March 3, 2020
The UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy is thrilled to announce that Suzanne Harris, Pharm.D., has been named the School’s first Director of Well-Being and Resilience, effective June 1.
Well-Being and Resilience are significant concerns for clinicians, faculty, students, and staff across the nation. Burnout and mental health concerns are workplace challenges that increase the risk of employee turnover, decrease productivity and job satisfaction, lead to medication errors, and increase the risk of suicide. The UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy appointed a Task Force on Well-Being and Resilience in 2019, which emphasized the need to establish a School-wide Well-Being Initiative with supporting infrastructure, including a Director of Well-Being and Resilience, and a Well-Being Committee. The director will be responsible for overseeing, implementing, and assessing strategies that support and promote a culture of Well-Being within the School.
Currently, Suzanne is a clinical assistant professor in the School’s Division of Practice Advancement and Clinical Education, a board-certified psychiatric pharmacist, and a certified trainer for Mental Health First Aid. Her research is focused on stigma and mental health and their relation to holistic wellness in pharmacy students and pharmacists, as well as innovative practice models and teaching strategies. Her practice site is with UNC Hospital and Clinics, where she is involved with psychiatric medication management for patients with psychosomatic disorders and also serves as a preceptor for pharmacy students and residents.
Prior to being named director, Suzanne served as a co-chair for the Well-being and Resiliency Committee and was the lead for the Preventative Work Group for the UNC Eshelman’s Wellness and Resiliency Task Force.