"There are so many more pathways in pharmacy than many know..."
UofSC alumnus Eduardo “Eddie” Seijo (2011 Pharm.D.) may have stumbled into pharmacy by accident, but he soon found his calling – and his family – within the walls of our college. Eddie serves the Charlotte Metro area as the Acute Care Pharmacy Operations Director for Atrium Health. He is married to fellow pharmacist Elizabeth Seijo (2012 Pharm.D.)
Tell us about what you do:
My role within Atrium Health is to manage system pharmacy processes and projects which touch all acute care facilities within the Atrium system. Typical examples are Pharmacy Automated Dispensing Machine standard processes/upgrades, medication purchasing, medication use data analysis, and regulatory compliance standards. Currently, most of these functions revolve around COVID-19 vaccinations and MAB therapy distribution.
How did you originally get interested in your field?
I stumbled into the pharmacy profession on accident. As I graduated high school, I felt I wanted to do something in the medical field, but did not really have a great idea of what made sense for me. My friend told me he was going to be a pharmacist and I thought that sounded as good as any idea I had to that point! Another friend had a parent who managed a home infusion pharmacy, so I started working there and the rest is history.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Professionally my greatest achievement is very recent: The distribution and administration of over 500,000 COVID-19 vaccinations across the Charlotte Metro area in a matter of 4 months – it is a piece of history I will always remember playing a role in.
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
A meteorologist – I feared storms and wanted to be able to tell when they would be coming.
Why did you choose the University of South Carolina?
I looked at a lot of southern schools. When I went to UofSC, I loved the campus atmosphere and location of the school, everything felt welcoming and like home. Steve Spurrier starting didn’t hurt either…
What is your advice for current students / future pharmacy professionals?
Try new things in school and get out of your comfort zone. There are so many more pathways in pharmacy than many know at the surface level, go digging for different opportunities.
What is the most important lesson life has taught you?
Be kind and treat everyone with respect, you never know who will come back into your life.
Who has been a mentor to you?
I have been lucky enough to have two mentors in my life and had the privilege to work for both of them – Kevin Isaacs at Atrium Health and Laurie Whalin at New Hanover Regional Medical Center.
Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?
Giada DeLaurentiis, Guy Fieri, Peyton Manning, and Robert Downey Jr. The conversation among all four would be absurd – but they are all very interesting to me.
What would your superpower be?
I have always loved Spiderman and would love those powers.
What is top on your bucket list?
Open my own Cuban food truck.
Who would play you in the film of your life?
Dwayne Johnson – might as well look good in my portrayal.
What is your favorite memory from pharmacy school at the University of South Carolina?
Planning the Columbia / Charleston pharmacy campus event – the first time I got to spend time with Elizabeth Seijo, my wife.
Topics: Alumni Programs, Meet Our Alumni