Xavier alumnus Dr. Alex Ambeau (‘08) was called upon to assist in establishing a field vaccination and medicine pharmacy at Joint Base McGuire Dix Lakehurst in New Jersey. Air National Guard members, reservists, and active-duty personnel from across the country arrived in New Jersey to help evacuees from Afghanistan adjust to a new life in America. For five months, Ambeau served as Pharmacy Director at the Fort McGuire joint military base. He provided over 18,000 Afghan refugees with access to vaccinations and medications, distributing thousands of vaccinations offering protection against COVID-19, measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox.

Dr. Ambeau has never shied away from a challenge. When he arrived in New Jersey, he brought a great willingness to help others and pharmaceutical knowledge to make the transition as Pharmacy Director efficient and effective. Upon Dr. Ambeau’s arrival, he discovered he was the only pharmacist on site responsible for providing over 18,000 Afghans with medicine. He also learned there was no pharmacy or military hospital tent, both of which were built during his time on base.

“When I got there, I started with a little department in the gym and established the pharmacy on a racquetball court,” shared Dr. Ambeau. “I spent my first day straightening up because medicine was thrown all over the floor. I created an A-Z system as you would see at a pharmacy. I began organizing and categorizing medicine based on my retail and pharmacy experience.”

Dr. Ambeau was given three nurses to assist him in combat the lack of available pharmacists and technicians. He was also provided with an interpreter to combat language barriers, ensuring accurate communication. In his first few days, he realized the base lacked many necessities typically required in pharmacy settings.

“Normally, when you work at a pharmacy, you will have vials, counting trays, and spatulas, but I did not have any of that. There was no rule book of what to do, so I had to come up with my own because everyone was looking to me,” shared Dr. Ambeau.

In his first week, the measles and tuberculous outbreak required him to be isolated in one area of the base. Dr. Ambeau also did not know where his medications were being supplied from, later learning the drugs needed for the refugees were being shipped internationally from Dubai.

As Dr. Ambeau waited to receive medicine shipments from across the country, the process proved to be long and cumbersome. After receiving shipments, there were still many medications and supplies missing. Some medicines he did not receive, and others were in meager quantities and not enough to meet the needs of 18,000 people. He worked through these hurdles by rationing medicine to ensure everyone would get the necessary dosages. He also took the initiative to find an independent pharmacy where he could source, receive, and administer medications quickly and avoid running out of what he had on hand.

“I had patients with seizures, diabetes, and syphilis that needed certain types of medications that were not sent from Dubai,” shared Dr. Ambeau. “With the military, I was able to form a contract with Rite-Aid, CVS, and Walgreens to get medicine. These partnerships made it possible for me to order and receive things through them the next day.”

Dr. Ambeau developed a strategy to ensure everyone would receive their required dosages, such as using Ziploc bags in place of prescription bottles. This system helped him monitor which day and how many dosages were administered.

“When I did not have prescription bottles, I wrote on Ziploc bags to help make sure I was giving out the right doses that day. Typically, retailers use typewriters where everything is already typed out, such as chart numbers, drug names, and the quantities that are supposed to be given. I did not have a typewriter, so I had to make my own,” stated Dr. Ambeau. “Some of the antibiotics we could not get for little kids. I would mix antibiotics in applesauce so kids could get their dose because if not, they would not get it.”

An engineer on base helped Dr. Ambeau design a pharmacy from scratch. The two collaborated to select a location, the internal setup, and even the amount of shelving needed to house medications.

Dr. Ambeau received recognition from multiple high-ranked officials, including the attorney general of the Biden administration, recognition of his outstanding accomplishments in a short amount of time during his brief station at the military base. Additional pharmacists were later sent, which also helped tremendously. The newly constructed pharmacy ran 24 hours Monday through Friday, where Dr. Ambeau worked 12 hours and developed a schedule for his overlapping pharmacist and night pharmacist.

From his experience at the military base, Dr. Ambeau has learned to appreciate things we sometimes take for granted, such as accessible medication. He also learned how to be creative and adaptable under pressure. He adapted, thinking quickly during emergency circumstances and stressful situations to best serve his patients. 

As a Xavier College of Pharmacy graduate, Dr. Ambeau emphasizes that he learned how to rise to the occasion from his college and management experiences. Xavier provided a great foundation of knowledge and prepared him on how to work through complex challenges. He was introduced to the field of pharmacy through his father, who worked at a Veterans Affairs hospital. Dr. Ambeau also grew up with a history of seizures, giving him a special appreciation for the medical field.

“I like what medicine can do to help others,” expressed Dr. Ambeau.

Dr. Ambeau’s Xavier experience also fostered his love of medicine and pharmacy.

“Xavier was wonderful and extremely helpful. The university’s structure prepared me for pharmacy, clinical work, and the real world. I was also prepared for communication and social interactions with patients, compared to other colleges that may offer only book knowledge,” said Dr. Ambeau. “I learned how to interact as a pharmacist in the community. Some pharmacists do not learn the proper communication skills or know-how to effectively communicate with the public. Xavier advocates for helping the community, and that was a big plus for me.”

Dr. Ambeau’s advice for Xavierites is to be passionate about your studies and enter a career you genuinely care about. Pharmacy is an evolving and demanding career, so he emphasizes the importance of being fully prepared for what may lie ahead.

“Our job is getting more respected. A lot of doctors depend on pharmacists for calculating dosages of weight and clearances. People thought of us as only counting pills and putting them in a bottle. It is more clinical now, so pharmacy is going to a whole new level,” shared Dr. Ambeau.

He also encourages pharmacy graduates to consider residency as it opens doors to a pharmacy career outside of retail settings. He expresses that completing a residency specializing in oncology, emergency medicine, hypertension, or others is beneficial to working in hospital settings.

Dr. Ambeau found his military base experience to be rewarding. He was stationed at Fort Defiance Indian Hospital in Arizona, serving as a clinical pharmacist after leaving the base. With a team of pharmacists, Dr. Ambeau and his colleagues work together to serve Indigenous Americans. Their dedication and efforts have provided a structured framework where patients have easy access to clinical pharmacists to manage their care. The skills and values instilled in Dr. Ambeau during his time at Xavier have allowed him to navigate obstacles thrown in his path. He is an embodiment of Xavier excellence and is proof that with resilience and determination, it is possible to conquer any challenge.