Gov. Mike Beebe recently announced the appointment of Darla York, P.D., of Salem to the Ozarka College Board of Trustees. Her term will expire July 2018.
York is a native of Salem and is the owner and pharmacist of Salem Drug Store.
Darla York, P.D., of Salem to the Ozarka College Board of Trustees
Her appointment will fill the vacancy left by Ms. Barbara Perryman when her term expired in July. The Board of Trustees includes Mr. Bennie Cooper of Melbourne – chair, Mr. Dennis Wiles of Horseshoe Bend – vice-chair, Mr. Larry Sullivan of Mountain View – secretary, Mr. Bob Evins of Cherokee Village, Mr. Paul Weaver of Violet Hill, and Mr. Jack Yancey of Brockwell.
“Although we will certainly miss the leadership and strong support provided by former Trustee Barbara Perryman, we are extremely pleased with the Governor’s appointment of Darla York.,” said Ozarka College President Richard Dawe. “She will provide a strong and supportive voice from Fulton County and will make an outstanding addition to the Ozarka College team! I look forward to serving the learners of our four county service region with Trustee York.”
York earned her Associate’s Degree from Arkansas State University-Beebe, a two-year college that is part of the ASU System, and earned her Doctorate of Pharmacy from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock.
After graduating from high school, York chose the community college route because she recognized the advantage of the affordable education offered by two-year institutions. She said she believes she was better prepared for the challenges of pharmacy school because of her decision and she wants to help educate residents in the area of the benefits of attending Ozarka College after high school or if they’re considering going back to school.
“I see growth with Ozarka College,” she said. “I see good things coming from there and I want to improve the perception in this area. I don’t want anyone to think you get a substandard education from Ozarka College. With the economy the way it is, I want people to know you can get an affordable, quality education closer to home.”
After York’s graduation from UAMS, she worked as a troubleshooter for USA Drug, an Arkansas-based drug store, for two years where she traveled and trained pharmacists in newly implemented computer systems. In 1989 she returned to Salem and became the Director of Pharmacy at the Fulton County Hospital, a position she still holds, and opened her own business in 1998.
She has served as the President of the Arkansas Consultant Pharmacists Association and as a board member for the Arkansas Pharmacist Association. She is also a board member for the North Arkansas Development Council, a position she has served in for the past decade.
York and her husband Ted have three children: their daughter Shelby is attending the University of Central Arkansas where she is in the Occupational Therapy program, their son Carson is studying biology at UCA and their son Layton is a sophomore at Salem High School.
