Jacob Schwarz, PharmD, MBA, BCIDP , BCCCP , BCPS, FAzPA
Jacob Schwarz graduated from the University of Arizona-College of Pharmacy in 2010 and then went on to complete a PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency in Lakeland, FL. Jake returned back to Phoenix and practiced at Phoenix Children’s Hospital prior to taking a clinical pharmacist position at Yuma Regional Medical Center, where he worked for over 9 years in various positions including serving as the PGY-1 Residency Program Director and Pharmacy Clinical Coordinator for over 7 at Yuma Regional Medical Center for over 7 years before recently accepting a position as an ICU Pharmacist at Mayo Clinic Hospital in Phoenix, AZ. Along the way Jake has attained board certifications in Pharmacotherapy, Critical Care, and Infectious Diseases. Jake also graduated with a Master of Business Administration with healthcare administration focus from the University of Massachusetts in Spring of 2021. Along with constantly learning for himself, Jake has also been active in the education of healthcare professionals throughout his career. He has been an IPPE and APPE preceptor multiple Colleges of Pharmacy, including UofA, Midwestern, Purdue, and Drake University. Jake has also taught his pharmacy residents on clinical rotations, as well as provided didactic lectures to the medical and nursing staff at Yuma Regional to help improve patient care at the institution. In Spring 2022, the University of Arizona named Jake their Preceptor of the Year for his dedication to teaching and excellence. Jake has also been an active member of the Arizona Pharmacy Association having served on the AzPA Board of Directors since 2016 and is currently serving as the President-Elect Pro Tempore. Jake has also been active in AzPA in the education of pharmacy professionals by presenting at several different AzPA Conferences, and in 2021 was named a Fellow of the Arizona Pharmacy Association.
Dear Fellow AzPA Members,
I can’t believe that 2024 has come to a close and the new year has begun to dawn upon us. It has been a little over 6 months since the Annual Convention this past summer and the stepping down of our previous CEO Kelly Fine, and while this transition period has not been easy for the organization, I feel it is important to celebrate the wins and focus on what are the next steps AzPA needs to take to continue to be successful in support the pharmacy profession here in Arizona.
This past Fall, the AzPA was extremely busy bringing a number of different types of events in the community to its members to participate in while being able to learn, support, and network with other members and the community. We celebrated a membership event at a Phoenix Suns home game and not only gave AzPA members an opportunity to network with each other. During this event AzPA was able to have a 30 second video on the large video screen before the game educating fans in the arena about the impact pharmacists have in ensuring safe medication use and the importance of how naloxone can save a life with information on the Stop Overdose Deaths Arizona (SODAz) program. Also, AzPA participated the TREO Foundation’s Walk from Obesity event in October to help fundraise, support, and bring attention to this growing medical condition within our community. Finally, the AzPA in conjunction with a number of different pharmaceutical companies, held multiple dinners to give AzPA members a chance to network with each other while learning about different disease states during American Pharmacist Month in October. With so many great events this Fall alone, I truly look forward to all the events this upcoming year
One final success I want to bring up was our search for AzPA’s new CEO. I feel it is important to recognize everyone on the CEO Search Committee for their time through several rounds of screening potential applicants and through the process as we had almost 40 candidates for the AzPA CEO position. While the process may have taken longer than the Board and search committee members may have hoped for, in the end I truly believe that AzPA is truly lucky to have Mr. Garet Turner as our new CEO. I believe and I look forward to him bringing new and innovative ideas to our organization to help make AzPA even grow and become the best that it can be in these new times.
At this time, I want to put out a call to AzPA members and pharmacy professionals across Arizona to be ready and help support AzPA as the organization works to innovate and improve its services and value it brings to its members. The most dangerous phrase to any business or organization is “we’ve always done it that way”. This is the type of mentality that can discourage both growth and innovation within an organization and community. Much like the practice of medicine and pharmacy that changes and updates with the times, so must our organization in order to remain relevant to the needs of its members and the pharmacy professionals. So I ask that you help support AzPA by signing up as volunteers to help our organization take the necessary steps in order to not only remain successful, but to continue to grow
This spring, AzPA has a number of events that I hope to see many of you at in helping support the organization. This February, we have the AzPA Spring Clinical Conference with innovative live programming as well as CE on demand. Make sure to mark on your calendars that April 2nd, AzPA will be down at the Arizona State Capitol for our annual Pharmacy Day at the Capitol and will need support from its members to go and speak with legislators from across Arizona. Finally, we have the AzPA Annual Convention June 12-15th at the Westin La Paloma down in Tucson, AZ and I hope to see many of you there as the convention is always a great place to rekindle past friendships and create new ones.
Lastly, if you would like to discuss the direction of the organization, I invite you to please pull me aside at an event or reach out to me through the AzPA office. I want to ensure that the organization hears the ideas, thoughts, and concerns of its membership as we move forward.
Jacob Schwarz, PharmD, MBA, BCIDP , BCCCP , BCPS, FAzPA AzPA President 2024-2025
Jamie Armenta
Erin Greenwell
Devan Hansen
Jayaream Kilaru
Cynthia Martin
Mark Nye
Mark Pilkington
Rachel Scotch
Chelsey Tate
Adam Shanah
Resident
John Adams
Kristi Allsup
Christina Barabas
Johanne Brim
Alexa Erickson
Jennica Granger
Taylor Hammond
Madana Kamineni
magdalen latif
Samantha Ramirez
Hannah Reynolds
Jackie Tan
Kelsey Waruszewski
WELCOME
NEW AZPA MEMBERS!
Alsafar
Julian Arrieta
Ayokunle Ayodele
Mena Backayah
Louis Badang
Cynthia Candelaria
Kelly Carter
Corbin Connolly
Shanna Jansen
Ivana Karac
Byrdie Lopez
Jaya Mistry
Brandon Seeglitz
Neal Shah
Sky Stamps
Kyli Swann
Taylor Westra
Blake Williams
Eve Stevens
Student Pharmacist
Farah
Lenore Goetzke
Mary Manning, PharmD, MBA, BCPS
AzPABoardofDirectors-HealthSystem
AzPA HEALTH SYSTEM SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP (AZ-ASHP)
Spring Clinical Meeting – February 15th
AzPA’s Spring Clinical Conference serves as our ASHP state affiliate chapter’s annual meeting, and we are excited to be offering many topics of interest to health systems pharmacists. The content has been designed to engage practitioners of all experience levels. We hope to see you there!
76th Sessions of ASHP's House of Delegates
Please join our delegates for a town hall at the upcoming Spring Clinical Conference at Creighton University! This is your opportunity to weigh in on draft ASHP policy language so that your delegates can better represent you as a member of the Arizona Health Systems Pharmacy community.
In November, the 76th House of Delegates reviewed and voted on six policy recommendations, four of which were approved. The approved policy recommendations included 1) Pharmacist’s Leadership Role in Anticoagulation Therapy Management, 2) Use of Two Patient Identifiers in the Provision of Patient Care, 3) Pharmacy Drug Theft, and 4) ASHP Statement on Artificial Intelligence in Pharmacy. These statements will help shape ASHP’s approach to some of the issues facing our profession today. Christopher Edwards, Melinda Burnworth, and Kelly Erdos are proud to serve as delegates and assist with this important work. They are aided by an impressive roster of alternate delegates, including Janelle Duran, Jacob Schwarz, and Sarah Stevens.
SIG Participation - We Want You!
The SIG is actively recruiting new members. If you are interested in getting involved, learn more here! We meet monthly to discuss issues relevant to health systems pharmacists in Arizona.
I look forward to seeing you on our next SIG call!
"These lessons, reflected in my photo journal, have shifted my perspective on pharmacy. Through that experience, I began to learn the importance of putting the patient first and how pharmacists can play a crucial role in patient education. "
To begin, I would like to explain how I came across this practice
As part of a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program at Midwestern University, I was introduced to the book Learning and Leading with Habits of Mind by Bena Kallick and Arthur L. Costa, which outlines 16 habits that support personal growth and enhance one’s ability to navigate the world. After understanding each habit and how it aids in personal development, I decided to use this framework to develop my personal goals for the Habits of Mind program. As I have progressed through the program, I have gained valuable insights about persistence, an important habit of mind. Initially, I focused on persistence in my habits related to physical health but have since shifted towards persistence related to mental health and self-reflection. Around that time, I was introduced to the concept of photo journaling as a method for self-reflection. I decided to try photo journaling over the summer during my introductory rotations to increase persistence
Photo journaling involves taking one picture each day, which serves as a summary or reflection of that day. It captures emotions, thoughts, and significant moments, allowing the photographer to reflect on why they chose that image. For me, this became a way to document my IPPE experiences in both Arizona and Florida. In my journaling process, I used Polaroids and printed pictures to capture memorable moments.
The Practice of Photo Journaling
As a second-year pharmacy student reflecting on my two IPPE rotations, I see these images as a visual journey, ranging from the comfort of being home in Florida to experiencing another aspect of pharmacy in Arizona. Each image represents a key moment, such as the day I dressed professionally for my first journal presentation. Viewing my picture for that day (Image 1), I recall the nervousness I felt, running to the bathroom to tell myself, "You can do it—you’ve reviewed this with your preceptor twice; they said it was great. Now you just need to present the information, take it one step at a time, and smile." This picture also reminds me of the confidence I gained during the presentation itself
Some images capture more challenging moments, like when I struggled with a patient who yelled at me during a frustrating moment of panic. My preceptor reminded me that neither I nor the patient was to blame, it was just the situation. My preceptor emphasized the importance of remaining calm, helping the patient calm down, addressing their needs, and getting to know their story. These lessons, reflected in my photo journal, have shifted my perspective on pharmacy. Through that experience, I began to learn the importance of putting the patient first and how pharmacists can play a crucial role in patient education.
One recurring lesson throughout my IPPE was that while it’s easy to place blame in difficult situations, the real challenge lies in understanding the situation, seeing the positives, learning from the experience, and identifying where mistakes were made – in other words, by using reflection to understand a situation.
Other significant learning moments of my experience occurred as I learned to seek balance between work and personal life Unlike the didactic portion of my education, I had time during my rotations to do things I loved, such as picking vegetables and fruits from my parents’ garden, visiting historic downtown areas, baking, and cooking for loved ones. These activities allowed me to prioritize my well-being and feel refreshed for the next day’s rotation. When I asked pharmacists how they prepare for their shifts and prevent burnout, they advised prioritizing mental and physical health, doing activities you love, and spending time with family and friends. During my Florida rotation, I found self-care and relaxation through helping my family with their garden, harvesting fruits and vegetables. For fun, I have included a picture of my favorite vegetable, bitter melon in Image 1.
Conclusion
Reflecting on the pictures I took during my IPPE rotations is a rewarding experience. Photo journaling has helped to change my perspective on my growing abilities and knowledge
Everything I learned in school, combined with the inspiration my preceptors provided for my future goals as a pharmacist, made the process transformative. All of these elements, in a way, tie into Kolb’s experiential education theory, which emphasizes that experiences aid in the creation of knowledge, especially when the student takes the time to interpret and understand them. The theory is defined by four stages: concrete experience, reflective observation, abstract conceptualization, and active experimentation.
PRECEPTOR CORNER
For me, the journaling process aligned closely with reflective observation, giving me the opportunity to process and analyze the experiences I gained during my IPPEs. This reflective practice, along with the lessons captured in each picture, has improved my skills as a student pharmacy. Moreover, it has deepened my understanding of how pharmacy connects with people, builds relationships, and helps patients feel confident about their care
In the bigger picture, it has made me love pharmacy even more and solidified my belief that this is the right career path for me
For any students who might be interested in starting a photo journaling process, it’s one of the easiest ways to journal—just using a phone camera and apps like Google Photos, Daylio, or Diarium can help create a timeline of memories, enabling a student to look back at each rotation picture and reflect on the lessons learned. I hope this practice can help other students recognize their passion for pharmacy as well as assist preceptors in guiding students to see how pharmacy aligns with their personal values, preferred practice setting, and where they can improve and grow
1 Costa AL, Kallick B. Learning and Leading with Habits of Mind : 16 Essential Characteristics for Success. Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development; 2009
2 University of Florida. Kolb’s four stages of learning. citt.ufl.edu. Published 2022. https://citt.ufl.edu/resources/the-learningprocess/types-of-learners/kolbs-four-stages-of-learning/
SPRING CLINICAL
FREE FOR AZPA MEMBERS!
Proudly Hosted by the ARIZONA PHARMACY ASSOCIATION - Official State Affiliate of ASHP
This 1 day seminar provides continuing education for pharmacy professionals focusing on clinical topics pertinent to institutional and ambulatory care settings.
AGENDA
Thanks for the feedback: Frequent, immediate, specific, and constructive feedback for pharmacy residents (ACPE UAN: 0100-0000-23-183-L99-P)
Learning Objectives: Describe the four elements needed to provide effective feedback to residents; interpret feedback from residents and resident evaluations to determine how to improve feedback to residents; discuss the importance of implementing a preceptor development program.
Presenters:DanielBell,MichaelaKonecnik,KellyErdos
8:00am - 9:00am | 60 minutes
Pathway to Professional Growth: Navigating the AzPA Fellowship Application for Technician and Pharmacists
Learning Objectives: Explain the benefits of achieving fellowship status for technicians and pharmacists; identify common challenges in the fellowship application process; develop a personal action plan for pursuing fellowship status.
Learning Objectives: Describe the reactions of Arizona health-system leaders to the 2024 ASHP Pharmacy Forecast: Artificial Intelligence; identify the recommendations provided by the ASHP and ASHP Foundation Pharmacy Forecast 2024: Artificial Intelligence; and discuss the implications of the 2024 ASHP Pharmacy Forecast: Artificial Intelligence for pharmacy departments in hospitals.
ASHP Residency Accreditation Update and Townhall (ACPE UAN: 0100-0000-24-082-L04-P)
This interactive session on residency standards will provide residency program leaders and preceptors with an overview of the latest accreditation requirements. Attendees will engage in a townhall-style discussion to share insights, and challenges related to residency training. This collaborative forum will allow residency leaders to provide input and suggestions for improvement residency accreditation.
Learning Objectives: Discuss ASHP residency data and statistics; describe notable updates of ASHP Regulations on Accreditation of Pharmacy Residencies; list notable updates of ASHP Accreditation Standard for Postgraduate Pharmacy Residency Programs
Presenter:SamCalabrese
EDITORIAL SPRING CLINICAL
10:00am-12:00pm | 90 minutes
Arizona Pharmacy Association (AzPA) Update and Townhall Learning Objectives: Identify key challenges facing the Arizona pharmacy profession; list opportunities for the Arizona pharmacy profession; advocate for Arizona pharmacy professional’s needs and aspirations.
Let Your Voice Be Heard: A Discussion of Advocacy and ASHP House of Delegates
(ACPE UAN: 0100-0000-24-079-L04-P/T)
Pharmacist Learning Objectives: Describe ways Arizona pharmacy professionals can get involved in advocacy through state and national pharmacy associations; discuss the role of Arizona delegates to the ASHP House of Delegates; and discuss the potential impact of selected policies coming before the ASHP House of Delegates in June to the practice of pharmacy in Arizona and to pharmacy personnel
Technician Learning Objectives: Describe how a pharmacy technician may contribute to ASHP policies; recognize how policies may impact pharmacy technicians
Learning Objectives: Review the epidemiology of mpox, review the clinical presentation of mpox, identify high-risk patient populations for mpox, discuss available mpox vaccine for the prevention of mpox
Join us for an evening of connections and opportunities! Step into a vibrant atmosphere where ambition meets collaboration. Our professional networking reception is the perfect setting to expand your network, exchange ideas, and build meaningful connections with industry leaders, innovators, and likeminded professionals. Whether you're looking to grow your business, explore partnerships, or gain insights from seasoned professionals, this event is your gateway to success.
**Heavy hors d'oeuvres, beer, wine and an array of soft drinks will be provided.**
On Demand | 90 Minutes
2025 Spring Clinical New Drug Update (ACPE UAN: 0100-0000-24-076-H01-P/T)
Pharmacist Learning Objectives: Describe pharmacological mechanisms of action of newly available medications; describe the clinical efficacy of newly available medications; describe the adverse effect profile of newly available medications; and identify patient counseling points for newly available drugs.
Technician Learning Objectives: Describe pharmacological mechanisms of action of newly available medications; describe the storage requirements of newly available medications; and list the indications of newly available medications.
The Arizona Pharmacy Association is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) as a provider of continuing pharmacy education (CPE).
Continuing Education
Sessions approved for CE credits are indicated by the CE icon, an ACPE number, and the number of CEUs in the session listing.
To obtain CPE credit for any of the LIVE sessions, learners must attend the session live, enter the session code, and complete the assessment quiz and evaluation for each session attended. The session code and further instructions will be provided at the end of each LIVE session.
Learning Level: Varies
• Activity Type: Knowledge and Application-based
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• Target Audience: Pharmacists and Technicians
Disclosures
Disclosures will be announced at the beginning of each session and can be found in the Event Program under each speaker(s) biography. AzPA CE staff declare no conflicts of interest or financial interests in any product or service mentioned in this activity. View Disclosures. Conflicts of interest have been resolved through content review by the AzPA CE Committee Department and Committee
2025 Fraud, Waste & Abuse and HIPAA Compliance Updates
In response to the evolving regulatory landscape, PAAS National® annually updates the Fraud, Waste, and Abuse (FWA) and HIPAA Compliance Program to ensure that independent pharmacies stay compliant with both regulatory and PBM requirements. Pharmacies must have an up-to-date compliance program with written policies and procedures that aligns with CMS standards.
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Since 2009, PAAS has designed their FWA/HIPAA Compliance program to meet the seven core elements outlined by CMS to implement an effective compliance program. PAAS’ compliance program helps pharmacies cover policies, procedures and processes to help prevent and detect fraud, waste, and abuse. Additionally, PAAS’ programs help community pharmacies comply with HIPAA, including a Risk Analysis required by the security rule and cybersecurity training to help educate staff
To help pharmacies stay ahead, PAAS has introduced several key updates to its compliance program:
CMS-10882 (Medicare Prescription Payment Plan) Procedure: A new procedure has been implemented for managing Medicare prescription payment plans, helping pharmacies navigate any changes and maintain compliance with CMS guidelines.
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• PHI Safeguard Considerations for Remote/Hybrid Work: With the increasing trend of remote or hybrid work arrangements, special considerations have been added to safeguard Protected Health Information (PHI). This update addresses potential security risks associated with remote pharmacy operations.
EDITORIAL PAAS NATIONAL
Enhanced HIPAA Security Risk Analysis: The program now includes more detailed and robust HIPAA security risk analysis procedures. This enhancement helps pharmacies identify vulnerabilities and mitigate potential risks to PHI.
Pharmacy-to-Pharmacy Inventory Transfer Log: New requirements have been added for maintaining a log of inventory transfers between pharmacies. This will help ensure accurate recordkeeping and accountability for controlled substances and other medications.
Policy and Procedures for 2024 Privacy Rule: A policy and procedure update related to the 2024 Privacy Rule now addresses requests to access or release PHI, especially as it pertains to reproductive health. This policy ensures that pharmacies stay in compliance with the latest privacy regulations.
Why Compliance Matters
It’s crucial that your pharmacy has a comprehensive FWA and HIPAA Compliance Program that goes beyond just training and exclusion checks. PBMs expect pharmacies to maintain written policies and procedures to address FWA and HIPAA compliance, and they reserve the right to request documentation of your compliance policies and procedures. Without a compliance program, pharmacies may be exposed to significant risks, including potential penalties or termination of your provider status. PAAS provides the tools and resources needed to ensure that your pharmacy is fully prepared for audits and can demonstrate compliance when required.
Society of Toxicology Awards ‘Science Paper of the Year’ to R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy Researchers
The Society of Toxicology has awarded the Science Paper of the Year to researchers from the R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy.
The winning publication, titled “Increased Renal Expression of Complement Components in Patients with Liver Diseases: Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis, Alcohol-Associated, Viral Hepatitis, and Alcohol-Viral Combination,” explores the relationship between inflammatory liver diseases such as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD), and hepatitis C virus (HCV), and their impact on kidney health. The Society of Toxicology Board of Publications recognized the study for its positive impact on the field.
The research team – including authors Kayla Frost, Joseph Jilek, Austin Thompson, Robert Klein, Shripad Sinari, Elmira Torabzedehkorasani, Dean Billheimer, Rick Schnellmann and Nathan Cherrington – investigated kidney biopsies from patients with various liver diseases. The study identified consistent kidney abnormalities, such as interstitial nephritis and fibrosis, along with changes in the expression of specific genes and proteins related to immune regulation. The findings suggest a link between liver inflammation and kidney dysfunction, identifying the complement C1q C chain as a promising marker for mechanistic analyses of renal damage related to liver injury and an instrumental tool in future analyses of liver disease impact on renal function.
Graduate student, Austin Thompson, and Drs. Frost, Jilek, Schnellmann and Cherrington are authors representing the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology within the College of Pharmacy. Dr. Klein is from the Department of Pathology at the Banner University Medical Center and Drs. Sinari, Torabzedehkorasani and Billheimer represent the UArizona Center for Biomedical Informatics and Biostatistics. Billheimer is also the lead on the Data Science Resource in the Southwest Environmental Health Sciences Center’s (SWEHSC) Translational Research Support Core
Cherrington credits Frost, a 2022 graduate of the pharmacology and toxicology department, for her dedication. Frost currently works in the Investigative Toxicology and Pathology group at AbbVie, where she serves as a preclinical safety representative on early discovery immunology and oncology drug target programs.
“From a bank of 40,000 kidney samples, the dogged determination of Kayla and technical advice from her father, Dr Steve Frost, helped to create the world’s first and largest renal biopsy repository with verified medical and social histories, including liver disease classification and associated kidney pathology and function,” Cherrington said.
CONT.
UNIVERSITY & ALUMNI
For Kayla Frost, it was exciting to build a repository of human samples that had never been investigated before “Investigating such a novel set of samples involves starting a project with a lot of unknowns; it was exciting to let the data drive our curiosity and elevate our understanding of kidney function during liver diseases,” she said. The research also called for controlling variability in a human population, which they were able to overcome with her father’s assistance
“My father’s medical experience helped us interpret hundreds of medical charts and exclude confounding factors, such as diseases, medications and various test results,” she said. “He was a critical factor in determining the appropriate samples to analyze and put in months of complex work that only a father would commit to.”
Cherrington also credits SWEHSC: namely, the Omics Facility Core for conducting the transcriptomics and proteomics analyses and the Translational Research Support Core Data Science Resource for helping the team understand the data and the causes for changes in the kidney because of liver disease
“The Ken Coit College of Pharmacy has a long track record of outstanding toxicology research and outstanding toxicologists who come from our program. This award just validates and highlights the excellent training of the students here at the University of Arizona in toxicology,” Cherrington said.
Midwestern University College of Pharmacy
Mitchell R. Emerson, PhD Dean, Midwestern University College of Pharmacy
Happy 2025 from the College of Pharmacy at Midwestern University!
Happy 2025! As we get ready to welcome winter and the start of a new year, we are reminded of the many accomplishments of our faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends. As always, we want to highlight and celebrate all our milestones and we look forward to achieving even more in 2025
Thank you to everyone that joined us in New Orleans at the ASHP 2024 Alumni and Friends Reception in December. We had over 150 guests join us as we enjoyed the sights and sounds of the aquarium and enjoyed delicious food and drinks along with reconnecting with one another. Congratulations to student scholars and faculty mentors as we had over 20 posters presented at the meeting.
In January we hosted over 30 students from the pharmacy sciences program at Metro Tech High School. These bright and engaged students learned about the profession firsthand from our students and faculty. These events serve to inspire the next generation of aspiring healthcare experts!
We are looking forward to catching up with all of you and connecting at a future event. If you’re ever in the Glendale area, please reach out and stop by the campus. So much has changed, but still remains the same welcoming place
Did you know we have a Midwestern University Job Board? If you’re looking to hire or looking for a new opportunity, please click here for more information!
In March, we are planning our Alumni and Friends Reception at the 2025 APhA Annual Meeting in Nashville. We know it will be another tremendous turnout and opportunity to connect with friends and colleagues. Please mark your calendar for Saturday, March 28, Adele Restaurant, Nashville, TN. More details to come
If you’ve recently moved or relocated, please ensure we have your updated contact information. Please email updates to your Manager of Alumni Relations, Kimberly Hastings.
To follow us and learn more about our events and wins, join the MWU Pharmacy social media community:
Like us on Facebook: Midwestern University
Follow us on Twitter: @MWUpharmacy
Follow us on Instagram: @MWUpharmacy
UNIVERSITY & ALUMNI
Creighton University College of Pharmacy
Amy F. Wilson, PharmD Dean, Creighton University College of Pharmacy
For nearly two decades, Creighton University has maintained a healthcare presence in the Southwest. To address the healthcare worker shortage in the region and train the leaders the community needs, the Creighton University Arizona Health Education Alliance was formed. The Creighton Alliance is the University’s partnership with Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Valleywise Health and District Medical Group, Inc
The University cemented its commitment to the Valley in 2021, opening its $100 million, 195,000-square foot Creighton University Health Sciences Campus in downtown Phoenix. This May, the Creighton University School of Pharmacy and Health Professions in Phoenix will graduate its first class of PharmD students.
Peoria, Arizona, native Hannah Hardy will be one of these inaugural graduates. She personifies Creighton’s mission of sparking curiosity and instilling values to form collaborative, compassionate and holistic future healthcare professionals. And she is excited to join the ranks of practicing pharmacists in her home state
MEET HANNAH
Q: After graduating from Gordon College in Wenham, Massachusetts, why did you choose Creighton for your PharmD education?
A: I chose Creighton for a few different reasons. A big one was the location. Creighton was just establishing the Phoenix campus, and I knew I wanted to stay local and near family. I was also drawn to Creighton for its Jesuit identity. Attending schools that are faith-based and rooted in those values is something that has been important to me
Q: How has Creighton set you up for success as a future Arizona pharmacist?
A: One way I feel set up for success is from the classes that I have taken to prepare for what’s next: residency. I took a residency prep course, and that made me feel more confident and prepared for the application process. I also know my mentors from Creighton have given incredible advice and encouragement regarding my career
Q: In addition to the coursework and faculty mentorship, how is Creighton helping you become a practice-ready pharmacist?
A: The best way that Creighton prepares us for practice is by giving us the opportunity to complete eight APPEs (Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience) in different settings. Some schools only provide six, but we are fortunate to gain practice in even more settings. I got the opportunity to work one-on-one with patients (under the supervision of my preceptor), interviewing them, providing guidance and counseling on medication therapy and lifestyle choices.
Q: You mention that Creighton faculty have been great mentors. Have you also found mentors in the community pharmacists from your rotations?
A: I have been lucky to have preceptors who have gone through the residency process, and they walked through that with me. A few of my preceptors have even offered to assist me in my next steps of applying to residency and helping me with whatever I might need for after graduation.
Creighton University looks forward to welcoming its first graduating class from the School of Pharmacy and Health Professions in Phoenix. The bright graduates will surely contribute to the Southwest’s wellbeing.
Legislative Review
Happy 2025 to Arizona Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians!
May your year be healthy, happy, and thankful. The Arizona 2025-57th Legislature-First Session commenced on Monday, January 13, 2025. Garet Turner, AzPA Chief Executive Officer, is busy working with Dianne McAllister, AzPA Lobbyist, to become familiar with the legislative arena. The November 2024 election cycle has produced a new President and several incoming state legislators. The legislative session should be exciting! AzPA will be introducing two bills.
The first is the Test & Treat bill that will be sponsored by Senator Shope. AzPA has had stakeholder meetings to flush out the draft bill. We are also working with the Arizona Retailers Association. The second bill sponsored by Representative Jeff Weninger will run the bill dealing with Emergency Medications. The bill allows pharmacists to administer emergency medications if a patient has an adverse reaction to any pharmacist administered medication. AzPA will also be assisting the Arizona Board of Pharmacy, who will be submitting a bill to update outdated pharmacy regulations. The board has been diligently working with its Regulatory Review Task force to identify and update pharmacy regulations.
Thank you to the Arizona pharmacists and technicians who have volunteered their time in this tedious process. Regarding Federal legislation, the PBM industry is in the limelight. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently released a report dealing with Prescription Drug Middleman. The report is quite revealing! President Trump and numerous Congressional members expressed interest in the possible reining in the PBMs. Locally, the AzPA Legislative Committee will be following state PBM bills during the current legislation.
In closing, look for future updates as we move through the Legislative session. Thank you for your interest.
