As a critical care pharmacist, Dr. Martin Gordon spends his days caring for the sickest patients in the hospital – those in intensive care whose conditions can change hourly.
As a result of the intricacies of his patients’ needs, Gordon is responsible for managing complex medication regimens, responding to medical emergencies, and helping patients and their families understand every step of the treatment process.
Critical care is just one of the numerous routes pharmacy students can take. For Gordon, it was his calling.
Gordon discovered his interest in critical care during his third year of pharmacy school while taking a course surrounding toxicology pharmacotherapy, and his passion was solidified during a surgical/trauma ICU rotation in his fourth year.
During that rotation, he learned under preceptor Sarah Frye.
“I greatly admired the impact she had on patient care and the respect she earned as an integral member of the healthcare team,” he said. “Sarah inspired me to follow a similar path.”
In an incredible full-circle moment, Frye later became the director of his residency program during his PGY2 year.
Gordon largely attributes his success, both during residency and in his career, to PC’s program and the preparation and opportunities it provided him as a student.
Born and raised in Potchefstroom, South Africa, Gordon’s family relocated to the States when he was a teenager after his mother, also a pharmacist, was recruited to work in Phoenix, Ariz.
Gordon eventually found himself in South Carolina at Presbyterian College’s School of Pharmacy, a decision he feels the rewards of every day.
“The coursework was rigorous and provided a strong clinical foundation, but it was the required volunteer and professional service hours that truly began shaping me into a well-rounded pharmacist,” he said. “Those experiences pushed me to develop a deeper understanding of the communities we serve.”
Grateful for the opportunity that PC’s program provided to explore and discover his passion for critical care, Gordon heavily encourages current pharmacy students to do the same.
The coursework was rigorous and provided a strong clinical foundation, but it was the required volunteer and professional service hours that truly began shaping me into a well-rounded pharmacist. Those experiences pushed me to develop a deeper understanding of the communities we serve.”
Dr. Martin Gordon ’21
“Pharmacy is a field with countless paths, some of which don’t even involve any clinical work at all,” he said. “Explore and experience different practice areas, and learn what truly excites you before deciding on a specialty.”
Gordon originally thought he would be working in a community setting after graduating, having never heard of critical care pharmacy prior to his pharmacotherapy courses.
However, as he progressed further into his education and his interests began to change, he began immersing himself in other specialties, ultimately finding what was meant for him.
“The more you expose yourself to, the better you’ll understand just how many meaningful and fulfilling directions a pharmacy career can take,” he said.
