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Mary Mallory, Iredell Health System’s clinical pharmacy coordinator, will retire on January 3.

“The caring staff and family atmosphere at Iredell have made it a wonderful place to begin and end my career, and I treasure the friendships I have made here,” Mallory said.

Mallory volunteered at Iredell Memorial Hospital beginning at age 13.

“As a child, I grew up hearing stories about my grandfather who practiced in the 1920s and 1930s as a physician at Long’s Hospital, the precursor to Iredell Memorial Hospital,” she said. “Through those stories, I internalized the important role of healthcare in community service and decided to become a volunteer candy striper at Iredell in 1970.

“After changing beds and filling water pitchers for a few months, a need opened up in the pharmacy for a volunteer. And volunteer work developed into a part-time pharmacy technician position during high school.”

After developing a love for volunteering in the pharmacy, Mallory went on to earn a bachelor of science in pharmacy from the University of North Carolina. She also became certified in anticoagulation management.

Mallory worked as a pediatric clinical pharmacist at Duke Medical Center and North Carolina Baptist Hospital before returning to Iredell Memorial Hospital in 1984. She worked as a staff pharmacist with the Hospital for 25 years before becoming its clinical pharmacy coordinator in 2009.

Mallory developed and advanced clinical pharmacy services throughout the Health System, including anticoagulation services, the antimicrobial stewardship program, drug dosing and monitoring protocols, clinical pharmacy regulatory compliance, student preceptorships, and educational programs. She served on the Pharmacy & Therapeutics and Antimicrobial Stewardship committees.

Laura Rollings will replace Mallory as the Hospital’s clinical pharmacy coordinator. Rollings has worked as a clinical staff pharmacist with Iredell Memorial Hospital for three years.

“I am delighted that Laura Rollings is taking on the role of Iredell’s next clinical pharmacy coordinator, and I know everyone will love working with her,” Mallory said.
Mallory is beloved by the pharmacy staff as well as the nursing and medical staffs she works with so closely. She remains active in the community, having served in the Western Avenue Baptist church and on the boards of several nonprofit organizations.

Retirement will also be a busy time for Mallory.

“We should not retire from something but to something,” Mallory said. “Having been blessed with five grandchildren in the last two years, I look forward to transitioning from coordinating clinical pharmacy services to coordinating playtimes with these little darlings. I am also excited to have opportunities to participate in community service and mission work.”

Mallory will assume a pro re nata (PRN) status with the Health System, remaining available as situations demand.

“You never really leave a place you love,” Mallory said. “Part of it you take with you, leaving a part of you behind.”