Realizing Potential: Testimonial from Alumnus/Donor Richard Ashworth, Pharm.D. (’99)

President Pharmacy & Retail Operations for Walgreens

“When I started pharmacy school, Nova Southeastern University (NSU) was Southeastern College of Pharmacy.  They merged with NOVA and we moved from the old campus in Miami Beach up to Ft. Lauderdale to a larger campus as NSU. From the start, there was something special about the faculty, the environment and the curriculum that made me feel that this was the perfect fit for me. NSU has always presented itself as a very progressive place. They didn’t follow the rules all the time, especially for pharmacy school. They went beyond the typical ‘this is the way things are historically done’ and ‘this is how things have always been done.’ They were challenging the status quo.

“NSU was agile and actually kind of hip. It was a learning environment that was ever-changing, and that was exactly what prepared you for an ever-changing business environment. And healthcare has been changing dramatically ever since my days in pharmacy school, and change most certainly continues now.

“Another thing I loved about Nova Southeastern University when we finally moved up to the new campus, was the proximity to allied health professions – Occupational Therapy, Dentistry, D.O. school [Osteopathic Medicine]. There was good interaction between the classes. So you [developed] respect and understanding of other allied professions. I came away from pharmacy school truly understanding and respecting the unique contributions and importance of each of the allied health professions. That made me a better clinician and a better health care partner for other health care professionals, which means better care.

“As an advisory member and alumni, and as a donor and a corporate leader, you are pushing NSU to keep pushing the envelope, keep being progressive, keep driving for change because that is what is happening out in the real world. The business world is changing. The competitive world is changing. And consumers and patients are changing. So therefore the education and training of our leaders have to change as well.

“To understand the totality of what NSU does would be a challenge, but I would ask people to spend a little time and really understand what this organization does. And if anything in there resonates with your personal beliefs or your personal focus areas, don’t hesitate to get involved.

“I strongly believe that you have a responsibility to invest back in the institution that helped you get to where you are. For a long time, I didn’t think of it that way. It wasn’t until I saw students coming out of a different institution, a different school that I saw we really were not getting what we need. I can sit here as a leader and be frustrated by that, or I can get off my chair and help. By investing in just a small thing like being an advisory board member, I have been allowed to help shape the future leaders coming out of NSU.

“Everyone will say that they don’t have the time, but you do. You can make the time. I will tell you that this job is fulfilling, but very demanding. With 8,200 locations, I fly everywhere all of the time. But even with a hectic schedule I have been able to make time – so it can be done.”

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