SWOSU Press Release

Weatherford, OK – Dr. Kalie Kerth has been named director of the Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) College of Pharmacy Rural Health Center. A SWOSU alumna and longtime member of the College of Pharmacy faculty, Kerth brings years of experience in clinical pharmacy, rural healthcare, and community-based programming across western Oklahoma. Her appointment became effective July 1, 2025.

Kerth earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from SWOSU in 2011, graduating summa cum laude. After working in retail pharmacy throughout rural parts of the state, she returned to SWOSU in 2014 to help establish and lead the Remote Medication Order Processing (RMOP) Pharmacy. The program provides medication order review for critical access hospitals and helps fill pharmacy care gaps in small communities. Through a partnership with the OSU Center for Rural Health, the RMOP Pharmacy has also become a training space for student pharmacists preparing to serve in rural areas.

In addition to her clinical work, Kerth has helped lead numerous grant-funded efforts tied to health education, family support, and workforce development. She co-authored the USDA School-Based Telehealth grant, which expanded medical access for thousands of students in rural school districts, and serves as co-principal investigator for SWOSU Work Ready Weatherford, a multi-million dollar program focused on job preparedness and long-term economic stability in western Oklahoma. Other recent grant work has supported maternal and child health services, food insecurity programs, and early childhood resources for families in need.

The Rural Health Center is part of SWOSU’s continued effort to expand access to healthcare across the state through pharmacy education and collaborative partnerships. The center works closely with rural hospitals and clinics to serve medically underserved populations while also providing hands-on training to student pharmacists in areas like diabetes education, medication therapy management, and transitional care.

Kerth grew up in Forgan and has remained involved in a wide range of community initiatives throughout her career. She is the founder and executive director of Harley’s House Crisis Nursery Association, a nonprofit that offers diapers, formula, childcare supplies, and other essentials to families at no cost. She currently serves as Vice-Chair of the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth, where she was first appointed by the Governor in 2019. She also sits on the Custer Country Board of Health and participates in several local and regional efforts related to child welfare, family support, and opioid prevention.

For more information about the SWOSU College of Pharmacy Rural Health Center, visit https://www.swosu.edu/pharmacy/rhc/.

About Southwestern Oklahoma State University

Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) was founded in 1901 and offers over 100 undergraduate and graduate programs across three locations in Weatherford, Sayre, and Yukon. The university serves over 5,000 scholars and prides itself on affordability, small class sizes, and over 200 faculty and staff committed to helping students achieve their academic and personal goals.