SHARKS RX Spring 2016 Magazine

College of Pharmacy 13 As he rose through the ranks, Lynch was on track to reach the rank of captain. But he came to the realization that it would take considerable time away from his wife, Jennifer, and children, Ryan, Sean, and Lauren. As a result, he stepped off the advancement track. “I gave myself a day to get over it,” he said. “But I needed to keep the balance in my life.” His next role is to continue as an educator and a guide for young pharmacists. Lynch’s new civilian position will be as director of the experiential program for pharmacy students at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Bradenton, Florida, which also brings him back to the Gulf Coast town where he grew up. A physician bluntly told him, “You pharmacists don’t know who you are. We need you to take a role. I challenge you to get out there and lead.” Not surprisingly, Lynch was already on board with that idea. One of his goals is to increase the number, training, and responsibilities of pharmacy technicians who can perform many of the duties of a Doctor of Pharmacy. Pharmacists are then freed up to work at the higher end of their exper- tise and take their places as full members of medical teams. Lynch was a key player in a groundbreaking partnership between the Veterans Health Administration and the Department of Defense for the development of a $4-million series of computer-based training courses for entry-level pharmacy technicians and those in continuing education programs. After all, as Lynch points out, a great deal of medical treatment, from infections to cancer, involves medication. And pharmacists work with doctors at all points on the medical spectrum, giving them a valuable and broad perspective on treatment. “We are trained to such a high level that we can relate to just about anyone in the medical profession,” Lynch said, citing instances where he and other pharmacists have been fully integrated members of hospital medical teams. The new job in Bradenton puts him in the perfect posi- tion to influence a new generation of pharmacists to take their place as knowledgeable members of medical teams. “When it’s about people, I am laser-focused,” he concluded. “I want to teach, help, and mentor.” Above: From left: Frederick Lippman, R.Ph., Ed.D., HPD chancellor; Lisa M. Deziel, Pharm.D., Ph.D., dean; Ray Ferrero, Jr., J.D., NSU chancellor; Christopher G. Lynch, Pharm.D., M.Ed., commander, Medical Service Corps, United States Navy (retired) (’97) Top: Lynch with family at the Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award ceremony “ We are trained to such a high level that we can relate to just about anyone in the medical profession. ” —Christopher G. Lynch, Pharm.D., M.Ed.