Army pharmacist driven by warrior ethos

Photo By Marcy Sanchez | Lt. Col. Stacey Causey, chief of pharmacy, William Beaumont Army Medical Center, was recently promoted to the rank of colonel. Causey will now be part of a handful of 12 colonels in the Army who are pharmacists.  

FORT BLISS, TX, UNITED STATES

07.07.2016

Story by Marcy Sanchez  

William Beaumont Army Medical Center

More than 30 years ago in the small Mississippi town of Tylertown, young Stacey Causey wrote a career-focused research paper. What was a random selection from a list of professions turned out to be fortuitous for the high-school student.

Today, Col. Stacey Causey is the chief of pharmacy at William Beaumont Army Medical Center, Fort Bliss, Texas. An arbitrary choice at Tylertown High School later developed into his livelihood and passion, leading to his recent promotion to the rank of colonel. Causey will be one of 12 pharmacists in the U.S. Army holding the rank of colonel.

Prior to being commissioned in the U.S. Army, Causey spent some time serving as a U.S. Air Force pharmacy specialist after graduating high school. Upon completion of his tour, he attended the University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, and was part of the university’s Army ROTC program.

Causey served his country as a combat medic in the Mississippi Army National Guard with the 631st Field Artillery Brigade while attending Ole Miss, until he was commissioned as a second lieutenant after graduating in 1995.

“He has accomplished a lot,” said Maj. Jaleh Ghalandarysafavi, deputy chief, Department of Pharmacy, WBAMC. “He teaches you the right way, and the right way is not always the easy way.”

The pharmacy service of William Beaumont Army Medical Center extends well beyond the hospital, staffing pharmacies at five outlying clinics and at Freedom Crossings, the Department of Defense’s largest Post Exchange. It also actively supports Express Scripts’ Prescription Home Delivery Program.

Under Causey’s leadership the WBAMC pharmacy has undergone numerous improvements, including increasing patient satisfaction from 73 to 83 percent over a year’s time.

Since the pharmacy often is the last stop during patient encounters, increasing patient satisfaction by seven percent is a commendable feat for Causey’s Soldiers and staff.

“The patient is tired and ready to go home,” said Ghalandarysafavi, a native of Tehran, Iran. “The positive effect we have on the patient at the very last minute to have them leave satisfied: it’s huge.”

“You need to give everything you have to what you’re doing right now,” said the 49-year-old Causey. “If you perform at your current position everything else will fall in place.”

According to Causey, his selection to colonel came as a surprise, due to the lack of diverse assignments he has filled. He credits his principles of “Performing where you land” as a contributor for his continued success as an pharmacist.

“From professional to professional, Causey is an outstanding manager, leader and Soldier,” said Ghalandarysafavi. “I have gone through many chiefs. What I have learned from Causey in the past 10 months is much more than I have learned in the past decade.”

Ghalandarysafavi also describes Causey as a pioneer, stressing that he knows the pharmacy craft well and is a good mentor for junior officers. She states that “If service does not come from heart, if the staff does not take care of the patient from the bottom of their heart, the patient will get the message.”

A chance decision during a high school assignment turned into a lifelong passion for Causey. This passion, and Causey’s attitude, ethos and determination have resulted in his ongoing success and recent promotion to colonel.

• Date Taken: 07.07.2016
• Date Posted: 07.07.2016 12:32
• Story ID: 203304
• Location: FORT BLISS, TX, US
• Hometown: TYLERTOWN, MS, US