BIOSKETCH

Tara Whetsel earned her B.S. in pharmacy (1994) and her Doctor of Pharmacy (1998) from the West Virginia University School of Pharmacy. After earning her PharmD, she completed an ambulatory care residency at the Louis Stokes V.A. Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio. Dr. Whetsel is currently a Clinical Assistant Professor at the West Virginia University School of Pharmacy.   

From 1999 to 2003, Dr. Whetsel worked in the retail pharmacy setting, holding a joint-funded position as Clinical Assistant Professor with the School of Pharmacy and Clinical Pharmacist at Medical Center Pharmacy. In 2003, she became a full-time faculty member. She currently provides patient care at Milan Puskar Health Right (MPHR) Clinic and also participates in a Pulmonary clinic at WVU. Her primary responsibility at MPHR is the provision of diabetes education and management services. Dr. Whetsel teaches the Nonprescription Drug course to third year professional students in the School of Pharmacy and precepts fourth year professional students on her ambulatory care experiential rotation.

EDUCATION

Doctor of Pharmacy, West Virginia University, 1998
B.S in Pharmacy, West Virginia University, 1994

TEACHING INTERESTS AND COURSES TAUGHT

Dr. Whetsel provides lectures on nonprescription medications, smoking cessation, pre-diabetes, and weight management. She facilitates a number of pharmaceutical care labs related to these topics as well as home test kits and glucometers.

Courses taught:

732, Nonprescription Drugs: course coordinator
712, 723, 724, 735, 736, Pharmaceutical Care Labs 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6: instructor
700, Pharmacy as a Profession: instructor
737, Disease Prevention and Health Promotion: instructor

PRACTICE INTERESTS

Dr. Whetsel’s main practice site is Milan Puskar Health Right Clinic, a local free clinic serving the uninsured. Dr. Whetsel provides diabetes education and management services and smoking cessation counseling for clinic patients. She consults with other health care providers at the clinic to ensure optimal pharmacotherapy for a number of chronic diseases. She also provides patient and provider education in a pulmonary clinic.

RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP INTERESTS

Dr. Whetsel’s research interests include developing, implementing, and evaluating pharmacist-delivered patient care services.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Review Articles and other Papers

 Whetsel T, Elswick B. Update for pharmacists: The 2007 American Diabetes Association standards of medical care in diabetes. Pharmacy Today 2007;13(4):47-61.

Sulli MM, Whetsel TR. Teaching self-care as a junior faculty member: perspectives and lessons learned. AJPE 2006;70:Article 142.  

Book Chapters

Whetsel T, Verkleeren N. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In: Chisholm MA, et al., editors. Pharmacotherapy Principles & Practice. New York: McGraw Hill; 2007.

SELECTED PRESENTATIONS

''Pharmacotherapy for Smoking Cessation.” A continuing education program presented at West Virginia Society of Health System Pharmacists and West Virginia Pharmacists Association Spring Meeting, Morgantown, West Virginia, April 2007.

 “Pharmaceutical Care for Patients with Diabetes.” Served as a faculty member for this APhA certificate program for pharmacists, Charleston, West Virginia, March 2004, April 2005,
Morgantown, West Virginia, May 2005, June 2005, April 2006, November 2006, April 2007.

Curriculum Vitae: