STUDENT LIFE I INTERNATIONAL I SOCIAL CLUBS I ACADEMICS I PEOPLE I LEADERSHIP I ATHLETICS I ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH PRAYER Graduate student Hallie O'Quine underwent a double-lung transplant while completing her MBA. S tudents often compared their college experiences and joked about who had the hardest major, but pharmacy graduate student Hallie O'Quine knew what it meant to work through struggles. O 'Quine completedher first year of pharmacy school and enrolled in the online MBA program while battling an autoimmune disease which necessitated a double lung transplant. "H allie's resolve is amazing, and she is an inspiration to all who know of her," Dr. Jeff Mercer, associate professor and dean of the College of Pharmacy, said. "She experienced a decline in her physical condition in the spring of 2018, but she continued accending class and completed all of her curricular requirements. She admits that it's difficult to have idle time while she waits for news of an organ match, so she's enrolled in Harding's online MBA program and is completing the leveling courses and will be working toward her MBA degree." Instructor and Director of Pharmacy Student Affairs Susan Grace rexted O'Quine weekly to check on her and said O'Quine was a great student and communication with her was always positive. O'Quine was granted a medical leave of absence for the fall 2018 semester while awaiting a transplant in Houston,Texas, and the Harding University College of Pharmacy (HUCOP) faculty prayed for her during meetings and looked to support her in many ways. Mercer said that O'Quine's classmates organized a fundraiser for O'Quine by creating a T-shirt campaign for her. The pharmacy class used social media to ln April 2017, graduate student Hallie O'Quinegraduates as an undergraduate student at Xavier University in New Orleans, Louisiana. After graduating from Xavier University, O'Quine enrolted in the Harding University pharmacy program. I photo courtesy of Hallie O'Quine Graduate student Hallie O'Quine walks the George S. Benson Auditorium stage in August 2017 to receive her white coat as initiation to the pharmacy program. After accomplishing one year in the pharmacy program, O'Quine enroffed in the online M BA program due to her autoimmune disease. I photo courtesy of Hallie O'Quine share O'Q uine's story with students from other schools and groups associated with HUCOP. "She has such a positive mindset and gives all of her effort regardless of the situation," Mercer said. "Put simply, she looks to serve others rather than be served." Pharmacy graduate student Brooke Boston, one of O'Quine's classmates, said that it was amazing to see people in the pharmacy profession from all over the nation show their support. "The entire HUCOP family, and especially our P2 class, constantly has Hallie on our minds," Boston said. "We have been praying fervently for her strength and that she will be able to reunite with us soon." O'Quine's doctors expected that she would be able to return to Harding in six months to a year after her transplant. O'Quine expressed positivity despite her circumstances. "I just know that Christ gives me the strength to make it each day," O'Quine said. "And it just shows me how if you sow something, then you'll reap, and when I gave up my pride and let everyone know about my illness, it showed me how much people cared. Once I finish school, I hope to excel in my profession and to be able to help others that might be going through something like what I'm going through." story by Macy McClung 178
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