For Samford University McWhorter School of Pharmacy alumnae Jennifer Campbell, PharmD, ’00 and Pauline Long, PharmD, ’05, pharmacy has always been about more than prescriptions. As consultant pharmacists and co-owners of MedsPLUS, LLC, an independent pharmacy and healthcare consulting firm in downtown Birmingham, they are guided by a clear mission: Bridging the Gap in Healthcare.
Their shared vision for MedsPLUS began with a simple but powerful observation. “We saw patients falling through the cracks,” Campbell said. “Prescriptions were being filled, but questions were unanswered. Chronic conditions were unmanaged, and patients often did not receive the education they needed.”
Long has seen that same gap firsthand through patient interactions.
“One of our earliest patients told us, ‘No one has ever explained my medications to me like this before,’” Long said. “That moment affirmed everything. It reminded me that knowledge is power.”
Together, those experiences shaped a model of care focused on access, education and advocacy. Founded in 2018, MedsPLUS was built on the belief that pharmacy should extend beyond transactions and into relationships that empower patients. Serving historically underserved communities, they have built strong community partnerships, organizing health fairs, leading vaccination clinics and providing chronic disease education that meets patients where they are.
That approach reflects the foundation both pharmacists received at Samford. “McWhorter School of Pharmacy grounded us in servant leadership,” Campbell said. “We were trained to see the whole patient, not just the medication list.”
That mindset continues to influence how they lead their business and serve their community. For both alumnae, their work is deeply personal. “Health disparities are not abstract statistics to us,” Campbell said. “They are our neighbors, our families, our churches.”
Their partnership is a key part of that impact, bringing complementary strengths that allow the business to grow while staying grounded in its mission. “We share the same mission but bring different strengths,” Long said. “Jennifer leads clinical depth and patient engagement. I focus heavily on strategy, partnerships and innovation.” Their connection goes back even further. Long began her pharmacy career as Campbell’s intern, a full-circle moment that now fuels their collaboration as co-owners.
In addition to serving patients, both alumnae mentor future pharmacists as preceptors for McWhorter School of Pharmacy’s Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience IPPE rotations. They provide hands-on opportunities in vaccine clinics, screenings and patient education, helping students build confidence while contributing to patient care.
“The most rewarding part is watching students grow in confidence and contribute meaningfully to community health,” they shared. “It’s fulfilling to guide their development and witness them become compassionate, skilled pharmacists.”
Campbell was recognized as McWhorter School of Pharmacy’s 2025 IPPE Preceptor of the Year, reflecting her commitment to student mentorship and experiential education. For both Campbell and Long, investing in students is a natural extension of their mission, shaping the future of pharmacy through service and innovation.
