Buies Creek, N.C. – Dr. Beth Steinbeck Williams, Director of Pharmacy for Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, shared her advice for a successful career at Campbell University’s College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences’ 22nd annual commencement exercises. The service was held Friday, May 13, in the John W. Pope, Jr. Convocation Center. A total of 206 degrees were conferred.
Early in Williams’ career, she learned that making a difference in patients’ lives was her most important accomplishment, and she was really touched when one of her patients presented her with a quilt decorated with a beautiful angel.
“The patient said she didn’t have much to give, but wanted to thank me for giving her hope,” Williams said. “My hope is that you, as pharmacists and health professionals, will not get caught up in your job and miss your calling to be a servant to others.”
A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Williams received her Bachelor of Science degree in 1993 and her Doctor of Pharmacy in 1996. She worked part-time as a staff pharmacist at the University of North Carolina Student Health Service Pharmacy while earning her Pharm.D., then served as an Ambulatory Care Clinical Coordinator at Southeastern Regional Medical Center in Lumberton. Williams also served as an assistant professor at UNC-CH School of Pharmacy. From 1999-2001, Williams was director of Pharmaceutical Care Development for the North Carolina Association of Pharmacists and was assistant director of pharmacy at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C. Williams currently serves as Clinical Director of Pharmacy at Wake Forest, where she leads the patient care services division of the corporate department of Pharmacy. Her primary areas of responsibility include patient safety, quality improvement, transitions and continuity of care.
In addition, Williams is active in numerous state and national pharmacy organizations and is currently focusing her efforts on patient-centered care and advancing pharmacy technical roles in the state. She serves on the Board of Advisors for Campbell’s College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences and is a recipient of the North Carolina Association of Pharmacists President’s Award.
The College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences conferred 32 undergraduate degrees, 11 Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences, 59 Master of Science in Clinical Research and 104 Doctor of Pharmacy degrees at Friday’s service.
Photo Copy: Dr. Beth Steinbeck Williams, Director of Pharmacy for Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, addresses graduates of the College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences at the commencement service on Friday, May 13. (Photo by Bennett Scarborough)