UF Health Jacksonville
Shannon Usztok, PharmD, BCACP
The student had this to say about Dr. Usztok:
Dr. Usztok is very knowledgeable and has high expectations for her students. She offered constructive feedback and made sure to point out things that would show up on licensure exams.
Brief bio or Site description
I graduated from the University of South Florida College of Pharmacy in 2017 and went on to complete both my PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency and PGY-2 Ambulatory Care Residency at the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital in Tampa, FL. After residency, I moved to Jacksonville and joined UF Health Jacksonville as an Ambulatory Care Pharmacist in the CB McIntosh Clinic. In my role, I work directly with patients to help manage chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, pain management, anticoagulation, and smoking cessation. I enjoy building long-term relationships with patients and supporting them in reaching their health goals.
What is your or your site’s philosophy on educating students and/or providing pharmacy services?
My teaching philosophy is to give learners the space to be independent while also knowing they have my full support. During rotations, I encourage students to see patients on their own and come up with recommendations, and then we review and discuss them together, which is then relayed to the patient. This helps build their confidence, strengthen their critical thinking, and develop their skills in managing drug therapy. My goal as a preceptor is to mentor students in a way that helps them grow, feel supported, and leave the rotation more confident in their abilities.
What is a fun fact about you or the site?
The CB McIntosh Clinic is a unique, pharmacist-run clinic dedicated to caring for the underserved community. Learners have the opportunity to take the lead in seeing patients independently. Afterward, they work closely with their preceptor to review recommendations and discuss next steps in therapy. Physicians provide oversight in the clinic as they sign off on the student/pharmacist note and approve the prescription. This setting allows students to gain confidence, build independence, and experience firsthand the impact pharmacists can have in patient care.