Rarely did a week go by since 2006 when South Routt resident Wes Hunter was not actively helping to train and mentor the next generation of pharmacists.

In his role as director of pharmacy at UCHealth Yampa Valley Medical Center from October 2004 through April, Hunter served as a preceptor for 184 pharmacy school students from the University of Colorado.

After 36 years in his overall pharmacy career, Hunter stepped back this spring to be a part-time clinical pharmacist at the hospital in Steamboat Springs. Hunter was honored this spring at the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences’ 2025 Annual Preceptor Awards, receiving the Colorado Commitment Pharmacy Award for his significant contributions as a preceptor.

“This number (184 students) is quite impressive for an operational leader at UCHealth,” said Andrew Harmon, regional director of hospital pharmacy for the UCHealth Northern Colorado region. “The high number reflects on Wes’ leadership and desire to help the next generation of pharmacists in our state.”

“Wes is very knowledgeable about rural hospital pharmacy practice, and he has a passion to help students learn and excel,” said Harmon, who has known Hunter for 10 years. “He offers students a vast experience opportunity at YVMC where they learn beyond the walls of the pharmacy, like the operating room setting where they often shadow cases.”

Harmon said the preceptor placement with Hunter in Steamboat was popular among University of Colorado pharmacy students, and former students — now pharmacists — are still fans of Hunter. The student and preceptor experience worked out so well that Hunter hired three students through the years to be part of the pharmacy staff at YVMC.

Blaine Barnes, now a pharmacist at Lyon’s Corner Drug in downtown Steamboat, said his pharmacy rotation in winter 2015 at YVMC “had a lasting impact on both my professional development and my connection to the broader healthcare community.”

“I was fortunate to learn under someone who modeled what it means to be both clinically sharp and community oriented,” Barnes said. “His clinical knowledge was exceptional, but it was his calm demeanor and ability to make complex issues approachable that stood out. His leadership style was humble and approachable, and his laid-back personality made every day in the hospital both educational and enjoyable.”

Former student Kalee Paulson, now a clinical pharmacist at UCHealth Cancer Care and Hematology Clinic in Fort Collins, describes Hunter as a preceptor as “fair, fun, genuinely cool and brilliant,” and “he exemplifies professionalism, compassion and everything it takes to be an amazing PharmD.”

“He tailored projects, activities and guidance to focus on my goals of being a clinical oncology pharmacist,” Paulson said. “I can say with certainty I would not be where I am today without his guidance throughout that rotation and the years since.”

Hunter said he valued his role as a preceptor because of the ability for the students to be part of a broad range of learning in a smaller, more rural hospital setting and see the big picture of pharmacy.

“We are such a unique site for students, having them see a group of professionals who are passionate about their setting, their work-life balance and each other is pretty rare,” Hunter said. “Plus, they get to do everything from basic dispensing to participating in multi-disciplinary rounds, so they get to see the entire spectrum of the profession.”

The keys to being a good pharmacist are an innate curiosity and a strong interest in how drugs interact with the human body, Hunter said. The most memorable times in his pharmacy career were helping patients find the best solutions for their needs. The most satisfying yet scary part of his career was during the COVID-19 pandemic when pharmacists “had to do a lot of thinking on their feet,” Hunter said.

Hunter was the second pharmacy manager in the history of the Yampa Valley Medical Center in-house pharmacy that started in 1983, said Lindsey Reznicek, YVMC communications manager. Before 1983, Lyon’s Corner Drug was the pharmacy provider for the former Routt Memorial Hospital.

Melissa Monchelli was appointed this spring as the new YVMC pharmacy manager. The hospital also offers an out-patient pharmacy, which began under Hunter’s leadership, that is open to the public 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.

Hunter said he now has more time to go skiing or camping on weekdays. Road biking is one of his passions, and he rides his bike some 40 miles roundtrip from his home in the Stagecoach area to work two or three times a week every summer.

“When you think about your local pharmacist that has all the answers, positive attitude and always willing to help — you think of Wes Hunter,” Harmon said. “His tenure in this profession, community and as a leader is simply amazing.”