Wal-Mart Pharmacist of the Year: Indispensable to Her Community

Karyn Pardee has been named the Wal-Mart CommunityPharmacist of the Year for 2005. Kayrn is the pharmacy managerat the Wal-Mart in Grove City, Pa, and has been an asset toher patients and her community for nearly 13 years at that location.Ron McDermott, Wal-Mart district manager and Karyn'ssupervisor, emphasized that Karyn is a respected and highlyesteemed member of their pharmacy team. When he visitsKaryn's pharmacy, he is constantly approached by patients whogreatly appreciate the kindness and generosity she demonstratesevery day. In fact, her patients value Karyn so much thatthey feel she is indispensable—McDermott has been told bypatients, on more than one occasion, "Make sure you nevertake Karyn away from us."

Karyn was chosen from more than 13,000 Wal-Mart pharmacistsnationwide based on her dedication to patient care, amazingvolunteer work, and overall selfless giving to her patients,her profession, and her community. The associates in the GroveCity Wal-Mart store are very proud of Karyn and can tell aboutthe way that she has impacted the way that pharmacy is practicedat their store. Karyn leads her associates byexample and sets a great precedent to follow onpatient counseling and patient care. She is wellrespected and highly valued by her patients.

Karyn also dedicates herself to her community invarious ways. Karyn visits local nursing homes andhas question-and-answer sessions and brown-bagsessions for seniors. She sponsors a scholarship inmemory of her father, who was also a pharmacist,at Slippery Rock University. Her father, Charles"Chuck" Knauss, owned and operated KnaussPharmacy in Slippery Rock for 20 years. Each year,she works to award the scholarship named afterher father to a deserving pharmacy student.

Karyn visits local schools and promotes pharmacyas a profession. She also was involved in amedical mission trip to the Dominican Republic,bringing medical and pharmaceutical help to anarea badly in need. On this trip, she was able tomeet with many young children who were inpoor health and bring them necessary medicinesand health care. Her store is involved in Adopt-a-Highway, and employees clean up an area highwaytogether as a team. She also is involved inthe Dave Thomas Foundation and the AmericanHeart Association.

In speaking with Karyn, she will tell you that her experiencesin volunteering and service have humbled her and put thingsinto perspective. At Wal-Mart, we would like to thank Karyn forleading us and teaching us how to take care of people. It is anhonor for Wal-Mart and for the profession of pharmacy to haveKaryn Pardee recognized as the 2005 Community Pharmacist ofthe Year!