Audis Bethea
December 2014: Audis Bethea, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Audis Bethea serves as a clinician scientist for WVCTSI. He has a split clinical and research position in which he practices as a clinical pharmacy specialist primarily in the Surgical Trauma Intensive Care Unit at Charleston Area Medical Center (CAMC) and conducts research under WVCTSI. He received his Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Pharmacy degrees from the Medical University of South Carolina.
Dr. Bethea sat down with our WVCTSI communications team to speak about his work and life outside the Institute.
What do you find unique about your line of work in translational sciences?
One of the things I would say is most unique is for someone of the pharmacy profession to be in a position such as this where I can study something with no pharmaceutical relevance and still have a pharmaceutical related practice.
What are some of the main themes you see influencing WVCTSI in the future?
I think that it starts with education and then logistics, overcoming personal and professional barriers, and collaboration.
What upcoming trends nationwide do you think will be a major factor in translational research growth?
There is always ongoing change in the focus of where research funding is directed; right now I think that Geriatrics is a hot area of research. Something that I think will be developed more deeply in the future is infectious disease research.
How would you describe how WVCTSI has benefited you personally?
Honestly, I have yet to take advantage of it, as I should have because I was not aware of all of the benefits and resources that WVCTSI made available to me. However, I predict that WVCTSI will benefit me most in the ways of collaboration with others.
What initially sparked your interest in translational science?
It started in residency. I had a not so favorable perception of research until I was doing it in my second year of residency. I became fascinated in applying scenario’s I had worked with before to new scenarios, I loved the element of the unknown when conducting research, and the formulation of the research plan.
What motivates you to come to work everyday?
It used to be purely the ability to be involved in bedside patient care, it still is, but now that I have protected time for research I am able to approach patient care from a different angle and take some of my skills, knowledge, and experience in a different direction to improve the way we deal with scenarios. It really is my dream job to have time for both practice and research.
What is your favorite thing about West Virginia?
I have three! One is when I drive home to South Carolina in the spring and summer and seeing all the green trees off of the side of the interstate. Second, everyone is so unbelievably nice! And lastly, I love that West Virginia actually has all four seasons as opposed to the hot weather in South Carolina.
How do you spend your free time?
I spend a lot of my free time with my wife and daughter and I also love to watch movies! The last movie I watched was the Lone Survivor -- incredible movie.
What was the last concert you attended?
In college I was really into bands like Sister Hazel, Squeezebox, and Uncle Mingo. But I think the most recent concert I’ve been to was Keith Urban.