving that goal.”

Jerry Kilgore called Wednesday “a great day for Grundy and a great day for Southwest Virginia.”
He noted Wednesday marked the realization of a dream and he called the opening of the college of pharmacy “one of the most notable, positive events to happen.”

The importance of pharmacy in today’s world, he said is evident. He noted that many in urban areas have no idea what it like to have to travel for healthcare services and he said often times, it is not the doctor one goes to first, but instead the local pharmacist.

He credited the county for understanding that higher education equals opportunity and he said regional schools offer students the opportunity to remain close to home while they further their education.

He likened the county to former NFL Pro Basketball star Michael Jordan who was once asked when he put up a shot full court and just barely missed it whether he really thought he could make the shot. Jordan’s response, Kilgore said, was that he threw up a lot of shots and that he expected them all to go in.

“Keep throwing up those shots,” Kilgore urged Buchanan County leaders.

Allen also addressed the crowd briefly noting he liked to think of Southwest Virginia as his second home.

“People here don’t just look at a problem and moan and groan,” Allen said. “They come up with positive constructive ideas.”

He called Wednesday “a team victory” and said that people working together are what made it all possible.
He talked about recent federal legislation which impacts the area including the energy bill and the incentives for the use of coal in it. He also spoke of the recent passage of the federal highway bill and the fact that it contains funding for the Rt. 460 Coalfields Connector. He added that technology advancement through wireless internet initiatives were further serving to break down barriers for rural areas like Buchanan County.

Allen said he hoped UACP would take a leaf out of the Appalachian School of Law’s book and develop “the best kinds of pharmacists from the best kinds of people.”

He also commented on the importance of pharmacists in today’s world.

UACP’s three-year program, he added, is also good news to families since the cost of getting an education is less due to the accelerated three-year pace of the UACP program.

Allen called the area “not just a place on the map, but a place in my heart.”

“There are a lot of great folks here,” Allen continued. “You have the right ideas and most important, the right character. Keep adapting, keep imagining and keep winning.”

North Grundy Board of Supervisors Chairman Joe Keene noted that as a boy growing up in Grundy, he never thought of Buchanan County becoming the home to two graduate level university programs.

As a result of their development, however, he said, not only has the county benefited, but the surrounding region as well.

“I'm a strong supporter of both,” he said. County Attorney Mickey McGlothlin noted that those responsible for making UACP happen did so for the good of the community and not for personal credit or gain.

He recognized Frank Kilgore and members of the board of supervisors, acknowledging their support and noting that without it, the project would never have started. He also recognized the efforts of keynote speakers, Allen, Boucher and Jerry Kilgore, to advance the project.

He called on the crowd to recognize Frank Kilgore noting that Kilgore’s “dogged determination, his hard work and his energy has brought the place together and we owe a great deal of gratitude to Frank Kilgore.”
He also recognized the work of Gonzalez and the mentoring of ASL President Lu Ellsworth.

“We are here because of these people’s hard work,” McGlothlin said. “The core of this whole project to date has been hard work. In my opinion, this is a turning point for Buchanan County. I feel we are on the road to a bright future, but only if we continue to be unified, work together and work hark as we continue to make the area what it can be.”

Smith presented the university with a check for $100,000 representing Food City’s pledge to the college of pharmacy. The monies, he said, will be used for the general scholarship fund.

Smith noted the company felt it was important to remember its roots, which are in Buchanan County and he pointed out the grocery chain will celebrate its 50th anniversary in November.

Buchanan County Industrial Development Authority Chairman Jay Rife noted that some 12 years ago as the IDA and the board celebrated the completion of the first building at the Jay RifeBuchanan Information Park, he could remember saying he felt the county would in the future look back and call that a turning point in the county.

“Today, thanks to people like President Lu Ellsworth, Dr. Gonzalez, Frank (Kilgore), CEDA (Coalfield Economic Development Authority), the IDA, Craig Horn, the board of supervisors and the town of Grundy, we are rebuilding this town,” Rife said.

The potential for growth through the University of Appalachia, he said, reminded him of the song, “We've Only Just Begun.”

“And I think we have,” Rife concluded.

The event ended with Frank Kilgore recognizing Bob Hancock for his donation of heritage items for an apothecary display in the UACP lobby and he also recognized SVCC President Dr. Charles King for his vision and cooperation with UACP.

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