Shane Garrettson graduated from Roxboro Community School (RCS) in 2011, and fondly recalls the sense of community he felt as a student.
He said, “RCS is a wonderful environment that fosters learning and offers many great experiences to support education. RCS definitely promoted a strong sense of community absent in the schools I attended prior.”
After RCS, Garrettson studied pre-pharmacy at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He is currently a doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) candidate at High Point University and expects to complete that degree next year.
“I started working in a pharmacy to support an unsuccessful real estate career and found myself enthralled with the fast-paced environment and the ability to dramatically impact patients’ health,” Garrettson said. “I built rapport with patients at a small pharmacy outside of Winston-Salem and I credit their kindness as my inspiration to pursue a PharmD.”
He said certain classes at RCS helped to prepare him for college and continue to help him with leadership opportunities today.
“I cherish the memories I made with my friends and teachers, particularly my film class,” Garrettson said. “Our participation in a statewide lipdub competition helped unite teachers and students with a common goal and was a really unique and fun experience to be a part of. This class sparked a lifelong interest in film, which still influences me to this day. I’ve had several opportunities in pharmacy school to lead creative projects regarding diabetes awareness and HIV therapy, among others.”
In addition to his studies, Garrettson has also hosted a podcast for the past two years. He humbly stated, “Much to my surprise, the pharmacy-themed podcast I co-host, ‘Let’s Pharmonize,’ became mildly popular and was picked up by the Pharmacy Podcast Network. This experience helped support my passion and curiosity for pharmacy.”
Garrettson lives in Thomasville with his wife, Kelly Kerr, a Roxboro native, and two cats, Ziggy and Moony. He said, “My wife and I enjoy board games, kayaking and hiking when the weather permits. We also enjoy visiting museums and the North Carolina Zoo.”