Behind the Counter, School of Pharmacy Graduate Treats Every Species

A 2020 graduate of the University of Mississippi, Raines completed a residency at Texas A&M University in 2020-21 and has worked at the veterinary college ever since. Today, she is assistant clinical professor and pharmacist in charge at the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine, supplying medications for animals of nearly every kind.

“It’s a niche area; there aren’t a lot of veterinary pharmacists in the world,” Raines said. “While we’re a very small group, I think pharmacy more students are beginning to learn about this career path.”

Raines first learned that pharmacists could work with animals during a career day in her first year of pharmacy school. A love of compounding had drawn her to pharmacy, and the field let her combine it with her love of animals. She considered becoming a veterinarian but decided against it because of the emotional toll on vets.

“They can love on a puppy that new owners have just gotten and show them how to take care of it, and in the same breath have someone bring in an animal they want euthanized,” Raines said. “They may go from one end of the emotional spectrum to the other, every day, and that’s a lot to deal with. I have great respect for people who dedicated themselves to it.”

Raines runs inpatient and outpatient services at the pharmacy, and handles treatments including chemotherapy, allergy therapy and eye medications. The variety keeps the work interesting, but the pharmacy is so busy that Raines can participate in patient rounds only about once a quarter.

“Although not a typical career in pharmacy, Dr. Raines has a unique practice area that resonates with a lot of our students, and is easily one of our most popular electives in our department," said Adam Pate, clinical professor and chair of the Department of Pharmacy Practice. “She is a great partner and alumna who represents the profession well and demonstrates on a daily basis the problem-solving skills of a pharmacist in caring for animals at the MSU vet school.”

Typical days include checking and clarifying orders, compounding medications and handling administrative duties. Raines also makes sure the pharmacy follows laws and accreditation standards, teaches veterinary students, and works with interns to expose them to careers outside human health care.

“Most of the time I run around like a chicken with its head cut off, but I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Raines said. “I have a great team, and I look forward to coming to my job every single day. I can’t imagine doing anything else.”

When working with students, Raines emphasizes that said people who enter the field need to be comfortable working alone and teaching themselves, because veterinarians aren’t always used to having pharmacists on their team. Hours can be long and pay is not the draw, but for those interested in the field, there’s nothing like it.

“Veterinary pharmacists are a unique breed, pun intended, and we love sharing our experiences,” Raines said. “We’ll talk about our careers until we’re blue in the face, because we love it so much. There’s nothing better.”