Alumni Feature: Matthew Walker
College of Pharmacy alumnus Matthew Walker (‘10) is using his experience and education from Idaho State University as he serves now as CEO of William Bee Ririe Hospital in Ely, NV. Just four years after earning his PharmD from ISU, Walker was promoted to oversee the hospital’s 175 employees and $40 million budget. Walker says his time at ISU left him well rounded and able to take on increased leadership roles.
Walker’s college education started at Brigham Young University – Idaho, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Biology in 2006. He then began his education as a pharmacist at ISU, graduating in 2010. Walker’s education continued and he later earned his Masters of Business Administration from Ohio University in 2015, but not before completing several accomplishments in his professional career.
Following his graduation from the ISU College of Pharmacy, Walker began working as a Hospital Pharmacist at William Bee Ririe Hospital where he increased revenues by revamping inventories and fixing billing to ensure profitability, started a Coumadin Clinic which now has 150 patients, organized a Pharmaceutics and Therapeutics committee and expanded and updated the standard of care to be more in compliance with national guidelines. Just four years later, his hard work rewarded him with the position as CEO at the same hospital. Under Walker’s leadership, the hospital has received the Nevada Hospital Association 2014 Reducing Harm Award, the Nevada Donor Network 2014 Most Improved Hospital Award, the Nevada Donor Network 2015 Most Collaborative Award and the Nevada Rural Hospital Partners 2016 Most Financially Stable Critical Hospital in Nevada Award. Walker also served on the Medical Malpractice Board, Nevada hospital Association and is the Financial Chairman and Board Member of Nevada Rural Hospital Partners.
Walker also finds opportunities to enjoy spending time with his wife, five children, up to three foster children, two dogs, two cats, parrot and six chickens. Walker also enjoys snowboarding, camping, running, rock climbing, being actively engaged in scouting in his local troop and various other church callings.
Walker says he is appreciative of his time at ISU which prepared him to interact with pharmacists from all over the country. Walker was recruited to William Bee Ririe Hospital by ISU alumnus Dale Derbidge (’73). Walker has since recruited ISU alumnus Daren Kunz, PharmD (‘10) as his replacement in the hospital pharmacy. Due to the college’s commitment to preparing leaders in pharmacy, ISU is well represented in Northern Nevada.
Written by: Jake Dixon
