Grand re-opening of CVS Health® Pharmacy Practice Laboratory at MUSC College of Pharmacy features remodeled community pharmacy space

Ashley Truax should feel right at home.

The second-year student at the MUSC College of Pharmacy worked for years as a technician at CVS Pharmacy® before coming to MUSC to earn her Pharm.D. So, when the renovated CVS Health® Pharmacy Practice Laboratory in MUSC’s Drug Discovery Building opens on August 21, it will have a very familiar look.

Funded by a CVS Health donation, the remodeled laboratory is designed to simulate the actual layout and workflow of a CVS Pharmacy, giving students true hands-on community pharmacy experience. Students practice tasks including compounding medications, dispensing and labeling, patient counseling and education, immunization training, and using pharmacy software and technology that supports patient safety. The goal is to support student competency development in both clinical and technical skills, patient care, communication, critical thinking, ethics and interprofessional collaboration that best positions them for future careers. Ultimately, the skillset development of future healthcare workers helps to create healthier communities and improve overall health outcomes.

The August 21 celebration of the remodeled lab kicks off at noon in MUSC’s Bioengineering Building with a Career Panel of CVS Health executives, including:

• Maureen Cormier, senior vice president, retail field operations
• Alexandra Todd, division vice president, field operations
• Lucille Accetta, senior vice president & chief pharmacy officer

The panel will also include Linda Zheng, CVS Health pharmacist and, pharmacy student Truax. A Ribbon Cutting Ceremony follows at 1:30 p.m. in the remodeled lab, after which CVS Health leadership will be available for mock interviews and CV reviews.

Each time second-year student Truax walks in the new CVS Health Pharmacy Practice Laboratory, she will recognize the very place that inspired her to become a pharmacy student. Her mentors at CVS Health encouraged her to pursue her pharmacy doctorate, and her experience as a technician enabled her to see the rewards of a pharmacy career.

“As a pharmacy technician, Ashley consistently demonstrated meticulous attention to detail, a deep understanding of medication safety protocols, and a genuine passion for helping patients,” said Michael Mezzadri, her former CVS Health pharmacy manager. “In her role as a certified immunizer, she has had a direct and meaningful impact on community health—providing safe, accurate vaccinations while ensuring each patient feels informed and comfortable. Her decision to return to school to become a pharmacist reflects both ambition and commitment to being an exceptional pharmacist within our community.”

She’s worked at CVS Health since 2017 at the University Blvd location in North Charleston, citing Mezzadri and Marcie Mitchell as two CVS Health pharmacists who inspired her.

“Marcie helped foster my passion for pharmacy, especially community pharmacy, while Mike has continually supported my professional growth, encouraged my learning, and challenged me to excel in school.”

Truax graduated from Charleston Southern University before enrolling at the MUSC College of Pharmacy. She’s actively involved with the student chapters of the American Pharmacy Association and the Christian Pharmacists Fellowship International, as well as serving on the Community Service Committee.

The CVS Health Pharmacy Practice Laboratory, originally constructed as part of the $120 million James E. Clyburn Research Center completed in 2011, will be an integral part of Truax’s pharmacy education, as it includes the community lab, the hospital lab, and the compounding lab.

“I’ve always been fascinated by how medications work in the body, and that curiosity grew into a genuine passion for the field,” she said. “What truly resonates with me about community pharmacy is the opportunity to build personal connections with patients and support them in their health journeys—it’s incredibly rewarding to know that even small interactions can make a meaningful difference in someone’s life.”