Mark Hanna ’12 was accepted to the Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy to pursue a Doctor of Pharmacy degree. “[Shenandoah is a] great school in a beautiful small town that is meant to foster lasting, meaningful relationships through graduation and far beyond,” said Hanna.
The fondest memories Hanna has of his time at the university are the bonds he created with his classmates and professors. “The pharmacy school was an enjoyable experience thanks to them,” said Hanna.
Hanna is a region pharmacy leader for Rite Aid Pharmacy in Detroit, Michigan, where he oversees the operations and performance of 22 Rite Aid pharmacies. In this position, he is responsible for implementing new policies and procedures, improving patient safety measures, resolving customer care cases, training new pharmacists to perform clinical services such as point of care testing, Medication Therapy Management, actively immunize the community, improve patient outcomes through improving adherence to chronic medications to treat hypertension, cholesterol, and diabetes. He also ensures the pharmacies meet compliance standards mandated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Michigan Board of Pharmacy and Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
During his career, Hanna has also been a pharmacy manager and a district leader, where he oversaw store operations and performance of the front end and the pharmacy. The most rewarding part of his career is helping pharmacists overcome obstacles and achieve their goals.
Hanna believes that the career expertise of his professors not only helped him grow as a student, but also contributed to his development as a professional after graduation. His professors included Biopharmaceutical Sciences Professor Craig Richard, Ph.D., Professor Emerita Karen Kennedy Schultz ’79, ’86, Ph.D., former Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice and Associate Dean Academic Affairs Scott Stolte, Ph.D., and Biopharmaceutical Sciences Department Chair and Professor Robert Kidd, Ph.D.
“In the field of management, success is not merely found in leading others but in *how* you lead others,” said Hanna. “The strong faculty leadership at SU showed me that leading the person is more important than achieving the desired metric.”
Hanna’s advice to students is: “Despite the saturation of the field, you still dictate your own destiny. Make yourself a valuable asset to whichever company or establishment you’re a part of and they will find a place for you.”