by Jordan Foley, Student Public Relations Writer
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), vaccines prevent an estimated 3.5 to 5 million deaths worldwide annually. At Cedarville University’s School of Pharmacy, students are equipped with the hands-on skills to deliver life-saving immunizations in their communities.
Students Serve on the Front Lines
Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) students Hayden Lee of Cedarville, Ohio, and Blair Woodard of Cicero, Indiana, put their pharmacy skills to work last month by administering more than 100 vaccines to individuals at the Middletown Hospice Center and Brookhaven Nursing Home and Assisted Living in the Dayton area.
By serving patients across a wide range of ages — from young adults to senior citizens — Lee and Woodard delivered essential vaccination care during one of the busiest times of the year for illness.
“Vaccines help protect the most vulnerable populations and allow health care workers to stay healthy so they can continue caring for others,” said Woodard. “Many residents at Brookhaven Nursing Home and Assisted Living don’t have access to transportation to receive their yearly vaccinations, so bringing the clinic to them makes a real difference. Since older adults are at higher risk for illnesses such as COVID-19 and the flu, vaccination is especially important in helping prevent serious disease.”
Learning Through Compassion
With the support of Dr. Katie Perry, a 2019 Pharm.D. alumna, Lee and Woodard worked together to provide vital vaccines to both patients and health care workers. Lee even had the unique opportunity to sing “Happy Birthday” to a 95-year-old patient during her vaccination, bringing smiles to everyone in the room.
“Before this experience, I didn’t realize how deeply many nursing home residents crave conversation and connection,” said Lee. “I expected to focus mainly on the clinical side of care, but I learned that emotional presence is just as important as physical care. Sometimes, the best medicine we can offer is simply a few minutes of our time, making others feel seen and loved through our care as health care professionals.”
Preparing the Next Generation of Pharmacists
Cedarville University’s Pharm.D. program prepares students for success in a growing and in-demand health care field, combining clinical experience with leadership development — all from a biblical foundation.
“Their help was truly invaluable — I don’t know how we would have managed the day without them,” said Perry. “Both Hayden and Blair demonstrated outstanding teamwork, compassion and professionalism. Even as patients moved quickly through the process, they balanced efficiency with genuine, personal care. Their kindness and empathy made a lasting impression, especially at the nursing home, where loneliness can often be a quiet challenge.”
By providing distinctive real-world experiences, Cedarville University’s Pharm.D. program equips students like Woodard and Lee to make a meaningful impact in the health care field.
About Cedarville University
Cedarville University, an evangelical Christian institution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and graduate residential and online programs across arts, sciences and professional fields. With 7,265 students, it is among Ohio's largest private universities and is ranked among the nation’s top five evangelical universities in the Wall Street Journal’s 2026 Best Colleges in the U.S. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more at cedarville.edu.
