Just what the doctor ordered
Monday, August 08, 2011
Alum: Andria Slaton
Alumnus: Class of 2008, School of Pharmacy, Doctorate of Pharmacy
Campus: Savannah
Employment: Pharmacy Manager, Publix Pharmacy, Twelve Oaks Publix, Savannah
Andria Slaton’s pharmacy career began at age 16. Other kids got jobs at retailers and restaurants, but Andria’s interests led her to a pharmacy in her hometown of Brunswick, Georgia. The rest is history.
Andria earned an Associate of Science degree from Coastal Georgia Community College, which kept her close to her family. She took a job with Publix Pharmacy as a certified pharmacy technician and then decided to pursue a Doctorate of Pharmacy.
South University in Savannah, Georgia, was Andria’s first choice for graduate school based on class size, proximity to home and the historic setting of the city. Supporting her career move, Publix transferred her to Savannah as a pharmacy intern in 2005.
Andria completed her degree in early 2008 and now is the Publix Pharmacy Manager at the Twelve Oaks Shopping Center in Savannah. She credits South University challenging curriculum for career success.
“I gained a vast knowledge in the practice of pharmacy and how to look at the bigger picture when it comes to patients. I also learned how to question and investigate certain situations in order to make better decisions on behalf of my patients.”
On the job, Andria enjoys interacting with patients and helping them understand the nature of their prescriptions. The most challenging part of her job: trying to educate diabetes patients about the severity of their disease if not treated properly.
Her pharmacy-related endeavors include becoming district manager/pharmacy supervisor for Publix and exploring the possibilities of opening small clinics in some of the larger Publix pharmacies. Thanks to her education at South University, teaching is also on her horizon.“My dream job would be teaching at South and still being able to practice retail pharmacy in the