St. John’s Alum Changes Lives One
Treatment at-a-Time
A graduate of St. John’s Pharm.
D. program, Michael Thomas '02 leads a team of pharmacists at
Lincoln Hospital in New York City. He dedicated his life to
treating serious medical conditions such as asthma, hepatitis C,
HIV, hypertension and diabetes.
His years at St. John’s prepared him well for his profession of
helping the less fortunate in society. Up to 40 percent of patients
are uninsured and lack access to primary healthcare in this
low-income Bronx neighborhood. Michael serves them by following the
Vincentian mission he learned long ago.
“Every patient is treated regardless of ability to pay,” he
said. “If an uninsured patient requires medical attention, the
pharmacy team researches industry drug programs that are available
for indigent patients to receive medications at no cost.”
Michael and his team also work throughout the hospital
counseling clinic patients, teaching them to administer and monitor
their medications, and train the medical and nursing staff about
the latest developments in medication management.
“When I first arrived at Lincoln hospital, I was shocked at how
ill patients were,” he reflected. “The average patient age is 45,
and to see such young people with such critical illnesses is
troubling. We try to center our care on the patient in order to
eliminate as many barriers in obtaining adequate care as
possible.”