Karen Kier, a Marysville High School graduate and professor of clinical pharmacy at Ohio Northern University, draws a dose of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine into a needle while sitting in the ONU HealthWise Mobile Clinic. The 38-foot RV will transport vaccines to the Union County Fairgrounds every Wednesday in April and May, to be administered by ONU pharmacists, interns and students. (Journal-Tribune photo by Kayleen Petrovia)
Now a professor, Karen Kier returns to Marysville with ONU’s mobile vaccine clinic
Karen Kier can pinpoint the exact moment that determined the course of her life.
She was a junior at Marysville High School in 1976 when her chemistry teacher, Mr. Davidson, nominated her for a pharmacy camp at Ohio State University.
Kier was one of 25 students from rural regions throughout the state selected to spend a week on campus, learning about pharmacology.
“I just loved it and that was it,” she said.
Kier said the experience transformed her from someone uncertain about her future career path to someone determined to practice pharmacy.
She even wrote her senior paper at MHS about pharmacology.
Her newfound passion propelled her to Ohio Northern University, where she received her Bachelor of Science. She later received her master’s degree and PhD from Ohio State University.
Now a professor of clinical pharmacy at ONU who has practiced throughout the nation, she said she can trace it all back to Marysville.
“I am doing what I do today – and love what I do – because a chemistry teacher nominated me to do something I didn’t even know about,” Kier said.
Things are coming full circle for Kier, as she is returning to Marysville with her own students to vaccinate local residents against COVID-19 through the ONU HealthWise Mobile Clinic.
ONU HealthWise will travel between six counties for 60 days to contribute to vaccination efforts throughout the state. Its mobile clinic will be at the Union County Fairgrounds every Wednesday in April and May.
“I would have never thought this is where I would be, but I’m happy I’m here,” Kier said.
Along with her love for pharmacy, her appreciation of teaching was sparked in Marysville.
She said it can be difficult for her to believe that her formal education decades ago prepared her to play an active role in fighting COVID-19 today.
“It’s one of those things that as a high school student, you just can’t imagine where your career could go,” Kier said.
She said her teachers at MHS showed her that quality education “prepares you for things you didn’t know you could do.”
It’s a perspective she aims to share with the students she now teaches.
On Wednesday, Kier drew doses of the COVID-19 vaccine into needles while supervising a group of her students – whom she deemed “the A-team” – administering the shot.
She said watching her current and former students accomplishing goals and contributing to their communities is one of the most rewarding parts of her career.
“I’m just really proud of training the best pharmacists we can train,” she said.
The ONU HealthWise Mobile Clinic exemplifies what she described as the “ripple effect” of sharing knowledge with the next generation.
Kier serves as the Director of the Drug and Health Information Center, while the Director of HealthWise, Michael Rush, was one of her students.
She said the pair helped launch the Mobile Health Clinic in 2010 after working together at a physician’s office, with a goal to bring healthcare into local communities.
The 38-foot RV provides disease management and preventative health education services to the residents of Hardin County.
“It blossomed from this little idea of wellness” into something with many outreach components, Kier said.
Those at ONU didn’t think twice when the HealthWise Mobile Clinic was given the opportunity to become one of Governor Mike DeWine’s state-sponsored mass vaccination clinics.
“It just made sense,” Kier said. “This is a perfect fit for us.”
The ability “to bring Northern back to Marysville” is “amazing,” Kier added.
She said she is excited to encourage her MHS classmates to get vaccinated, especially after the Class of 1977 lost a member to COVID-19.
“In honor of him, go get your COVID shot,” she said.
While the ONU Mobile Health Clinic uses the same facility and format as the drive-thru clinics hosted by the Union County Health Department, they are operated separately.
For that reason, appointments for the ONU clinic must be scheduled at gettheshot.coronavirus.ohio.gov, not the local health department’s website.
The ONU mass vaccination effort will bring approximately 500 additional doses to Union County each week.
UCHD Public Information Officer Jennifer Thrush said the health department is excited to welcome ONU’s clinic to Union County.
“We continue to see a greater demand for vaccine within our community than available supply,” Thrush said. “This additional vaccine will certainly benefit our community.”
Even beyond their efforts in the fight against COVID-19, Kier said the Mobile Health Clinic positively impacts many people, in many communities.
She said it all began with Marysville High School teachers who “really cared” and encouraged her to pursue her dreams.
“I want people to know, this good thing started in this town,” she said.