SHARKS RX Spring 2016 Magazine

NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY 12 In 2007, on the hospital ship USNS Comfort , Lynch led Partnership for the Americas—a humanitarian medical training mission with a team of military, federal, and international civilian pharmacists. The team dispensed more than 160,000 prescriptions in 12 Latin American countries. He also directed a joint military pharmacy training program in Texas and spent 18 months in clinical support services at the naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. His most recent achievement was completing a pharmacy leadership program in June 2015. Lynch, who returned to NSU twice in 2015 to present on leadership and teamwork, earned advanced qualifications in executive medicine and as an education and training specialist. During his recent visit to NSU, his lapel carried several pins highlighting his achievements, which include being awarded a Meritorious Service Medal, five Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and two Naval Reserve Meritorious Service Medals. He is an active member of the American Pharmacists Association, the Pharmacy Technician Educators Council, the Phi Lambda Sigma Pharmacy Leadership Society, and the Phi Delta Chi Pharmacy Fraternity. His extensive achievements in pharmacy, education, and leadership were condensed by his son into a heartwarming video that was shown at Lynch’s navy retirement ceremony. “I cried my eyes out,” said Lynch when he viewed the video. “I can’t believe I’m here, but I had the venue to do it. Giving will get you where you want to go.” What touched Lynch most at his retirement ceremony was “not the medals, not the accolades,” he said. “What meant the most to me were the people who came from halfway around the world.” Pharmacy Alumnus Receives Notable Accolade By Lona O’Connor HEN 1997 ALUMNUS Christopher G. Lynch, Pharm.D., M.Ed., enters the lecture hall, it is as if he never left. He envelops his former professor David Gazze, Ph.D., in a tight bear hug, offers encouragement to student pharma- cists, and eagerly gives his email address to one student who wants to talk later about a career in the military. “If you told me 20 years ago that I would be here today to accept an award, well, who’d a thunk it? I would have said, ‘Thank God I graduated,’” he joked. “I never, ever expected this.” Lynch returned to Nova Southeastern University in November 2015 to address students on the spirit of giving and to receive the NSU 2015 Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award, which honors alumni who have achieved great success. Reflecting on his career, he challenged the pharmacy students. “I found my purpose—to teach. What is your purpose?” he asked them. “Who are you, and how are you using that to give? The worst thing you can do is go in, do your shift, and go home. Reach out beyond what you’re doing now. I want you to get out there and lead, even if it’s the drive-through on the night shift or helping your fellow students.” His list of accomplishments is long: He is a 28-year navy man who enlisted at age 17 and recently retired with the rank of commander. After practicing and teaching at several bases in the Southeast, in 2005, Lynch became the first navy pharmacist to earn a master’s degree in educational leadership. Then, at the Naval School of Health Sciences in Portsmouth, Virginia, he directed training programs for technicians in pharmacy, radiography, and hemodialysis.