A Unique Bond: Mother and Son
Imagine sharing a college classroom with your mother—how would that feel? For one University of Toledo alumnus, it was both unexpected and a rewarding experience. Dr. Jamie Reuter ’00 and his mother, Chresteen Reuter ’99 already shared a deep passion for pharmacy, but their time together at UToledo brought a unique dimension to their bond. Chresteen Reuter, who began her Pre-Pharmacy studies at UToledo in 1996, was just a few years ahead of Jamie in the program. Being classmates was an entirely new experience for both.
“It took a little getting used to,” Reuter reflects. “But seeing my mother in class or in the hallways, having her there with me, it created a unique and special bond that I’ll always treasure.”
A Legacy of Pharmacy
Reuter’s journey into pharmacy was shaped by family tradition. He became the third generation in his family to pursue the profession, completing his Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy at Ferris State in 1996. After a brief detour into retail pharmacy, he returned to academia to pursue a Doctor of Pharmacy degree at The University of Toledo, which would bring him even closer to his mother’s path.
In fact, Reuter had the honor of serving as a teaching assistant in the pharmacy practice lab for his mother’s class, a role reversal that he describes as both humorous and challenging.
“I grew up in a small town where my family knew everyone who came through the pharmacy door,” Reuter shares. “Now, I was working with my mother, overseeing her take phone orders and counsel patients in a role that I’d always been in.”
Continuing the Journey Together
This camaraderie didn’t end with graduation. Even after Reuter earned his degree in 2000, he and Chresteen kept working together, often sharing shifts at local independent pharmacies where they both filled in when needed. They also supported nearly 10 other independent pharmacies, helping during vacations, holidays, sick days, and events when the pharmacy owners needed a pharmacist. These years provided Reuter the chance to mentor and work alongside his mother, cultivating a shared understanding of pharmacy that only a parent and child could experience.
A Shared Honor
The bond only grew stronger when they both earned membership in Rho Chi, the pharmacy honor society, making the accomplishment even more special for their family.
Chresteen’s pharmacy career spanned over 25 years. She worked as a staff pharmacist specializing in compounding and vaccinations. During the global pandemic, she played a critical role in administering more than 500 COVID-19 vaccines to her community. After decades of service, she retired in late 2024, but her legacy endures through her work and the lives she touched, including her son’s.
For Reuter, his career took many unexpected turns after completing his Doctor of Pharmacy at UToledo. He went on to complete residencies in pharmacy practice and critical care before stepping into leadership roles in clinical pharmacy, including his work as a clinical specialist in critical care at Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. Over the years, Reuter’s path shifted further as he worked to improve healthcare accessibility in underserved communities, develop clinical pharmacist call centers for Medicare patients and accepted leadership roles at health insurance companies like CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield.
Mentorship and Teaching
Throughout his career, Jamie’s greatest satisfaction has come from mentoring others. “Being able to teach and guide students or colleagues has been the most rewarding part of my career,” he says. “I’ve spent almost three decades helping shape the future of pharmacy and showing people the many careers that exist beyond just retail or hospital pharmacy.”
For Reuter, having his mother by his side throughout his journey has been both grounding and inspiring. “She’s been my biggest supporter, and I’ve had the privilege of being by her side as well,” Jamie shares. “From the classrooms at UToledo to the pharmacy counter in our hometown, we’ve always had each other’s backs. That’s something I’ll cherish forever.”