Acting as a Lifeline in Rural North Carolina

Taylor Galyean, PharmD ’21, has been serving the rural community since attending the Asheville Campus of the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy.

Story by Sarah Clark | Photos provided by Taylor Galyean | Published May 27, 2025

One of the largest obstacles that rural communities face is equitable access to quality health care. For many people in these areas, the nearest provider can be a 30-minute drive from their home or longer. In this health care desert, often including hospitals, clinics, or specialty care services, pharmacists have a unique challenge and opportunity to serve this population.

Originally from Candler, NC, Taylor Galyean, PharmD ’21, has been serving the rural community since attending the Asheville Campus of the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. Taylor chose the Asheville campus for the smaller class size, where she could get more individualized interactions with the faculty and with her fellow classmates. Here, it really felt like a tight-knit community. Her love of community translates into the work she does now as a pharmacist.

Congruent with the School’s mission to train NC residents who will go on to serve the people of the state, Taylor has stayed in the area and now works as a pharmacist at the Walgreens in Bryson City – the only pharmacy in Bryson City and one of the only pharmacies within a 20-30-mile radius. This poses a unique challenge for Taylor and her colleagues. “There are a lot of patients who come to our pharmacy, so a lot of people rely on us,” explains Taylor. Due to the scarcity of pharmacies, this Walgreens has a very high volume of patients, many of whom have a long drive to receive their medication or care.

Taylor’s primary responsibilities include administering immunizations, answering questions when doctor’s offices are closed, and educating patients about available immunizations and care options. Another important responsibility includes helping patients manage their long-term treatment plans, such as checking that patients are on track with their medications and monitoring their own health. However, due to the high volume of patients, Taylor and her colleagues can’t dedicate as much time as they’d like to providing individualized care.

Independent community pharmacies, on the other hand, fill this gap particularly well. With a smaller volume of patients, pharmacists can establish better relationships and provide individualized care plans that best fit the patients’ needs. However, independent community pharmacies have been closing all over the state and beyond, further limiting access to high-quality and individualized care in rural communities.

One such location is Bryson City Pharmacy, an independent community pharmacy that operated out of Bryson City for 19 years until it was bought out by Walgreens. Taylor worked there prior to her current role. “At Bryson City Pharmacy, I felt like I pretty much knew [everyone],” says Taylor. “There was more of a chance to build those relationships with patients.” This is particularly crucial in rural communities, as pharmacists are some of the most accessible health-care resources for many people.

Stephanie Kiser, a Professor of the Practice and the Executive Director of the Rural Pharmacy Health Initiative, shares some insight into the impact that pharmacists have in rural communities. “Access to health care in rural North Carolina is a growing challenge, with shortages of health-care providers across all our rural counties. Community pharmacies can serve as the ‘front door’ to healthcare for many rural communities,” she explains. “The pharmacists in those settings are highly trained and well-positioned to play a greater role in addressing many of the gaps in care our rural communities experience. Smaller, independently owned pharmacies have a vested interest in their communities, because they are more often personally connected to the places they also call home.”

Despite these obstacles, Taylor is determined to provide her patients with quality care. “We all deserve to receive the same quality of care, and in these areas, there might not be resources for patients,” Taylor elaborates. To accomplish this goal, she works diligently with her team, ensuring consistent communication and collaboration, and utilizes the resources that are available to her to keep track of her patients and their medications.

Working at a busy pharmacy can be stressful and overwhelming, but Taylor emphasizes the importance of having patience and empathy for patients. She also recommends that current pharmacy students interested in rural health should look into the Rural Pharmacy Health Certificate Program, which is designed to prepare student pharmacists for collaborative, interprofessional practices that address the unique health-care needs of North Carolinians living in rural and small communities.

Beyond the pharmacy counter, Taylor continues to hone her skills and knowledge through reading and research to become the best pharmacist she can be, all while preparing to run her second marathon in October!