Charles Krobot was a registered pharmacist in the early 1980s when he was presented with the opportunity to take more classes and earn his Doctor of Pharmacy degree.
He wasn’t sure what he was getting into, but he decided to “take the plunge.” He earned his Pharm.D. in 1984, and soon thereafter became one of the first pharmacists “on the floor” at Clarkson Hospital, overseeing a satellite pharmacy that prepared chemotherapy medications for cancer patients.
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Charles Krobot, Pharm.D. |
Nearly 20 years later, Dr. Krobot is taking another proverbial leap. After nearly 30 years as a clinical pharmacist and serving for the past three years as a part-time instructor in the College of Pharmacy, Dr. Krobot on July 1 began his new position as associate dean for academic affairs in the college. Dr. Krobot succeeds Ted Roche, Ph.D., who returned to a full-time faculty position after more than 23 years in administration.
“I’m ready to jump in and get at it,” Dr. Krobot said. “There’s a lot to learn. Ted’s been here for 23 years, and just understanding all of what he does is a major task. The support staff has been great, and they have a good idea of what needs to be done, logistically. I’m excited to get going.”
Clarence Ueda, Pharm.D., Ph.D., dean of the College of Pharmacy, said that Dr. Krobot was the type of professional practitioner that the college wants its students to model themselves after.
“Those qualities will make his work in the Dean’s Office much easier because he has instant credibility,” Dr. Ueda said. “Dr. Krobot is a tremendous addition to the College of Pharmacy administrative staff. His interests and active involvement in the direction and future of the pharmacy profession in the State, and his genuine interest in pharmacy students, who represent the future of the profession, made him an ideal candidate to succeed Dr. Roche as associate dean. I am very pleased to have him on board, and look forward to working with him.”
Dr. Krobot said that he wants the college to maintain its student focus, and he’ll work with the faculty and students to make sure that the students continue to excel academically and as pharmacists.
“The main challenge is making sure that our program is as good for the students as possible,” he said. “These students are special. We want our program to give them the best chance possible to become the professionals that will best represent our program and best serve their patients. We’re determining some areas we need to work on, and I’ll work with the faculty and the students to make sure that we continue to be successful.”
Dr. Krobot graduated in 1969 with a bachelor’s degree from the College of Pharmacy, then part of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He worked as a pharmacist at Clarkson Hospital for 23 years, before moving to University Hospital in 1994. In 1997, the two hospitals merged, forming Nebraska Health System, UNMC’s clinical partner.
In the early 1980s, Clarkson officials were looking to move pharmacists to the hospital floors, so they could work more closely with physicians. Dr. Krobot was interested, but he needed his Pharm.D. degree to perform the types of services that were needed. Dr. Roche and hospital officials worked with Dr. Krobot to allow him to complete the requirements for his degree, while still working part time in the hospital.
“It was over 50 hours of classroom work. Here I was, this 35-year-old with students a lot younger than I was,” Dr. Krobot said. “It was well worth it. I could not have done many of the things that I’ve been able to do without the additional education. I got good support from the hospital and from the College of Pharmacy, and I really was in the right place at the right time. I don’t regret it a bit.”
Dr. Krobot has been active in many professional organizations, and he’ll continue to encourage students to get involved professionally. He just completed a term as president of the Nebraska Pharmacists Association, and he is a member of several other groups, including a state task force that advises government officials on pharmacists’ role in health care and the regulations that should govern the profession.
As part of that task force, he was instrumental in re-writing the state’s pharmacy regulations in the late 1990s. During this time, he worked with pharmacy faculty member, Sam Augustine, Pharm.D., who asked Dr. Krobot to guest lecture in the law and ethics course that Dr. Augustine coordinated.
In December 2000, Dr. Krobot became a part-time instructor in the college. He later became the coordinator of the law and ethics course and of the Early Practice Experience (EPE) program. That program provides pharmacy students with opportunities to become acclimated to clinical settings earlier in their schooling, instead of waiting until their senior-year clerkships. Dr. Krobot also lectured in pain management, professional development and patient counseling. In 2002, the students selected Dr. Krobot as the recipient of the College’s Distinguished Teaching Award.
“I’m going to continue coordinating the law class and the EPE program,” Dr. Krobot said. “Decisions have not yet been made regarding other activities. I’m sure I’ll be busy, but I’m really looking forward to it.”
Dr. Krobot’s wife of more than 30 years, Mary Ellen, is a kidney/pancreas transplant coordinator at Nebraska Health System. They have two daughters: Amy Rummel is the media relations coordinator at the Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha, and Julie Girard is a senior accountant with Procter & Gamble in Cincinnati.