Katherine Tromp, Pharm.D., joined NEOMED as senior associate dean of education in the College of Pharmacy in March 2021, when most people were still working remotely. In fact, she spent her first few months on the job working from an office in Florida.
An unusual start for someone who was attracted to NEOMED in large part because of the people.
“I find the most important part of any position is enjoying the people that you're around,” she says. “I felt like I was going to have that here. Of course, the reputation of the College is great and I was excited to be part of that, too!”
Dr. Tromp was naturally drawn to the field of pharmacy because it paired her love of science and people. Growing up in Maine, she “took every single science class that was available to take,” she recalls.
After earning her doctorate from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Dr. Tromp considered a career in laboratory research. “After working in a lab, I realized I didn't talk to enough people. You could be in there [the lab] and not ever talk to people for days,” she says.
First Year Initiatives
As associate dean, Dr. Tromp oversees the implementation of pharmacy curriculum, staying up to date on developments in pharmacy education, advising the curriculum committee and making sure “all of the logistical parts of having a curriculum are met.”
Among the initiatives she has helped bring to fruition during her first year at NEOMED are the launch of curriculum concentrations in interprofessional collaboration and in research, as well as developing a formal structure to help students prepare for licensing exams.
And her plans for the coming year?
“I want to increase awareness of the dual degree opportunities that our students have,” she says. “I want to work with the College of Graduate Studies to do that as well as the certificate programs that we have there. I want to make sure that our students are well aware of the different opportunities that we have for them to distinguish themselves.”
Relaxing with a Good Book… and a Half Marathon
When she has time to relax, Dr. Tromp enjoys reading and running.
Her current book? “The Outlander series. I'm on book seven on that journey,” she says.
While most of her running recently has been limited to the treadmill, she does hope to break her “half marathon curse” this fall.
“This is my third one I've signed up for. My first one, I got strep throat the night before.” (She ran any way, but didn’t feel good).
Five years later, she tried again, training and signing up for a half marathon scheduled for April 2020. Which of course was cancelled. Hopefully, the third time is a charm!
Visitors to her office may notice the Tupac doll on the shelf. “My husband gives me really weird Mother's Day gifts. This was one of them,” she says.
Dr. Tromp and husband, Dan, have two children -- Andrew, 9, and Benjamin, 5 – and two dogs, Bubby and Bella.