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Issue: Spring 2016 | Posted: April 25, 2016

Jon Hoover

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Outstanding Young Alumnus

Presented to up to three ������̳ graduates who are age 40 or younger with a record of significant accomplishment in professional life and service to ������̳ or the world.

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Union alumnus Jon Hoover spends his days giving back to the schools that shaped him as a professional and to the veterans who come into the medical center where he is employed.

Working as a clinical pharmacy specialist at Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Memphis, Tennessee, for just over 10 years, the 2001 Union graduate says he is in the business of intervention for patients and students.

“When I started school I had no idea what clinical pharmacy was,” Hoover admits. “Everybody associates ‘pharmacist’ with the person they see at Walgreens, but my job responsibility is to go around with the physicians at the hospital to see the patients they’re taking care of, and I make suggestions of more effective drugs.”

While Hoover is committed to helping find the best treatment for every patient under his care, he finds particular joy in serving veterans.

“Who can you think of that’s really more deserving of everything?” Hoover says. “There’s no way I could totally repay them for what they’ve done, but I’ll do my best.”

Hoover says some of his favorite days involve sitting and learning something about the veterans on a personal level.

In addition to patient care, Hoover teaches pharmacy students from the University of Memphis and ������̳.

“One of the biggest challenges is always making sure I’m versatile in my approach to teaching students,” Hoover says. “You have to find how you want to appeal to them during that month to help them learn.”

Despite the challenges that come alongside teaching, Hoover believes it is worth it to see the smile that indicates a student’s understanding of the material.

“That moment is worth its weight in gold,” he says.

In 2012, Hoover was awarded University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy Preceptor of the Year. The Tennessee Society of Health-System Pharmacists named him Pharmacist of the Year in 2014.

“They’re awards generally considered to be picked by the students,” Hoover says. “It makes me feel like I’ve made a difference. I’ve invested in their learning, and they’ve really enjoyed it.”

Before graduating from ������̳, Hoover’s plan was to return to Adamsville, Tennessee, his hometown, and open his own independent pharmacy. However, during one of his clinical rotations, he was placed under Richard Brown at Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Brown mentored Hoover until his retirement, and Hoover stepped in to take his mentor’s position.

Hoover also includes ������̳’s Charles Baldwin as a mentor who helped him become the professional he is today.

“Union did a great job of integrating the academic portion and intertwining it with trusting in the Lord,” Hoover says. “My experience at Union taught me things aren’t going to come easily, but you just have to trust in the Lord and keep going.”