Pictured are (from L to R) Dean Pat Raines, student pharmacist Jessica Brinkley, Roland Achenjang, Healthcare MBA student, Mr. McWhorter, MBA student Jacqueline Youde, Dean Cathy Taylor, Student pharmacist Emily Doss, Nursing student Kelsey Maguire, and Dean Phil Johnston. Not pictured is Lauren Moss, who is a student in the Doctorate in Nursing Practice program.

Belmont University introduced the first six McWhorter Society Scholars on Dec. 4.  The McWhorter Society, which was formed earlier this year, consists of members of the Nashville area community who are engaged in healthcare and the business of healthcare, and who choose to support future healthcare professionals from Belmont University.

The society is named in honor of long-time Belmont supporter Clayton McWhorter whose leadership and role in the development of healthcare industry giants HealthTrust Inc. and HCA have made a strong impression in the field of health care. In 1996, Clayton, his son Stuart and a close business friend created the venture capital firm Clayton Associates, which quickly evolved into a hub of strategic business development activities related to new firms in healthcare, technology and diversified services.

McWhorter was introduced to the newest scholars to hear their Belmont stories and how they intend to use the degrees they are pursuing at Belmont.  Recipients included the following Belmont students.

Jacqueline Youde is a student in the Massey School’s Master of Business Administration program for Healthcare Professionals (HCMBA).  She is board-certified audiologist who originally attended the University of Washington in Seattle, prior to graduating with her Doctorate of Audiology from the University of Texas-Dallas.  She previously was employed at Vanderbilt and is a full-time business student.

Roland Achenjang is also a student in the HCMBA program.  As a young boy, he came to America with his parents, immigrating from Cameroon, Africa.  He earned his Doctor of Pharmacy from North Dakota State University and is currently a pharmacist at St. Thomas-Midtown, pursuing his Belmont degree as a means of advancing his career to the next level as a healthcare administrator and leader.

Kelsey Maguire, from Nolensville, Tenn., is an undergraduate student in the College of Health Science’s School of Nursing where she plans to complete her Bachelor of Science in Nursing next spring.  As the founding President of Belmont’s Nurses Christian Fellowship (NCF) chapter, Maguire was instrumental in launching an event aimed at educating the campus community about the need for feminine hygiene products in the slums of Nairobi, Kenya.  In the spring of 2013, NCF collected over 5,000 hygiene items and Maguire traveled to Africa to personally deliver these products and work directly with the women and girls who would benefit from the gifts.

Lauren Moss is a member of the inaugural class in the School of Nursing’s new Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program.  She is a board certified Women’s Health and Adult Health Nurse Practitioner and currently practices in a local urban internal medicine and pain management clinic.   She is a member of the Iota Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau, International Honor Society of Nursing.  Moss’ capstone project for her DNP  focuses on adults with hypercholesterolemia and determining whether nurse-led telephone reminder calls increase patient adherence to a prescribed medication regimen.

Jessica Brinkley is a third-year student in the College of Pharmacy’s Doctor of Pharmacy program.   Brinkley has served as president of Belmont’s student chapters of Christian Pharmacists Fellowship International (CPFI) and the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), and has been actively involved through these student organizations with Barren Plains Ministry, Habitat for Humanity and Live Beyond, in addition to organizing a  toy drive for children in Haiti..  As a result of her work with Habitat for Humanity, she will soon publish a paper titled, “Building a Lifelong Commitment to Service” in Student Pharmacist.

Emily Doss is also a third-year student in the Doctor of Pharmacy program.  She has completed a prestigious summer internship in pharmacy at John Hopkins University.  Doss is president of Belmont’s student chapter of Phi Lambda Sigma, the Pharmacy Leadership Society, and has received a Leadership Chapter Award for her community service with APhA.  She has served as a Student Ambassador for the College, class president and PLS president, and is an active member of multiple student pharmacist organizations at Belmont.

The McWhorter Society was conceived by Dr. Richard Treadway and the University Office of Advancement.  Membership can be arranged by calling Willie Young in the University Development Office.