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by Mary Helen Yarborough
Public Relations
When
the Hitchcock family gathers for holidays, deciding which college
sports team to support may vary because the alma mater they share
doesn’t have a competitive sports program. Its pharmacy program,
however, is among the most competitive in the country.
 New
PharmD graduate Robert D. Hitchcock, left, father Robert J. Hitchcock
and sister Angela at the family phamacy in Myrtle Beach.
Like his father and sister before
him, Robert D. Hitchcock becomes the third MUSC-trained pharmacist in
the family. Because of his family connections, Hitchcock also doesn’t
have to worry about where he’s going to work, because he will return to
his roots in Myrtle Beach, albeit briefly, to join his father’s
pharmacy, Northside Pharmacy. His eye, meanwhile, is focused west to
Colorado. But it was at his father’s pharmacy where he honed his skills
and got to know the customers.
With his father, Robert J. Hitchcock, he will help run the
family-owned pharmacy in northern Myrtle Beach. One could surmise that
links to MUSC is a family affair for the Hitchcock family.
Hitchcock’s sister, Angela Hitchcock, also is a recent MUSC graduate
who practices nuclear pharmacy. His aunt, Carolyn Hitchcock Cuttino,
R.N., an MUSC graduate, lectured on wound care at MUSC.
“When we get together, we mostly talk about the professors, and what we have to discuss is almost always good,” said Hitchcock.
They all share memories of one MUSC
professor—Arnold Karig, Ph.D., MUSC campus dean for the S.C. College of
Pharmacy, who has taught at MUSC for nearly 40 years. Within that time,
he taught all of the Hitchcock pharmacy graduates.
“It is rewarding to see members of the same family come through the
program,” Karig said. “It shows their continued interest in the
profession and their confidence in MUSC. And we also enjoyed having
Carolyn Cuttino as lecturer here for many years.”
Growing up and then working for the family pharmacy imprinted on Hitchcock’s life and career choices.
“I was inspired to pursue pharmacy, because of the professional yet
personal nature of working in an independent community pharmacy like my
father’s pharmacy,” Hitchcock said. “And what I like about working
there is that it never gets boring, and the staff is awesome to work
with, and I always see old friends when they stop by. Plus, I found it
very beneficial to learn and get experience in such a comfortable
atmosphere.”
A graduate of Clemson University with a Bachelor of Science degree in
Health Science, Hitchcock said he hopes to contribute as an active
member of his profession.
“The greatest challenges will be keeping our pharmacists organized well
enough as a group so we can promptly and precisely spread news about
data, latest recommendations, laws, and other essential information
across the span of the profession,” he said.
Hitchcock’s favorite pastime requires a cold, mountainous environment.
“I really love snowboarding,” he explained. One day he hopes to live in
Denver.
Friday, May 15, 2009
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