The UGA College of Pharmacy is “Sharing Voices, Telling Stories” with the reboot of PharmCast.
Hosted by Dean Kelly Smith, the newly revised version of the College’s podcast/videocast platform features conversations with alumni, faculty, students, and other leaders who are shaping the future of pharmacy and pharmaceutical and biomedical sciences. “We highlight people and ideas driving innovation in healthcare while creating space for connection and conversation across the broader PharmDawg community,” said Dean Smith.
Dr. Tim Brown, Director of Interprofessional Education at the College of Pharmacy, produced and hosted the original PharmCast for the Community. Said Dean Smith, “Dr. Brown’s diligence, expertise, and presence provided needed healthcare information and stellar programming. He created an excellent foundation that we are building upon.”
Using the tagline “Sharing Voices, Telling Stories,” PharmCast explores personal journeys, professional insights, and emerging topics influencing healthcare, research, and education. To date, four episodes have aired, and more will be launched monthly.
The first episode, “Before We Begin: Meet the Host,” turned the microphone on Dean Smith. In a conversation with UGA PharmD student Anvitha Bommineni, a P3 from Cumming, GA, Dean Smith discussed her journey into pharmacy, her path to leadership in higher education, and the vision behind the relaunch of PharmCast. The episode also previewed the interviews and stories that future episodes will offer to listeners and viewers across the pharmacy profession and beyond.
Three more episodes have launched since this initial program, affirming Dean Smith’s conviction of the value of the platform. In the second program, Dean Smith yielded her interview seat to Breagh MacKinnon, a third-year UGA Pharmacy student, who interviewed her father, Dr. Neal MacKinnon, the President of Central Michigan University. Prior to his presidency, Dr. MacKinnon had a prolific career in pharmacy research and pharmacy administration in higher education. Dr. MacKinnon shared his career journey and offered advice to students prepping for their future in pharmacy and pharmaceutical and biomedical sciences.
The next month, Dean Smith took the microphone back and went on-the-scene at “Healthcare 5.0: Driving Precision Health and Education Through Immersive Technology and Artificial Intelligence.” Sponsored by the College of Pharmacy, the conference explored how immersive technologies are transforming healthcare and education, and featured experts who discussed how these tools connect disciplines and advance translational medicine. The Dean interviewed some of these experts, including Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, President of the University of Nebraska System; Dr. Anita Patel, the current Vice President of Pharmacy Service Development for Walgreens; and Dr. J. Marshall Shepherd, a leading international expert in weather and climate and the Georgia Athletic Association Distinguished Professor of Geography and Atmospheric Sciences at UGA.
The most recent episode aired this month and features Dr. David Pope, a 2004 alumnus of the College of Pharmacy and the Chief Pharmacy Officer at Xifin, the nation’s leader in pharmacy and lab medical billing and clinical documentation technology. Dr. Pope shared with Dean Smith his experiences as a student, his career path, and his entrepreneurial insights and expertise.
PharmCast is filmed in a newly custom-designed production space, Rx Studio. Katie Smith, Instructional Designer in the College’s Instructional Innovation and Research Office, serves as the Technical Director for the program and was instrumental in the design and development of Studio Rx. The facility features state-of-the-art cameras, lighting, and editing equipment that allows high-quality video and audio content to be produced in-house. Designed with PharmCast in mind, the space provides a dedicated home for all podcast interviews and production. “Rx Studio has been pivotal in allowing for a more polished and professional episode production,” added Dean Smith. “We are thrilled with this new space.”
Working collaboratively with Smith on the PharmCast productions are members of the College’s Marketing & Communications Office, with Abby Kendrick, Digital Media Specialist, serving as lead producer.
“The relaunch reflects the College’s continued commitment to innovation, leadership, and engagement beyond the classroom,” said Dean Smith. “Through thoughtful conversations and storytelling, PharmCast offers listeners and viewers a behind-the-scenes look at clinical innovation, leadership, research, pharmacy education, advocacy, and the evolving role of pharmacists in healthcare. We are honored to offer PharmCast to our listening and viewing audiences.”
PharmCast is available on major streaming platforms and university media channels. Learn more here.
