Pharmacy Valedictorian

Kevin Askew's Story

Kevin Askew recently graduated as valedictorian from the University of Illinois Pharmacy School. He accepted an offer with Cardinal Health and practices as a clinical pharmacist at Gibson Area Hospital and Health Services in Gibson City, Ill. Askew has created a clinical pharmacist position within physician clinics in the healthcare system that will allow him to see patients individually and assist other physicians, assistants and nurse practitioners in the management of chronic diseases. He also plans to take student pharmacists on rotations to create a good learning environment where the students can better transition from the classroom to patient care.

For the latter task, he will draw on his experiences at Monmouth College, where he was a tutor and teaching assistant in his major of biology, as well as in the chemistry department. He furthered his teaching skills at the U of I, where he assisted his pharmacy classmates having questions after lectures.

Before coming to Monmouth, Askew was undecided about which medical field career path he wanted to follow and considered teaching, but after a nudge from the college's lab manager, he began shadowing physical therapists, physicians and pharmacists. Through his research into a variety of health career professions and with the help of his professors, he decided on pharmacy school.

“I believe that all of my experiences at Monmouth College, collectively, helped to shape me into the person I am today,” said Askew, who advises students to “shadow as many different professions as possible. I didn't have pharmacy in mind when I came to Monmouth, but now I've found a path for life.”