Kathy Browne

Kathy Browne knows the importance of letting “your light shine” as a guide to others. She was taught the importance of having a career that would serve people, and she has put the life-lesson into practice. Her commitment to a values-driven career is one of the key reasons Browne is the winner of the 2005 School of Pharmacy Alumni Achievement Award at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Browne’s dream was to teach chemistry since many of her family members were educators, including her dad. After receiving encouragement from her dad to research a career in pharmacy, she talked with classmates who were attending pharmacy school.

“I talked with them, and I never looked back,” said Browne. “The pharmacy career is great because every day is really an adventure. Something great has literally happened every day.” And, because of her position, Browne has found a way to improve her assistance to patients by implementing the pharmacy-care model.

“We want to look at the patient as a whole,” said Browne, “and help them manage their health care with the physicians, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and dieticians –  the healthcare team.”

According to Robert Piepho, dean of the School of Pharmacy, Browne has a progressive practice and is focused on providing total pharmaceutical care to her patients.

“She has become certified in diabetes care, osteoporosis care and respiratory care, so that she can serve her patients afflicted with different disorders associated with aging,” said Piepho.

Browne uses the training in various facets of her three Independence, Mo., pharmacies. Each pharmacy has a distinct approach to assist patients as they age, even though the objective to serve is similar. The 50-Plus Pharmacy focuses on dispensing medications, like a traditional pharmacy. The other two are not traditional pharmacies:  50-Plus LTC provides service for long-term care patients, and Healthy-U serves and provides counseling to patients with special needs, including diabetes and osteoporosis.

Owning pharmacies that offer extra care to patients is one way Browne gives back to the community. However, it is not the only way she serves her clients.

During her childhood, Browne did not excel at any physical activity and was always the last one chosen for activities, including dodge ball. She knows first hand the emotions associated with the feeling of exclusion, and it has made her empathetic to people who feel excluded due to lack of medical care or information. Browne wants to make sure her patients have the necessary knowledge to improve their health and quality of life, and she wants the opportunities to provide the knowledge to increase.

As a result of financial challenges during her adult life, as well as the perception of exclusion, Browne values the prospect of empowering others to make a difference. She provides externships for pharmacy students to educate them about the extra care available to patients, not just counting and bottling the meds, but teaching students what is possible in helping others.

            Browne is an adjunct clinical faculty member at the School of Pharmacy, past president of the Missouri Pharmacy Association; World Vision Child Sponsor 1994-present; member of the UMKC School of Pharmacy Adhoc Committee on Community Pharmacy. She has received grants from numerous organizations, including the Jackson County Legislature Grant for Public Health and the Procter and Gamble Grant for Osteoporosis Project.

            And now she can add the School of Pharmacy’s Alumni Achievement Award to her list of accomplishments.

The University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), one of four University of Missouri campuses, is a public university serving more than 14,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students.  UMKC engages with the community and economy based on a three-part mission: visual and performing arts, health sciences, and urban affairs.

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