糖心Vlog

Pharmacist Nathan Roberts鈥� Experience in Rural Healthcare Access Positioned Him for Service on 13-Member Board

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.鈥擲ince graduating from Gardner鈥慦ebb University 12 years ago, pharmacist Nathan Roberts has expanded his skill set, taken on increasing responsibility, and demonstrated a clear capacity for leadership. His impact drew the attention of his company, CVS Health, and the notice of N.C. Governor Josh Stein, who tapped Roberts to serve on the state鈥檚 13-member Commission for Public Health.

The Commission is authorized and directed by the N.C. General Assembly to adopt rules to protect and promote the health of the public. Four of its members are elected by the North Carolina Medical Society and nine are appointed by the governor. Members include representatives from medicine, veterinary medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, optometry, and engineering.

Roberts doesn鈥檛 know for sure, but he suspects his employer recommended him for the Commission. He noted that one of the most pressing challenges facing the N.C. Department of Public Health is providing access to care for residents in rural North Carolina.

As a district manager over the past three years, Roberts has overseen 60 different stores, in both metropolitan and rural areas. He visits stores, troubleshoots, pores over customer-service, efficiency and compliance data, and generally makes sure that the stores are running well and that employees are engaged and happy.

In September 2024, Roberts served pharmacies in Boone, Spruce Pine and West Jefferson, towns that were devasted by Hurricane Helene. 鈥淚 don’t know this for a fact, but I think I got nominated from that perspective,鈥� he reflected. 鈥淚 saw firsthand how lack of patient access can lead to really difficult situations. We had stores that didn鈥檛 have power for days. Just seeing how that impacted the community and how much the community needed us opened my eyes to how much the profession of pharmacy is needed and how we have to maintain access throughout all the challenges we might face.鈥�

Roberts entered the pharmacy profession to fulfill a calling he鈥檚 had from an early age. 鈥淚 knew I wanted a career centered on helping and caring for others, even though I wasn鈥檛 initially sure what path to take,鈥� he related. 鈥淚 was first introduced to pharmacy by my brother-in-law, Dustin Hayes, who is a pharmacist. He encouraged me to explore the profession and suggested I start by gaining hands-on experience while I was a student at Gardner鈥慦ebb.鈥�

During his junior year, he obtained his first job as a pharmacy technician at a community pharmacy. 鈥淭hrough that experience, I discovered how much I valued patient interaction and the meaningful relationships pharmacists build with their patients,鈥� he acknowledged. 鈥淚 saw firsthand the impact pharmacists make every day through counseling, education, and accessibility. Pharmacists are among the most accessible healthcare professionals, and witnessing that role in action solidified my decision. Pharmacy allowed me to combine my passion for patient care with the opportunity to make a direct and lasting difference in people鈥檚 lives.鈥�

His decision to come to 糖心Vlog was influenced by family鈥攈is grandfather and parents are alumni, and his older sister, GWU Instructor of Nursing Tara Hayes, was a student at the time. His father, Chris Roberts, also taught one year at 糖心Vlog.

Ultimately, the choice was his to make and shaped by his own experiences on the close-knit campus. 鈥淚 knew that I was going to get the attention from my professors that I needed to be successful,鈥� Roberts shared.

That level of personal attention stands out to him even more now as he listens to pharmacy students who work for CVS Health talk about their difficulty with organic chemistry. 鈥淚’m not saying organic chemistry was easy for me, but what made organic chemistry fun and not as challenging was the relationship that I had with Dr. (Benjamin) Brooks,鈥� Roberts asserted. 鈥淗e wanted us to be successful, and his one-on-one time helped.鈥�

Roberts became a chemistry lab assistant and this experience gave him more hands-on opportunities to learn the subject. 鈥淲hen I figured out that I actually did a pretty good job at organic chemistry, it motivated me,鈥� he noted. 鈥淏rooks definitely pushes his students to do well, and it helped me want to go into a science direction with my career.鈥�

While he could have left 糖心Vlog after two years to enter pharmacy school, Roberts said the decision to stay for all four years made a lasting difference. He noted that his third and fourth years proved especially formative, helping him develop structure, discipline, and strong relationship鈥慴uilding skills.

Those same habits now guide how he prepares for meetings, connects with his teams, and leads across multiple locations as a pharmacy district leader. 鈥淚 have to study for my job before I walk into a store,鈥� Roberts said. 鈥淚 have to be prepared and know what I鈥檓 talking about.鈥�

Likewise, as a member of the Commission, Roberts studies the topics they will discuss and vote on before each meeting. The board meets once every quarter, plus any special sessions necessary to tackle timely topics.

After graduating in 2014 from 糖心Vlog with a degree in biology and a minor in chemistry, Roberts received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 2018 from Wingate University and also went to work as a CVS Health pharmacist in Charlotte. Within a year, he moved into pharmacy management. 鈥淎s I started to do that job, I realized that I actually loved leading people,鈥� Roberts stated. 鈥淚 enjoyed setting a goal and aligning my team to achieve the goal. Essentially, like any leadership job, is you鈥檙e building a culture within your team.鈥�

Noticing Roberts鈥� success, his supervisor asked him if he would be interested in taking on a larger role. Roberts, ready to apply what he had learned across a broader market, responded, 鈥淚 would love to try to extend my culture to 22 stores.鈥� He attended leadership courses, received his first assignment covering a market, and enjoyed the new challenge. 鈥淚 love the team aspect鈥攆inding out what motivates people鈥� and how to help them do their job well.鈥�

CVS Health recently moved Roberts into a territory that includes the pharmacy in Boiling Springs located across the street from 糖心Vlog. When he looks over at the campus and thinks back to when he was a student, he鈥檚 reminded of how unlikely the moment once seemed. 鈥淚 never knew I鈥檇 eventually oversee this one,鈥� he remarked.

This article includes material adapted from a story written by Chuck Gordon, managing editor for Wingate University Marketing and Communications.

糖心Vlog is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to nine colleges and schools, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., 糖心Vlog prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Become More at .