January 24, 2024
Grace Marley, Pharm.D. ‘23, will join the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy in February as a research assistant professor in the Division of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy (DPOP) positioned at the Southeastern Area Health Education Center (SEAHEC) in Wilmington, North Carolina.
“I am most excited about this role given the opportunities to make a true impact through research in coastal North Carolina,” said Marley. “There are so many incredible initiatives already up and running in that area to counteract the opioid epidemic, however I am excited to truly give a voice to the impact that pharmacy, and in particular community pharmacy, can have to reduce overdose burden in this community.”
Marley, who grew up in Eastern North Carolina, is a recent graduate of the School and works as a postdoctoral fellow under Delesha Carpenter, Ph.D., associate professor and executive vice chair of DPOP. Marley’s primary research interests include community pharmacist interventions to counteract the opioid epidemic, efforts to increase access to harm reduction services and preferred patient and caregiver communication practices.
Her role will work with SEAHEC and the University of North Carolina at Wilmington to grow and develop research collaborations in coastal North Carolina, particularly centered around pharmacy interventions to counteract the opioid overdose crisis. Marley will also mentor Pharm.D. students, medical students and undergraduate and graduate students in research who are based at UNC-Wilmington and SEAHEC, along with meeting regularly with undergraduates interested in applying for or enrolled in the School’s early assurance program. In addition, she will work with the interprofessional education team and continuing education group to offer more opportunities for students and pharmacists in the area.
Marley’s role builds upon the School’s partnerships in the region, and she will report to Betsy Sleath, Ph.D., Regional Associate Dean for Eastern North Carolina.
“We are super excited to have recruited Grace Marley for this important new role,” said Sleath. “She will help our school expand research, Pharm.D. student recruitment, interprofessional education and partnerships in the SEAHEC region. She has a strong clinical and research background and is an excellent communicator and team player. I look forward to her meeting and working with our students, partners and alumni.”
Marley has published seven peer-reviewed articles on community pharmacy-based interventions to counteract the opioid epidemic. She has presented her work on a local, national and international level. The UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy is part of the Novant Health, UNC Health and UNC School of Medicine Affiliation which is funding this position.
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