Health-System Pharmacy Administration & Leadership Training Program
Our H.S.P.A.L. Training Program equips you with health-system pharmacy administration and leadership skills for today and tomorrow
The new Health-System Pharmacy Administration and Leadership Training Program is for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to gain important knowledge and skills in health-system pharmacy administration to enhance their current role, prepare for a future career move or to take a step towards considering our Master of Science concentrating in Health-System Pharmacy Administration Degree.
The online program is taught with both synchronous and asynchronous learning modules utilizing three Master of Science courses that provide training in the fundamentals of research and quality improvement, an in-depth overview of health systems and essential leadership and pharmacy administration skills. It is a yearlong program with a course offered in each of the three consecutive semesters – fall, spring and summer. Students can begin in any semester but must complete the program in a sequential order. Our dynamic, flexible program delivers:
- Pharmacy administration skills taught by renowned pharmacy educators
- Knowledge and skills to put into practice immediately in your current role
- M.S. program student and alumni professional networking and support
Register now for summer 2024. For financial assistance, consider reaching out to your workplace organization to take advantage of possible continued education reimbursement. Questions? Contact Stacey McGlothlin, program director, at stacey_mcglothlin@unc.edu.
| Register for summer 2024
$2,500 per participant |
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Subject: H.S.P.A.L. Training Program
Institution: UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy
Program Type: Virtual asynchronous and synchronous learning
Curriculum: Yearlong training in three consecutive semesters (fall, spring, summer)
Total Hours: 9 hours
Requirements: Completion of a quality improvement project, a capstone project and a personal mission statement
Registration: Register for non-credit certificate via Learning Stream portal. Upon registration, a letter of intent will be requested
Certificate: Provided electronically from the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy upon completion of requirements
Language: English
“Shaping the Future of Health-System Leaders”
INFORMATIONAL WEBINAR | MAY 29, 2024 | 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. ET
Join Program Director, Stephen F. Eckel, Pharm.D., M.H.A., for a discussion of the online H.S.P.A.L Training Program overview, along with the flexible, self-paced Master of Science concentrating in Health-System Pharmacy Administration. Both programs are designed for working professionals who want to advance their career as a pharmacy leader. Learn more about the innovative curriculum, interactive learning environment and how you can expand your network. Get your questions answered in a live Q&A!
Program Listing
The H.S.P.A.L. Training Program is a yearlong with a course offered in each of three consecutive semesters – fall, spring and summer. Students can begin the program in any semester and complete in a sequential order. Deliverables of the program are completion of a quality improvement project, completion of a capstone project and development of a personal mission statement.
Fall Semester
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- PACE 833 Overview to Health Systems: This course is designed to expose participants to real world issues facing health system pharmacy leaders and to teach participants to work through concepts, processes, and challenges that are and will be faced.
Spring Semester
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- PACE 820 Health-System Pharmacy Leadership: This course focuses on principles of leadership and strategies used by leaders, with an emphasis in health-system pharmacy. Active learning strategies are used to examine and model leadership principles.
Summer Semester
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- PACE 815 Evaluation Research and Project Design: This course provides formal instruction on critical components of evaluation research, study design, and data analyses that a Master in Pharmaceutical Sciences with a specialization in health system pharmacy administration graduate will need in the workplace.
Our Faculty Educators
Stephen F. Eckel, Pharm.D., M.H.A.
UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy
Director of M.S. Program in Health-System Pharmacy Administration
Associate Dean for Global Engagement
Associate Professor
seckel@unc.edu
Stephen F. Eckel is the associate dean for Global Engagement at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. He is also an associate professor in the Division of Practice Advancement and Clinical Education (PACE). In addition, he is director of the two-year master of science in pharmaceutical sciences with a specialization in health-system pharmacy administration. This degree is hosted at various sites across the country. At the UNC Medical Center, he is residency program director of the 2-year program in health-system pharmacy administration. He has worked with almost 250 residents over the years.
As an innovator and entrepreneur Eckel spearheaded the development of UNC Pharmacy Grand Rounds with ASHP and launched ChemoGLO, LLC with Bill Zamboni, Pharm.D., PhD. He also founded Assure Technologies, LLC, which is developing the Precynge medical device. He is the previous editor of the health-system edition of Pharmacy Times and a passionate supporter of the role of the pharmacist and the use of technology in patient care. He conducts and publishes his research and is frequently asked to speak around the world on these issues.
Eckel has been very active in the North Carolina Association of Pharmacists, serving in the past as president. He is a past member of the Board of Directors of American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. In 2012, he was presented the APhA Distinguished Achievement Award in Hospital and Institutional Practice and in 2013, he was awarded the Excellence in Innovation award by NCAP. In 2015, the ASHP Foundation awarded him the Pharmacy Residency Excellence Preceptor Award. He is a fellow of ASHP, APhA, ACCP, and the National Academies of Practice in Pharmacy.
Christopher R. Fortier, Pharm.D., FASHP
Boston, Massachusettes
chrisfortier13@gmail.com
Christopher Fortier received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Connecticut in 2003 and completed both a PGY1 Practice Residency and a PGY2 Health-System Pharmacy Administration Residency at the Medical University of South Carolina Medical Center. Additionally, Chris serves as an adjunct associate professor at the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Northeastern University School of Pharmacy and the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy.
In 2013 Fortier was recognized as a Fellow of ASHP and received the Tradition of Excellence Award from the University of Connecticut Alumni Association. Additionally, in 2008, he received the ASHP New Practitioner Forum’s Distinguished Service Award.
Robert P. Granko, Pharm.D., M.B.A., FASHP
System Director of Enterprise Pharmacy
Pharmacy Innovation Alliance at Geisinger
rgranko@geisinger.edu
Robert Granko, BScPhm, Pharm.D., M.B.A., FASHP System Director of Enterprise Pharmacy, Pharmacy Innovation Alliance at Geisinger. His previous experience includes roles as director, Field Pharmacy Services with Premier, director of pharmacy at the Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital. He has also held multiple senior pharmacy leadership positions at UNC Health Care.
Granko earned his BScPhm from Long Island University School of Pharmacy, his Pharm.D. from the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, and his M.B.A. from Pfeiffer University, School of Graduate Studies. He maintains an academic appointment as associate professor of Clinical Education and serves as course director at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy in the combined M.S./Health-System Pharmacy Administration and Leadership Program.
Granko has been active in ASHP’s Section of Pharmacy Practice Leaders since 2008, completing his term as director-at-large of the Section’s Executive Committee in 2020. Additionally, his service includes membership within the Section of Pharmacy Practice’s Advisory Groups on Emerging Leaders as well as Strategy and Industry Disruptors. He is past chair of the SAG on Manager Development, a participating content member for the Conference for Pharmacy Leaders Steering Committee and a Pharmacy Forecast Survey Panel Member. He was past faculty with ASHP’s Managers Boot Camp and ASHP’s Australia Leadership Boot Camp for The Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia.
Granko has served as an ASHP delegate representing North Carolina. In 2011, he was part of a team awarded an American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Best Practices Award. In 2013, Granko and team were awarded the Leadership Excellence in Pharmacy Award (LEAP) Gold Award for research in clinical benchmarking.
In 2016, Granko was awarded the ASHP Section of Pharmacy Practice Managers Distinguished Service Award and in 2018, he was recognized as an ASHP Fellow. In 2021, Granko successfully lead the NCAP Fellow Practitioner Recognition Program Task Force. In 2022, Granko will begin his two year appointment to the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy Editorial Board as co-contributing editor for pharmacy leadership.
He has authored over 30 publications and has been invited to present nationally and internationally on topics related to leadership development, clinician well-being and resilience, operations management, finance, benchmarking and data and analytics.
Kathryn Morbitzer, Pharm.D., M.S.
UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy
Associate Director, Center for Innovative Pharmacy Education and Research
Assistant Director of M.S. Program in Health-System Pharmacy Administration
Associate Professor
morbitze@email.unc.edu
Kathryn Morbitzer, Pharm.D., M.S., is the assistant director of the M.S. program with a focus in health-system pharmacy administration at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. She is also an associate professor in the Division of Practice Advancement and Clinical Education and associate director in the Center for Innovative Pharmacy Education & Research (CIPhER). She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree at Wayne State University and her master’s in biomedical and health informatics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She also completed a PGY1 pharmacy practice residency at the Medical University of South Carolina and an academic research fellowship at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. Currently, her research focuses on expanding pharmacy student opportunities for impact in health care through the study of non-direct patient care (nonclinical) experiences and career pathways and on improving teaching and student learning.
Scott W. Savage, Pharm.D., M.S.
Executive Vice Dean-Chief Operating Officer, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy
Chief Financial Officer, Eshelman Institute for Innovation
Scott.Savage@unc.edu
Scott W. Savage, Pharm.D., M.S. received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a master’s degree with a PGY2 residency certificate in Health System Pharmacy Administration from The Ohio State University Medical Center and The OSU College of Pharmacy.
Currently, Savage serves as the Executive Vice Dean-Chief Operating Officer for the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy and Chief Financial Officer for the Eshelman Institute for Innovation. Prior to joining the School, he served in a myriad of leadership positions for UNC Pharmacy Services within UNC Health Care System. Most recently, as the Regional Director of Pharmacy for the UNC Medical Center, its associated campuses in Chapel Hill and Hillsborough, North Carolina, and Chatham Hospital located in Siler City, North Carolina. He is an associate professor of Clinical Education within the Practice Advancement and Clinical Education division of the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy and serves as a course coordinator within the M.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences in Health System Pharmacy Administration.
Prior to joining the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Savage served in leadership and management roles in other academic medical centers and a community-based hospital. He is an active member of AACP, NCPA, ASHP, ASPL and AMCP. He enjoys developing and implementing new approaches to integrating pharmacy services in all facets of patient care.
How long will it take me to complete the program?
The program will take place over one year with one course taken in the fall, spring and summer semesters.
Describe the interactive learning and networking opportunities?
The training certificate program utilizes three M.S. courses that involve direct interaction with the instructors and other students in the course. Participants in the training certificate program will enroll in the same courses as students in the M.S. program and will also be included in the M.S. program alumni network and invited to alumni events.
How are the course modules structured?
Each course consists of synchronous and asynchronous learning formats. The program is designed to be flexible with the knowledge that many participants are completing the program in tandem with full-time employment.
What if I have questions while considering or during the program?
Questions can be sent to Kathryn Morbitzer at kmorbitzer@unc.edu.