“It’s been a long-standing dream of mine to return to the College of Pharmacy and teach,” said Dr. Kline Whitley, a new Limited Term Lecturer in Clinical and Administrative Pharmacy. “I’m thrilled this dream has come true.”
A 2016 graduate of the UGA PharmD program, Dr. Whitley has a wide range of pharmacy experiences to leverage in his new position. Prior to joining the College on December 2, he was an assistant professor at South University for two years. Before this teaching position, he worked the night shift at Memorial Hospital in Savannah for five years, the last two of which were in the children’s hospital. While at Memorial Hospital, he responded to all level I traumas, code blues, and other events. Dr. Whitley has also worked at CVS Pharmacy, and he did PRN work for remote order entry and pharmaceutical sales.
In his new capacity, Dr. Whitley will coordinate Essentials of Pharmacy Practice for P2 students and Pharmacotherapy for P3s. In addition, he will support other courses, including Pharmacy Management. “When it comes to my students, I spend a lot of time trying to be encouraging so that I can decrease their stress,” he explained. “I teach them to trust the process of becoming a great pharmacist by focusing more on what they are learning and less on grade points.”
“I am a generalist when it comes to pharmacy,” he added. “I have a vast career across many specialties, including pediatrics and neonates.” His research interests include access to healthcare, Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs), and readmission rates.
Originally from Warner Robins, Dr. Whitley earned his Master of Business Administration in Healthcare from South University this year. He lives in Commerce with his wife, Elly; their sons, Hayes (2) and Callen (5 months); and their canine companions, Cowboy (a Boykin Spaniel) and River (a Lab mix). In his leisure time, he enjoys golf and drag racing.
“My favorite quote for pharmacy students, which is from Kirby Smart, Head Coach of the UGA Football Team, is ‘Try not to overwhelm yourself with results, but instead, with the process of getting better.’ ”
Dr. Whitley is in the CAP suite, Room 260L. He can be contacted at 706-542-7110 or kwhitle2@uga.edu.
