From an early age, Brooke Patterson (DP’04) witnessed her family’s commitment to lifting
up others—an experience that led her to make a double impact for Purdue students and the Indianapolis community.
In July, Patterson made a gift to name Purdue’s Patterson-McCallum-Mareta Charitable Pharmacy at Gleaners Food Bank’s south Indianapolis facility.
“The name honors my family, who were my first role models in giving back,” Patterson says. “Their legacy continues to guide my own path in service. This ethos—that service is fundamental to who we are—is the cornerstone of the new pharmacy.”
Staffed by pharmacists, students, and volunteers, the pharmacy will provide free medications to uninsured and underinsured people.
“Just as important, this will be a training ground where Purdue pharmacy students will learn how to care not just for illnesses, but for people,” Patterson says. “They will come face to face with the real, human side of health care.”
During her time as a pharmacy student, Patterson worked at the Purdue University Pharmacy, where she fondly remembers applying her coursework alongside her closest friends. She also experienced several other immersive working and learning experiences.
“I conducted self-study with my mentor, Dr. Nick Popovich, and became involved in a health outreach program for unhoused individuals in nearby Lafayette,” Patterson says. “This was my first encounter with community health workers, and I learned the profound impact of treating patients with dignity and compassion.”
Now serving as the therapeutic area lead for leukemia and lymphoma at Johnson & Johnson Medical Affairs, Patterson helps doctors and researchers understand approved and investigational drug therapy options.
“Because of Purdue, I had gained wonderful experiences in communicating with patients and considering each one as an individual with unique needs and complexities,” Patterson says. “This continues to influence how I think about patient impact in my current role.”
“This was my first encounter with community health workers, and I learned the profound impact of treating patients with dignity and compassion.”
—Calandra Weaver
