In his 30 years as a United Hospital Center pharmacist and 24 years as director of Camp Catch Your Breath – a summer camp experience for asthmatic children – Carlton “Sonny” Hoskinson has been rewarded time and time again for his work in the medical field.

 

Among very top honors is the recent award bestowed upon him by West Virginia University pharmacy students. The graduating class of 2016 recently chose Hoskinson - a Bridgeport resident and Bridgeport High School graduate - as WVU School of Pharmacy APPE Preceptor of the Year.

 

The WVU School of Pharmacy APPE Preceptor of the Year Award recognizes those pharmacists providing outstanding advanced pharmacy practice experiences to WVU pharmacy students. Award recipients are selected by the WVU School of Pharmacy Awards Committee from student nominations.

 

“Every year, the final-year pharmacy students can submit nominations for Preceptor of the Year,” said Bridgeport’s Olivia Kinney, member of the 2016 graduating class. “During our last year, we complete eight five-week rotations prior to graduation and can nominate any of our preceptors who we think are deserving. I know that there were at least three of us who submitted a nomination for Sonny, so I think that in itself shows the impact he has had on his students.”

 

Hoskinson, a graduate of the WVU School of Pharmacy, said this is a great opportunity for him.

“I grew up with all the athletic programs and other things which WVU supports and I want to give back to the school and to the kids that are coming up through this profession – to share a little bit what I know,” he said. “I was pretty pleased with it. I’m honored and flattered they would choose me.”

 

With regard to the program, preceptors are located all over the U.S. and some other countries.

 

“They are people who can instruct students and show them what they do – whether it be in a hospital setting, more of a clinical setting or a retail setting,” Hoskinson said. “There are hundreds of us all over the state and beyond.”

 

Hoskinson said he has pharmacy students shadowing him on a regular basis.

 

“I show them how we do things and as they become more proficient at it, I supervise their actions performing as a pharmacist. They learn how to develop their clinical skills through certain things we do at the hospital and instruct them on medications – what to look for with regard to different side effects – and different antibiotic regimens – why you choose one over the other,” he said. “So it’s an opportunity for them to be in a clinical aspect and be able to see what really goes on in the real world. It’s totally different from being in the classroom.”

 

Hoskinson’s hands-on instruction has been very valuable to Kinney and her fellow pharmacy students. 

 

“He willingly takes 16 plus students on rotation each year between UHC and his asthma camp, Camp Catch Your Breath,” she said. “Someone who dedicates this much time to mentoring students is very deserving of recognition.”

 

But going a step further – as Hoskinson is known to do – makes him a standout example. And he is passing that to the next generation of Hoskinsons.

 

“Sonny and his daughter Kelsey both graduated from the WVU School of Pharmacy and they were instrumental in helping me navigate the application process when I wanted to apply to school,” Kinney said. “On a personal note, they also sponsored my white coat that I received upon acceptance.”

 

During her second and fourth years in the program, Kinney was assigned to UHC to complete her hospital rotation with Hoskinson as her preceptor. 

 

Editor's Note: Pictured top is Sonny Hoskinson receiving award from WVU School of Pharmacy Interim Dean Mary Stamatakis. Also pictured is Sonny Hoskinson and his wife Diana with some of the 2016 pharmacy graduates.