School of Pharmacy News & Media Center
The University of Mississippi

Pharmacy Professor Retires After 27-Year Career

Posted on: June 30th, 2021 by wltarpy

June 30, 2021

OXFORD, Miss. – Randy Pittman’s path at the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy took him from graduate to resident to faculty member. Now Pittman is set to retire on June 30 after a 27-year career at the school.

“I will miss the people I worked with the most,” Pittman said. “They have truly been my workplace family. We have laughed and cried together, suffered losses together, celebrated achievements together, but always worked with each other to make pharmacy education in the state the best for our students.”

Randy PittmanPittman received two of his degrees from the school, earning a B.S. in Pharmacy in 1988 and his Pharm.D. in 1994. He then completed a pharmacy residency in 1995 before joining the school’s faculty that July.

He began at the school as a clinical assistant professor with the Department of Pharmacy Practice, primarily involved in teaching the third-year students’ problem-based learning curriculum in Jackson and having fourth-year students on clinical rotation in geriatric and long-term care.

In the school’s new LandshaRx Curriculum, Pittman transitioned to teach in the second-year musculoskeletal module and geriatrics elective along with skills lab for first-year immunization certification.

In 2007, Pittman added on his current role of coordinator of continuing education in the Division of Professional Pharmacy Development. Pittman was an ACPE provider and administered national certificate programs and other continuing education offerings for health care professionals internally and externally.

Pittman was honored as the school’s 2020 Norman C. Nelson Order of Teaching Excellence recipient, as it recognizes the nominee’s dedication to students through innovative teaching, engagement and mentorship.

“I have had the privilege to work with people who I admired and respected in their field,” Pittman said of what he would remember most. “Some of the professors who taught me became my colleagues, and I had the opportunity to know them on a more personal level.

“Many of my former students I now come in contact with are working in the community. I feel a great sense of accomplishment seeing these former students taking a prominent role in leading pharmacy. The pharmacists that I have come in contact with throughout the state through the CE programs has given me the opportunity to make lasting friendships.”

Pittman was also involved in patient care, providing geriatric consultations and serving on executive committees for long-term care at Ellisville State School and St. Catherine Village.

“Dr. Pittman will be greatly missed,” said Seena Haines, chair and professor of pharmacy practice. “He has touched many lives through teaching and precepting in the Pharm.D. curricula, and through his mentorship of faculty and residents. Randy is servant-hearted and gives of his time and talent. We wish him all the best and thank him sincerely for his many years of service to the department, school, state and profession of pharmacy.”

In retirement, Pittman looks forward to doing “granddad stuff” and having the opportunity to see his two small grandchildren, Reid and Amy, grow and develop. He and his wife also hope to make future travel plans.