Walgreen’s pharmacist Preceptor of the Year
KINGSTON, R.I. — April 16, 2002 — For the University of Rhode Island’s 2001 Preceptor of the Year, Edward Misto, the preceptor program is not only a valuable learning experience for URI students but for him also.
“As a preceptor, I teach them, but a lot of the time, they teach me. The students keep me in tune with any changes at URI, in the pharmacy program, and in medical news,” said Misto, who graduated from URI’s College of Pharmacy in 1988.
Misto, who is a pharmacist at Walgreen’s Pharmacy in Cranston, was recently named Preceptor of the Year for 2001 by URI’s College of Pharmacy. The award, sponsored by Roche Laboratories, honors pharmacists for their skill and dedication in mentoring URI pharmacy interns.
“Seeing that it is only awarded once a year, it was such an honor to receive this award. I was very surprised, but it is nice to know someone appreciates your work,” said Misto, a resident of South Kingstown.
“At Walgreen’s, I help the students learn the basics of pharmacy in a retail environment. I instruct the students on third-party insurance issues, pharmacy maintenance and patient care,” said Misto.
“Ed has mentored so many of our students over the years, providing them with an educational and supportive environment,” said June Spink, coordinator of experiential programs. “We appreciate Ed’s contribution to the education of our students. He deserves to be recognized for his dedication to his students and to his profession.”
The preceptor program links fifth- and sixth-year pharmacy students to more than 100 clinical sites to provide them with experiences outside the classroom. The students are placed in a variety of settings, including hospitals, retail stores, and managed care facilities. They intern full time for six weeks and receive a grade at the end of the period.
“Ed helped me in all available learning opportunities and always made himself available to address any of my questions or concerns. He was an outstanding preceptor and exceeds expectations by providing an exceptional and progressive learning environment,” said a former student.
“One of the most important things I learned in the URI pharmacy program was work ethic,” said Misto. “URI has an excellent pharmacy program that is very challenging. As a student, you really have to focus and work hard to get the job done. It’s the same in retail. My work in retail has benefited from the URI pharmacy program.”
For Information: Dave Lavallee, 401-874-5862, Sarah Emmett, 401-874-2116