Dr. Jeremy Moretz is currently a PGY2 cardiology pharmacy resident at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. In May 2008, Dr. Moretz received his undergraduate degree in religious studies: history and thought at Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, North Carolina, and in May 2012, received his Pharm.D. degree from the University of North Carolina (UNC) Eshelman School of Pharmacy. After completing his PGY1 pharmacy practice residency at Vanderbilt, he was selected to stay on as the university’s first PGY2 resident in cardiology, his current course of study. Dr. Moretz’s future career interests include pursuing a cardiovascular practice, obtaining an academic appointment at a college of pharmacy, and conducting research in heart failure. Throughout his pharmacy studies and residency training, he has maintained an active role in ACCP, serving as member-at-large in both the National Student Network and National Resident Advisory committees.
His interest in cardiology primarily stems from two highly influential life events. First, many years before considering a career in pharmacy, he watched as his grandfather suffered from heart failure, witnessing firsthand his grandfather’s day-to-day struggles with the burdens of his disease and the complexity of his medication regimen. After deciding to enter the profession, Dr. Moretz believed that it would be enriching to work with the cardiology patient population, both in educating them about their condition and in assisting them with optimizing their therapeutic regimen.
The second life event driving Dr. Moretz’s interest in cardiology originated in his own health problems. Having struggled with his weight for many years, he was given a diagnosis of hypertension at age 16 and placed on an aggressive antihypertensive regimen. When he was only 21 years old, he weighed 290 pounds. During his senior year of undergraduate study, he made a conscious decision to implement a complete lifestyle change. Over the next 6 years, he achieved a 115-pound weight loss and was eventually able to discontinue his antihypertensive therapy. He notes that it is incredibly rewarding to counsel patients who struggle with lifestyle modifications and to share with them his personal struggle, believing that, in so doing, he is able to give them a new perspective on weight loss. Implementation of weight loss is not (only) a factor in reality television shows but, with hard work and dedication, can also be accomplished by one’s own conscious choices and changes in lifestyle.
For Dr. Moretz, the greatest influence on his life is the exceptional mentorship he has been afforded during his studies at UNC and his pursuit of residency training at Vanderbilt. Time and again, he has been pushed to excel by his mentors. Moreover, countless preceptors and professors have shown him what it means to become a practicing pharmacy professional. Their demonstration of integrity and professional excellence, together with their commitment to the profession, lifelong academic pursuit, collegial relationship building, professional networking, and ability to maintain a healthy work-life balance, has been life-changing. According to Dr. Moretz, who has found the wisdom and guidance of his mentors, preceptors, and professors deeply influential, it is wise to learn from those who have walked a similar path before you. His appreciation to all who have served as mentors to him and as otherwise exemplars of scholarship at UNC and Vanderbilt is heartfelt.
Of note, Dr. Moretz is also an avid musician (both piano and guitar) who will be presiding over his oldest and best friend’s wedding as an ordained minister.