By Matt Schabert, Morehead State Athletic Media Relations
MOREHEAD, Ky. – Caitlin (Clark) Hohman and Jordan Jones share two things in common. Both were highly successful setters for the Morehead State volleyball program and now both are “assisting” people in the medical field as well. While they might be from different eras in Eagle Volleyball history, both share a passion for the pharmaceutical field.
Hohman, originally from Edgewood, Ky., helped guide the Eagle offense from 2009-12, also helping to secure Morehead State’s first-ever NCAA Tournament berth in 2011. Jones, from Blythewood, S.C., ran the offense from 2015-18 and also split time as a hitter too. The pair combined for 3,925 assists during their careers.
Hohman is now the Transitions of Care Pharmacist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. Jones is an intern at Prisma Health Pharmacy in a hospital in Columbia ,S.C. Both have seen rapid changes in the field since the COVID-19 pandemic has unfolded but both are reassured that their facility has protected them.
“As COVID-19 has unfolded, we have seen a lot of changes both at the hospital. The pharmacy is located in one of the hospital buildings attached to a parking garage, so in response to COVID-19, we closed our lobby and transitioned to mail-order and drive-thru/curbside operations,” said Jones. “We run our drive thru on the second floor of the parking garage and the COVID test site is directly beneath us on the first floor, so we get a lot of patients that come through thinking we are administering COVID tests. The hospital has provided us with masks and gloves to wear during the day, and our inpatient pharmacy has made us hand sanitizer to use in between each patient.”
Hohman, who was a First-Team All-Ohio Valley Conference and AVCA All-Region honoree in 2011, echoed the sentiment.
“I am lucky to work for an organization that has been proactive as well as adaptable,” she said. “We are updated daily by both the hospital and pharmacy administration and are extremely well supported. Working directly with patients, I now wear a face mask and goggles throughout my shift. We have ramped up our PPE requirements for families and staff and reduced the amount of visitors coming in and out of the hospital.”
For Hohman her passion started with the thought of helping people through her love for science and math.
“Healthcare has been a passion of mine for a very long time. It started with a love of science, math and helping people but very quickly changed when I enrolled in pharmacy school,” she said. “I love being a part of a team of physicians, pharmacists, nurses, physical and occupational therapists, respiratory therapists, psychiatry and Ss many more. We work as a team to get the best results for each patient. Each of us has an important role to play, and that role is constantly changing and adapting. Now more than ever, we are being as innovative and collaborative as possible to take care of our patients. What’s not to love?”
Jones said a family legacy led her to healthcare.
“My family has a lot of people in the healthcare field so I grew up around it and have always been drawn to working in a hospital,” she said.
So how have these new experiences and adaptations powered both of their lives?
“I am thankful that my job allows the opportunity I have to contribute in a fulfilling way. I enjoy what I do because I get to see all of the patients right before they leave the hospital, most often meaning they’re better),” she stated. “Getting to be a part of that journey is special for me. In my personal life, my family and friends are spread out among the Midwest. I have pushed myself to stay in better contact with family and friends in as many ways as possible. This includes a standing date with some of my former teammates to check in and make sure everyone is doing okay.”
Jones, who won MSU’s Best Female Performance in 2017-18 for posting a triple-double, admits her priorities have been to focus on completing school.
“I am currently in pharmacy school so I’m having to do all of my classes online, which was very difficult at first, but I’ve been able to grow as a student by learning to be more focused. There are so many distractions at home that I don’t have to deal with at school, so this has definitely made me a better student.”
And Jones definitely credits her time as an Eagle, both on the indoor and outdoor beach courts, with shaping her.
“The emphasis that MSU Athletics, especially volleyball and beach volleyball, has on academics is a huge reason why I’ve been successful in school through COVID. I’ve been in situations where I’ve had to learn in circumstances that I wasn’t used to, so adapting to online classes was an easier transition for me than it would have been without MSU indoor and beach volleyball.”
For Hohman, her time as an Eagle with head coach Jaime Gordon and staff, as well as the academic faculty, taught her how to overcome adversity – just like in current times.
“The academic faculty at MSU were incredible in helping me prepare for my future in the healthcare field. From accommodating my hectic in-season schedule, to helping me through the pharmacy school application process they played a huge role in my career today,” she said. “The coaches and athletic staff at MSU pushed me to grow as an athlete and human being. I learned how to develop as an individual and contribute that development to the overall goal of a team. As an Eagle, I was also able to face and conquer adversity in many instances. I found my grit as an Eagle and have carried that with me through my pharmacy career, especially now.”
Finding that grit and overcoming adversity have been two reasons why Hohman and Jones have helped Eagle volleyball sustain success and why they are successful in their post-MSU life. Both are the perfect examples of why #EaglesAlwaysSoar.