Jason Rusk, PharmD, BCGP, has been a UWSOP Preceptor for many years. Earlier in his career (2010-2013), he precepted UW students while working in community pharmacy at Bartell Drugs. And for the past two and a half years, he has been a Geriatrics Pharmacy Preceptor for our Plein Geriatric Certificate students. Jason works in Skilled Nursing Facilities for Providence Infusion and Pharmacy Services at Providence Mount St. Vincent in West Seattle and Providence Marianwood in Issaquah. As a consultant pharmacist, in addition to conducting chart reviews, he assists in overseeing smooth operation and communication between nursing and pharmacy.
He told us he chose to specialize in geriatric pharmacy because he could see the powerful impact pharmacists could have on the health of older adults.
“Before I even knew what they were called, I had been told about these pharmacists who had the uncanny ability to slowly whittle away at the massive cups of pills older adults took on a daily basis. The way they were described to me made them sound like superheroes.”—Jason Rusk, UWSOP Geriatric Pharmacy Preceptor
Jason added another benefit is that he has a great population to work with. He shared that he loves learning from and about all the life experience, stories, and extraordinary life events his patients have been through. “They have seen and been through things I can only yet imagine,” he said. “Hearing what they consider the truly important things when looking back on their life helps give me perspective on what I prioritize in my own life.”
Jason earned his PharmD from the University of Montana Skaggs School of Pharmacy. His career started in an independent retail pharmacy—Eastgate Drug—that was beloved in the city of Missoula, Montana. After moving to the Seattle area, he worked for Bartell Drugs as a float pharmacist, a staff pharmacist, and eventually as a pharmacy manager. After transitioning to Providence, he worked as a staff pharmacist in their long-term care pharmacy and slowly worked his way into a more clinical role, in which he now precepts our student pharmacists.
“I enjoy precepting the Plein Geriatric Certificate students because they’re always personable and great to work with—and they bring the latest knowledge with them. I love that I can hand them a chart that I may have been regularly reviewing for months, if not years, and they never fail to bring a fresh perspective. They have made some great catches while working with me.”
Some fun facts about Jason include that he worked in an autobody shop in the paint and detail departments throughout high school and college. “I would often show up to class or afternoon labs slightly dusty and smelling like paint thinner.” He drinks his coffee black and uses a Starbuck’s Verismo coffee maker at home, with the blonde roast. However, when he is at work, he generally prefers whatever coffee is freely available.
Are you interested in working with the top-rated faculty and preceptors while studying geriatric pharmacy with preeminent student peers?
Click here for more information about the Plein Geriatric Pharmacy Certificate or click these links to learn about the UW PharmD program.