Working Professional Program
Prepare yourself to advance into leadership positions and achieve your career goals
There is a critical need for highly skilled health-system leaders to navigate today’s complex challenges in health care and empower their teams to succeed together. It is our mission to fill this need and to prepare capable health-system leaders by expanding their pharmacy administration knowledge and developing highly effective leadership skills. The program strives to enlighten, differentiate and position graduates to guide the solutions needed to meet the mounting demands for better health care practice and safe medication use.
The unique online Master of Science concentrating in Health-System Pharmacy Administration (M.S.) is ideal for busy working pharmacy professionals who want to secure their M.S. while working full-time in their current role. The program is modeled after our M.S. degree resident program but does not require a concurrent two-year pharmacy residency.
The flexible, self-paced degree combines an intensive, innovative curriculum, an immersive learning experience and the opportunity to build a professional support network with current health care leaders and join our alumni family. Students will graduate with in-depth knowledge of the principles and practice of pharmacy to advance human health and health systems. Along with a deep understanding of critical business, analytical and communications skills applicable to all levels of supervisory administration positions.
Our M.S. program is taught, trained and mentored by world class UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy faculty and collaborative partners with decades of expertise in leading and managing complex health-systems, as well as training and mentoring future leaders. Graduates from our nationally recognized M.S. program encounter an in-demand employment landscape within health care/hospital systems and clinics.
For more information about this M.S. concentrating in Health-System Pharmacy Administration and Leadership, watch this video.
Download our M.S. Program Guide to learn more about the program details. For any assistance, don’t hesitate to contact us.
“Shaping the Future of Health-System Leaders”
INFORMATIONAL MAY WEBINAR | MAY 14, 2024 | 12:00 p.m.–1 p.m.
Join Program Director, Stephen F. Eckel, Pharm.D., M.H.A., for a discussion of the flexible, self-paced online Master of Science concentrating in Health-System Pharmacy Administration 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!
Curriculum
The core curriculum consists of course work in advanced topics with human resource management, health-systems financial management, medication safety, and quality improvement, health-system pharmacy operations and much more.
Health-System Pharmacy Administration Master’s Degree
Courses are taught within the Division of Practice Advancement and Clinical Education (PACE) through a combination of synchronous and asynchronous education. Seminar is held on Friday afternoon EST. Other class sessions are held on Tuesday or Wednesday evenings during weeks when they meet.
Curriculum
Fall Year 1 |
Credit Hours |
| PACE 815 Evaluation Research and Project Design (Morbitzer) | 3 |
| PACE 833 Overview to Health Systems (Savage / Fortier) | 3 |
| PHRS 899 Seminar (Vest) | 1 |
| PHRS 991 Research in PACE | 3 |
| Cumulative Total | 10 |
Spring Year 1 |
Credit Hours |
| PACE 820 Health-System Pharmacy Leadership (Granko / Eckel) | 3 |
| PACE 825 Foundational Practices of a Successful Health-System Department of Pharmacy (M. Petrovskis / K. Petrovskis / Morbitzer / Roberts / Rogers) | 4 |
| PHRS 899 Seminar (Vest) | 1 |
| PHRS 991 Research in PACE | 3 |
| Cumulative Total | 21 |
Fall Year 2 |
Credit Hours |
| PACE 860 Advanced Hospital Pharmacy Operations (Eckel) | 3 |
| PHRS 899 Seminar (Vest) | 1 |
| PHRS 992 Thesis Substitute | 3 |
| Cumulative Total | 28 |
Spring Year 2 |
Credit Hours |
| PACE 832 Financial Management of Health-System Pharmacy (Bush / Rhea) | 3 |
| PHRS 899 Seminar (Vest) | 1 |
| PHRS 992 Thesis Substitute | 3 |
| Grand Total | 35 |
Course Descriptions
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.
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.
PACE 825 Foundational Practices of a Successful Health-System Department of Pharmacy: This course focuses on the Foundational Practices of a Successful Health-System Department of Pharmacy. Topics covered include medication safety, pharmacy informatics, and human resources management.
PACE 832 Financial Management of Health-system Pharmacy: This course provides an overview of the current financial environment in the health care industry and is intended to familiarize students with general accounting principles and financial management skills required to lead and manage pharmacy services in a health care organization.
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.
PACE 860 Advanced Hospital Pharmacy Operations: This course is intended to build on the basic principles of pharmacy operations learned through coursework and experience as professional students as well as work experience.
PHRS 899 Seminar: This course includes the entire MS group including first and second years and covers a range of topics such as Pharmacy Disaster Planning, Crucial Conversations, Pharmacy Financial Billing, and Human Resources. Class format consists of topical readings or assignments prior to a seminar presentation and discussion.
PHRS 991 Research in PACE: This is a variable credit course required for all Pharmaceutical Sciences graduate students by their second semester. Teaching/learning methods consist of a pharmaceutical sciences-based mentored research training experience involving independent work and research reports that must be filed at the end of the semester.
PHRS 992 Thesis Substitute: Prerequisite PHRS 991 or equivalent. Students register for thesis credits after successfully passing their comprehensive written examination. A minimum of 3 credit hours of thesis research and writing is required for Pharmaceutical Sciences graduate students.
- In-depth knowledge, understanding, and application of core principles, content, and skills unique to health systems pharmacy administration: to demonstrate an in-depth understanding of health care and the principles and practice of pharmacy to advance human health and health systems.
- Accessing and Analyzing Information: to identify, locate, critically evaluate, and process information to arrive at an informed opinion; identify the important information and be able to say “here is what we need to do about it”.
- Critical Thinking/Problem Solving: to take an issue or a problem, learn about it, understand it, examine other ways of thinking about it, bring it all together and frame it, come up with creative solutions and new ideas (important characteristics of critical thinker: asks really good questions, is curious, approaches problems as learners not knowers).
- Communication: to develop and express ideas and thoughts clearly and concisely in a way that fosters understanding, inspires, and creates focus; communicate effectively in written and oral form.
- Collaboration and Influence: to work effectively with others and understand and respect differences; create networks and groups who work together toward a common goal.
- Adaptability: to change (or be changed) to fit new surroundings and ideas; being willing and able to adapt your behavior (adaptability is a two part process that combines flexibility and versatility. Flexibility is your willingness to adapt-this is your attitude; versatility is your ability to adapt-this is your aptitude).
- Initiative: to be self-directed, take initiative to seek out new opportunities, ideas, and strategies; and find creative solutions.
- Curiosity and Inquisitiveness: to demonstrate a drive to learn and understand more in an effort to improve or make something better; the habit of curiosity is a constant wonder of how something might be improved or even reinvented and then coming up with creative solutions; curiosity enables life-long learning.
- Professionalism: to uphold the highest standards of professional and ethical behavior and act appropriately, thoughtfully, and with integrity at all times.
- Innovation: Ability to create and implement new technologies, services, programs, etc, to meet the pharmacy needs of today and tomorrows health systems.
- Our approach to teaching and learning is student-centered – we will develop our graduate students to reach their full potential
- To learn, one must do – immersive learning in the patient care and real-world setting is a primary laboratory for learning
- The process of scientific inquiry, engagement, and discovery is critical to the development of our graduate students as problem solvers and critical thinkers – scholarship is central to our mission
- We will expose our graduate students to a breadth of knowledge and experiences necessary to shape their development as pharmacist leaders in an evolving health system landscape
- We will ensure a rigorous and intensive curriculum that deepens the graduate student’s understanding of the many facets of health-system pharmacy administration and challenges them to think critically and solve complex problems
- We are flexible and responsive – continually positioning our graduate students to meet the emerging needs of society
- We will continually innovate and evaluate, learning from our experiences and striving for continuous quality improvement and sustained innovation
- We will develop and position our faculty to reach their full potential as educators and mentors
- We will develop and nurture our students as critical thinkers, problems solvers, team players and professionals – entrusting them to a career of life-long learning and leadership
- We will work collaboratively across all of the different partners, exposing our graduate students to the different systems, preceptors, and challenges that exist in them
- We strive to enlighten, differentiate, and position our graduate students to bring about leadership for the betterment of health care delivery and a safe medication use system
- Advances and innovations in technology will be interwoven, where appropriate, throughout our curriculum to enhance the learning experience
Class Lectures
Courses are taught within the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy’s Division of Practice Advancement and Clinical Education (PACE) through digital (online) education. Class lectures are led by UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy faculty and other leaders in health-system pharmacy.
Supervised Project in Health-System Pharmacy
Students are encouraged to develop extensive skills and expertise in specific segments of pharmacy administration that are of personal interest. The chosen areas of interest will be emphasized throughout both the didactic and experiential portions of the program over the two years of study with the guidance of their mentor and academic and experiential program advisers. Students will take six credit hours of Supervised Project in Health-System Pharmacy during their last year of study to accomplish the project objectives, which is a requirement for the master of science. This project will serve in lieu of a master’s thesis.
Final Written Comprehensive Examination
A comprehensive examination will be administered to all students before the completion of the last semester of their program. The examination is intended to validate students’ ability to apply the knowledge and experience gained throughout the program in coursework and experiential components of their education and training.
Tuition
| NC Resident Tuition | Non-Resident Tuition | ||
| Per Credit Hour | Semester Max | Per Credit Hour | Semester Max |
| $586.23 | $5,276 | $800 | $9,600 |
*Student fees are also charged by the University each semester. Fee amounts can be found at the following University website. https://cashier.unc.edu/tuition-fees/
APPLY FOR FALL 2024
Paul W. Bush, Pharm.D., M.B.A., BCPS, FASHP
Vice President for Global Resource Development and Consulting
American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP)
Bethesda, MD
PBush@ashp.org
Paul Bush is the Vice President for Global Resource Development and Consulting for the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). He has held the positions of Chief Pharmacy Officer for Duke University Hospital in Durham, NC, Director of Pharmacy Services for Medical University of South Carolina, St. John Hospital and Medical Center and Detroit Osteopathic Hospital and was Corporate Director for Clinical Pharmacy Services for Horizon Health System.
Dr. Bush received his B.S. in Pharmacy from the University of Michigan and Pharm.D. and M.B.A. from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. He serves on the faculty of University of North Carolina Eschelman School of Pharmacy and Campbell University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. He previously served on the faculty of the Medical University of South Carolina (1999-2009) and Wayne State University (1984-1999) and served as Clinical Associate Dean for Medical Center and Health Systems for the South Carolina College of Pharmacy.
He has served as presidential officer, board member and Chair of the Board of Directors of ASHP. Dr. Bush is Past-Treasurer of the Michigan Pharmacists Association. He has served on the Michigan Society of Health System Pharmacists Board of Directors and held the position of President-elect. Dr. Bush is Past-Chair of the ASHP Section of Pharmacy Practice Managers, Past-Chair of the University HealthSystem Pharmacy Council and has served as a member of the ASHP House of Delegates, Commission on Credentialing, Commission on Goals, and the Practice Model Summit Advisory Committee. He is a member of APhA and ACCP.
Dr. Bush was awarded the John W. Webb Lecture Award by Northeastern University and ASHP, an honorary Doctor of Science degree from Campbell University, the Distinguished Service Award by the ASHP Section of Pharmacy Practice Managers and the NCAP Pharmacy Ambassador Award
He co-authored Managing and Leading – 44 Lessons Learned for Pharmacists, and chapters in Building a Successful Ambulatory Practice, Financial Management Basics for Health System Pharmacists, Handbook of Institutional Pharmacy Practice, and the Pharmacy Certified Technician Training Manual.
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 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.
Jacqui McLaughlin, Ph.D., M.S.
Jacqui McLaughlin, Ph.D., received her undergraduate degree in biological engineering from North Carolina State University, her master of science in biomedical engineering from the University of Memphis/University of Tennessee, and her doctorate in educational research and policy analysis from North Carolina State University. She spent one year as a postdoctoral fellow with the Office of Strategic Planning and Assessment (OSPA) at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy and currently serves the school as an associate professor in the division of Practice Advancement and Clinical Education and as the director of CIPhER. Dr. McLaughlin has published more than 50 peer-reviewed articles about higher education, is on the editorial board for the journals Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning and Education in the Health Professions, and serves as associate editor for BMJ Medical Education. Her published research spans a wide range of education topics, including admissions, flipped classrooms, experiential education, student organizations, diversity, graduate training, cognitive apprenticeship, and research methodology.
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.
Kriss Petrovskis, PharmD, MS, currently serves as Director, Pharmacy Business and Revenue Management at Duke University Health System where he oversees the 340B Drug Pricing Programs, finance, and revenue integrity. Prior to Duke, Kriss was the Clinical Manager, Pharmacy Supply Management at UNC Health from 2017-2020 where he oversaw centralized pharmacy purchasing, distribution, repackaging, ADC replenishment, and code tray replenishment. Kriss completed a two-year residency in Health-System Pharmacy Administration at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in May 2017. He completed a Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 2015 and Master of Science in Health System Pharmacy Administration 2017, both from The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy. Kriss’ professional interests include pharmacy practice management, resident education, 340B advocacy, supply chain optimization, and pharmacy automation.
Mary G. Petrovskis, Pharm.D., M.S., BCPS
Mary G. Petrovskis, PharmD, MS, BCPS, is the Director of Operations at UNC Rex Healthcare. She also serves as Assistant Professor of Clinical Education at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. She completed her Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 2016 at The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy. She completed a two-year residency in Health-System Pharmacy Administration at the UNC Medical Center and her Master of Science Degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences with a specialization in health-system pharmacy administration from UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy in 2018. Mary values involvement in state and national professional organizations and serves on committees within ASHP and Vizient, Inc. Her professional interests include practice management, data analytics, automation and the integration of education and research into practice.
Gene Rhea, Pharm.D., M.H.A.
Gene Rhea, PharmD, MHA serves as the Associate Chief Pharmacy Officer for Retail and Specialty Pharmacy Services for Duke University Hospital where he oversees multiple retail and specialty pharmacy operations as well as a robust patient assistance and prior authorization program. Dr. Rhea received his Bachelors in Chemistry from DePauw University, his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Purdue University and his MHA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Most recently he had also served as the Director of Pharmacy Finance, Business Intelligence and Analytics at Duke where his work specialized in financial analysis and planning as well as revenue cycle management. He is also Chair of the 340B Oversight Committee and coordinates program operations and compliance activities.
Tyler A. Vest, Pharm.D., M.S., BCPS, BCSCP
Tyler A. Vest, PharmD, MS, BCPS, BCSCP, is an Associate Professor of Clinical Education at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. Tyler received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Cincinnati James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy and his Master of Science Degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences with a specialization in Health-System Pharmacy Administration from the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. He completed his PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency and PGY2 Health-System Pharmacy Administration Residency at the University of North Carolina Medical Center. Tyler’s professional interests include acute care operations, leadership development, oncology, pharmacy practice and pharmacy technician advancement, distribution models, productivity and monitoring, and the medication-use process.
Amanda Ball, Pharm.D., BCPS, BCCP | Email: amanda.m.ball@duke.edu
Amanda M. Ball, PharmD., BCPS, BCCCP is a Tar Heel born and bred, grew up in Greensboro, North Carolina and attended The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for 2 years before starting Pharmacy School at UNC and graduating in 2005. After completing 2 years of residency at The University of Kentucky, the second year specializing in Critical Care Medicine, my first Clinical Specialist position was at The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in the Medical ICU. At HUP, I was able to revitalize their Critical Care Residency program and serve as their program director, work on numerous projects such as antibiotic turnaround time, sedation/analgesia practices, pharmacy resident code blue training and a health-system wide process improvement of alcohol withdrawal management. In 2012 I moved back to North Carolina to help start up surgery weekend clinical services at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center while working primarily within the Trauma ICU as a clinical pharmacist. In 2013, I transitioned back into the Medical ICU where I worked until leaving for Duke University Hospital in 2015. Since being at Duke, I have been serving in a Clinical Manager leadership role managing just under 50 decentralized clinical pharmacists in Neurosciences, Heart Services, Anticoagulation, General Surgery, Pulmonology, Evening Shift and Night Shift Clinical Practice areas. I currently serve as the co-chair of our Health-System Pharmacy Research Committee, precept our resident clinical staffing experience, provide an elective rotation for the HSPLA PGY2 Resident in Clinical Management in addition to numerous ongoing projects and other committee assignments throughout the department and organization. I also volunteer as an usher for all the UNC Men’s Basketball home games at the Dean Dome, so you might see me down on the court by the Visitors Tunnel, my spot is the Tar Heel foot right there at the exit of the Tunnel. If you are ever at a game, stop by and say hello!
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Andrew Harsh, Pharm.D. | Email: andrew.harsh@vumc.org
Andrew Harsh is a PGY2 Health-System Pharmacy Administration and Leadership resident at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He is originally from Kansas City, KS. He completed his undergraduate education and PharmD at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, KS. Andrew’s PGY1 research focused on the safety and efficacy of fixed dose magnesium replacement. His PGY2 research will work to evaluate the impact of a clinic infusion pharmacist on the capture of infusion therapy. During his PGY1 residency, Andrew served on the ASHP PALRC Advocacy and Practice Advancement group, and on the Vizient Supply Chain Optimization Committee. For his PGY2 residency, he will continue to serve at ASHP and Vizient. Andrew’s career interests include ambulatory operation management, revenue cycle, acute care clinical pharmacy management, and pharmacy advocacy.
Kristen McCullough, Pharm.D., BCPS, BCOP | Email: mccullough.kristen@mayo.edu
Kristen McCullough is a Hematology Clinical Pharmacy Specialist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota and Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Midwestern University College of Pharmacy in Glendale, Arizona. Her post-graduate training includes a PGY-1 pharmacy practice residency and PGY-2 oncology residency, both at Mayo Clinic. After residency she stayed with Mayo Clinic as a staff pharmacist working inpatient and moved on to outpatient practice, coordinating an EHR transition for hematology and chemotherapy order set builds. She has achieved Assistant Professor with the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science. Her current practice is focused on acute leukemias, myelodysplastic and myeloproliferative neoplasms, overlap syndromes, bone marrow failure syndromes, and pre-myeloid malignancies. Her current professional interests include ambulatory staff development and burn out management. Kristen has held a variety of leadership positions within the Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association and Blood & Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network.
Joyce Mosha, BSPharm | Email: jmosha@unc.edu
Joyce Mosha is a Pharmacist from Tanzania. She holds a BS in Pharmacy from the Acharya & BM Reddy College of Pharmacy, India. Joyce has worked as a pharmacist at the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center in Tanzania working as the Pharmacist in charge of managing medications supply chain for the Hospital’s in-patient and outpatient pharmacies, as well as the vaccines cold chain. She transitioned to the United States and worked in retail pharmacy at Walgreens and CVS Pharmacy. Joyce currently works at UNC’s Eshelman School of Pharmacy Division of Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics as a Clinical Researcher. Joyce’s research interest is on optimizing the role of pharmacists to improve patient’s experience within the pharmacy health system, and address health inequities. She is currently working on integrating pharmacists into the Health Care Team of Patients Living with HIV. Joyce is also evaluating the sustainment of using CYP2C19 Genotype Guided Antiplatelet Therapy After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention. During her free time she enjoys engaging in volunteering work and watching soccer (The English Premier League) with her family and friends.
Sarah Nwabara, RPh | Email: snwabara@gmail.com
Sarah Nwabara RPh is a Licensed pharmacist with twenty-three years of experience in multiple areas of pharmacy. She graduated from Temple University with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry in 1996 and then Pharmacy in 1999. Sarah is completing a Masters in Pharmaceutical Science at UNC Chapel Hill, NC. She is passionate about patient safety and intends to pursue leadership role opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry with a preference in pharmacovigilance upon graduation. Sarah currently works for Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital. She lives near Charlotte, NC with her husband and 4 daughters. In her free time, Sarah likes taking walks, read and watch movies with her children.
Surabhi (Sue) Patel, Pharm.D. | Email: suedevan1@yahoo.com
Sue Patel is an outpatient pharmacist with UNC Health. She has 26 years of experience working with community pharmacy in settings ranging from grocery store retail, independent pharmacy, and health system. Her passion is being able to communicate with patients and provide guidance on how to live healthier lives. She graduated from Eshelman School if Pharmacy in 1995. She currently serves on the North Carolina Medicaid Drug Utilization Board. During her time away from work, Sue enjoys exercising, gardening, and cooking.
Sue Patel is an outpatient pharmacist with UNC Health. She has 26 years of experience working with community pharmacy in settings ranging from grocery store retail, independent pharmacy, and health system. Her passion is being able to communicate with patients and provide guidance on how to live healthier lives. She graduated from Eshelman School if Pharmacy in 1995. She currently serves on the North Carolina Medicaid Drug Utilization Board. During her time away from work, Sue enjoys exercising, gardening, and cooking.
Josh Powell, Pharm.D., BCSCP | Email: Josh.Powell@hcahealthcare.com
Josh Powell, PharmD, BCSCP is the Consolidated Service Center Pharmacy Manager at HCA Mission Health in Asheville, NC. Prior to joining Mission Health in 2017, Josh was Sterile Products Manager at The Medical Center Navicent Health in Macon, GA. Josh received his undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia in 2002 and his Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 2008 from Mercer University in Atlanta, GA.
Kim Asmus, B.S., Pharm.D. | Email: kim.asmus@nyulangone.org
Kim M. Asmus B.S., Pharm.D. Director of Pharmacy Services at NYU Langone Hospital – Long Island has over 20 years of hospital pharmacy experience. In the time Kim has been in the role of Director of Pharmacy Services, she has made medication safety and efficacy a top priority, leveraging quality metrics to drive systematic change leading to better patient outcomes. Kim participates in system-wide interdisciplinary committees placing a focus on value generation and promoting sustainability as well as quality and safety. Kim has previously held positions as staff pharmacist, shift supervisor, and assistant director at her current site. She received her Bachelor’s of Science in Pharmacy from St. John’s University class of 1999 and her Doctor of Pharmacy Degree from Shenandoah University 2010. Kim also enjoys being the mom of 2 spirited boys ages 6 and 3 and is an active member on the PTA.
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Genelle Butz, Pharm.D. | Email: gbutz@carolinaeasthealth.com
Genelle Butz received her BA in Biochemistry from the University of Iowa in 2000. After spending time doing research at UNC she then received her PharmD from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill in 2007. Following graduation she began her career at Craven Regional Medical Center (now CarolinaEast Health System) as a staff pharmacist. Over the next 15 years she experienced all pharmacist roles prior to being promoted to Director of Pharmacy in 2011, where she continues to fulfill that role. Outside of work she enjoys spending time with her boys (husband, 2 sons, and dog- all male) and experiencing all the adventures they end up on!
Jill Casserly, Pharm.D., BCPS, BCPP | Email: jillcasserly@gmail.com
Jill Casserly is the Assistant Director of Pharmacy at Central Regional Hospital in Butner, NC. She graduated from the University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy in 2007. She has worked as a psychiatric pharmacist within a State hospital since 2008, initially at Dorothea Dix Hospital in Raleigh, NC before moving to Central Regional Hospital in 2010. Jill is passionate about improving the quality of life for people living with mental illness. Outside of work, she enjoys photography and getting her toes wet in the sand. Jill currently lives in Raleigh, NC with her husband and two children.
Cherif Cisse, MS, Pharm | Email: ccisse@unc.edu
Cherif Cisse is Senior Supply Chain Management Advisor at the US Agency for International Development based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (USAID). Through this position, Cherif supports the Government of Tanzania to provide lifesaving heath commodities for HIV/AIDs, Malaria, and Tuberculosis, among others. Prior to USAID, Cherif managed medical supply chain initiatives for a variety of non-governmental organizations including RTI, Chemonics and IntraHealth International in 13 countries in North Africa, the Middle East, and Sub-Saharan Africa. Cherif graduated in 2013 from North Carolina State University with a Bachelor of Sciences in Business and a concentration in Operations and Supply Chain Management. Cherif is currently working on his Master in Pharmaceutical Science with specialization in Health System Pharmacy Administration. Outside of work Cherif likes to spend time with his wife and 2 boys, watching soccer and travelling to Zanzibar or exploring national parks in Tanzania.
Toni Currin, Pharm.D., M.B.A., MSCR | Email: toni.currin@unchealth.unc.edu
Toni is a Clinical Pharmacist at UNC Health Johnston in Smithfield and Clayton, NC. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy, MBA, and Master of Science in Clinical Research from Campbell University. While at the Campbell University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, she served as her Class President, Student Ambassador, and lab instructor. After graduating, Toni worked third shift at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center in the emergency department until transitioning to an administrative position at UNC Health Johnston in May 2022. In her free time, she enjoys cooking and spending time with her son.
Amanda Keller, Pharm.D. | Email: awkeeler@gmail.com
Amanda currently lives in Western North Carolina right outside of Asheville. After graduating from North Carolina State University with a bachelor’s degree in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering with a minor in biomanufacturing, she received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy in 2015. She has worked as a pharmacist for CVS the past 7 years and is currently pharmacy manager at the largest CVS Health Hub location in Asheville. While working for CVS she completed Foundations for Leading a development program to improve leadership skills, was selected to be District WeCare Captain and is working on becoming an Emerging Leader within the District. Outside of work she enjoys reading, hiking, attending concerts with friends and exploring all the awesome microbreweries Asheville has to offer.
Rachel H Ross, Pharm.D., BCPS | Email: rachel.ross@unchealth.unc.edu
Rachel is a clinical pharmacist at UNC Shared Services Center specialty and home delivery pharmacy. She works with the specialty ambulatory clinics of UNC Health and a variety of patient populations to assist with their specialty medications. She received her undergraduate degree from Colgate University in 2006 and her PharmD from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy in 2012. Upon graduation from pharmacy school Rachel was a Pharmacist in Charge for multiple Rite Aid Pharmacies in Maryland and North Carolina before making the transition to UNC Health. Originally from upstate New York, Rachel moved to North Carolina with her now husband Tyler, who is also a specialty pharmacist. They currently reside in Wake Forest, NC with their three children, Benjamin, Eleanor and Charlotte.
Charlotte Pastoor, Pharm.D. | Email: charlotte.pastoor@duke.edu
Charlotte Pastoor is the Pharmacy Manager of Decentralized Pharmacy Operations and Automation at Duke University Hospital. She graduated from University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy and completed a PGY1 acute care residency at UNC Hospitals. After residency, she worked as a clinical generalist at the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital. After two years in Michigan, she moved back to North Carolina and worked as the pharmacy coordinator over delivery and distribution at Duke University Hospital before transitioning to her current role. She is passionate about hospital operations and improving efficiency and safety through the use of technology. Her research is evaluating dispense tracking functionality within the electronic health record and comparing to the current home grown technology being used at the institution. Outside of work, she can be found spending time with her daughter, husband and 2 cats before the new baby arrives.
Laura Sipkes, Pharm.D. | Email: laura.sipkes@unchealth.unc.edu
Laura Sipkes, PharmD is a Lead Clinical Pharmacist at the University of North Carolina Medical Center. She attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for her undergraduate studies, and then the Medical University of South Carolina for pharmacy school. She completed the UNC Hospitals Operational Efficiency Kaizen Coach training program in 2019 and the UNC Emerging Leaders Academy in July 2022. Her longitudinal research project is titled, “Evaluation of the Implementation of a One-Week Parenteral Nutrition Clinical Rotation for First Year Pharmacy Residents to Enhance Preparedness for Clinical Staffing.” In her free time, she enjoys trail running and playing with her kids.
Melissa Smith, Pharm.D., BCPS | Email: msmith@capefearvalley.com
Melissa Smith is the Pharmacy Manager for Highsmith-Rainey Specialty Hospital in Fayetteville, North Carolina which is part of Cape Fear Valley Health System. She graduated from the UNC School of Pharmacy with both BS and PharmD degrees. She is originally from Fayetteville and has been working for CFVHS since 1999. Roles at Cape Fear Valley have included ICU Pharmacist, Med/Surg Pharmacist and Shift Supervisor. In 2011 she transitioned to Highsmith- Rainey Specialty Pharmacy where she was involved with antibiotic stewardship. In the fall of 2020, she became the Pharmacy Manager at Highsmith-Rainey. When not working, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons and being involved in the community.
Michael Tilkens, Pharm.D., DPLA | Email: mtilkens13@gmail.com
Mike is a Clinical Pharmacy Manager at UNC Health in Durham, NC. His oversight includes the clinical programming, student and residency programming, and research and outcomes work for the UNC Health Shared Services Center Home Delivery and Specialty Pharmacy. He received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Concordia University Wisconsin School of Pharmacy in 2014. Since then, Mike has held various leadership roles in community pharmacy and both community-based and academic health-system specialty pharmacy settings. Outside of work he enjoys spending time with his wife and three young children golfing, boating, and relaxing at the beach.
Kyra Walgos, Pharm.D. | Email: kyra.walgos@gmail.com
Kyra is a Medication Safety Pharmacist at the University of North Carolina Medical Center. After completing her undergraduate work in nursing in Windsor, Ontario Canada she then relocated to North Carolina where she worked as a critical care nurse at UNC Medical Center. In 2005, she attended the University Of North Caroline Eshelman School Of Pharmacy to obtain her PharmD degree. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, coaching her children’s soccer team and traveling.
Lauren Whitt, Pharm.D., BCPS | Email: lauren.whitt@hhsys.org
Lauren Whitt, PharmD, BCPS, is the Pharmacy Supervisor at Madison Hospital (Huntsville Hospital Health System) in Madison, Alabama, where she has worked since 2014. Lauren completed her Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa in 2008. In 2012, she received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from McWhorter School of Pharmacy at Samford University in Birmingham, AL, and completed a PGY-1 Community-Based Pharmacy Residency at The University of Tennessee Health Science Center (Reeves-Sain Family of Medical Services in Murfreesboro) in 2013. She is currently working on her Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences with a focus in health-system pharmacy administration from the Eshelman School of Pharmacy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Lauren’s professional interests include pharmacy operations, quality and process improvement, expansion of clinical pharmacy services, and medication safety.Outside of pharmacy, Lauren enjoys traveling, photography, hiking, and spending time with her husband, family, and two dogs.