DISRxUPT: Recent Episodes
Cedarville University Center for Pharmacy Innovation
DISRxUPT is a podcast from the Cedarville University Center for Pharmacy Innovation which explores novel advances in the practice of pharmacy. From nanotechnology to unique public health initiatives, DISRxUPT will highlight stories of pharmacists who are changing the paradigm of patient care.
Tune in for new content once a month detailing how the profession of pharmacy continues to change and how the Center for Pharmacy Innovation is playing a key role in this transformation.
Since we last talked about artificial intelligence (AI) in pharmacy on Episode 9 of the podcast back in May of 2021, a lot has changed. OpenAI's ChatGPT has opened AI technology to the masses and this technology is poised to change many aspects of modern life, including healthcare. Dr. Andrew Straw, Vice Chair and Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice at Cedarville University, and Luke O'Brien, one of our student innovators in the Cedarville University Center for Pharmacy Innovation, join us in the studio to discuss how AI is changing pharmacy practice and education, now and into the future.
If you ask today's pharmacists and students pharmacists why they chose to pursue a pharmacy career, nearly all of these individuals express a heartfelt desire to serve others. While this can be done in many different pharmacy settings, free medical clinics provide a unique opportunity for pharmacists to assist underserved populations with their medication and healthcare needs. Alex Hintz, Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice at the Cedarville University School of Pharmacy and volunteer pharmacist at Hardin Clinic, and Joshua Pearson, an alumnus of Cedarville University and Director of Pharmacy Services at Health Partners Free Clinic in Troy, Ohio, sit down to discuss their experiences in two very different free medical clinics. Listen as Alex and Josh discuss the creative and impactful ways they have improved the lives of others while serving as pharmacists in free medical clinics within Ohio.
When you go to see a doctor, nurse practitioner, physical therapist, or one of many other healthcare professionals, your health information is typically stored in a secure electronic patient chart. This allows for the collection of comprehensive health information and continuity of care for each patient. However, pharmacists in community pharmacies typically do not have access to this information and rely heavily on prescription fill histories. With the advanced training pharmacists receive today, can this critical information be shared with pharmacists in a way that protects private health information while also enhancing the services that a pharmacist is trained to provide? In this episode of DISRxUPT, Dr. Cathy Kuhn, manager of clinical programs for Custom Health, joins us to discuss how health information exchanges (HIEs) may be a solution that provides pharmacists with all the health information needed to provide advanced clinical services, including chronic disease state management, test-to-treat services, and many others. Listen as we discuss how HIEs can enhance the role of the pharmacist as part of the interprofessional care team for patients.
Community pharmacy is often known for prescription drug services that are often billed to insurance companies. These prescription drugs include many low-cost generic medications taken every day for the maintenance of health. But is this the best model? What if prescription benefits were only accessed for high-cost medications? Could healthcare cost savings for individuals and the system be realized with a more simplistic and transparent approach? Might clinical services and patient experience be enhanced if some pharmacies embraced a new approach? In this episode of DISRxUPT, Dr. Kyle McCormick, president of Blueberry Pharmacy, joins us to discuss the work that he and his team are doing to realize this vision at Blueberry Pharmacy. Listen as we discuss how cost-plus, memberships, and other pharmacy models might be just what the profession and our patients need today.
There is a growing body of research supporting how pharmacists improve patient outcomes and population health. However, some of these interventions are not adopted more widely within the modern healthcare system. Multiple barriers can stifle innovation and uptake of new services that are clearly beneficial to patients. So how can change be catalyzed? In this episode of DISRxUPT, Dr. Denise Rhoney, who serves as the Ron and Nancy McFarlane Distinguished Professor in the Division of Practice Advancement and Clinical Education at the University of North Carolina’s Eshelman School of Pharmacy, joins us to discuss this topic of implementation science. Listen as we discuss how implementation science can be used as a key tool to foster innovation in healthcare today.
The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly changed pharmacy practice, including the pharmacist's role in testing for various conditions and diseases. In some parts of the country, pharmacists can go to another level when an illness is discovered by providing appropriate treatment. In this episode of DISRxUPT, Dr. Justin Coby, Director of Cedar Care Village Pharmacy in Cedarville, Ohio, joins us to discuss this topic. Listen as we peel back the layers of test-to-treat protocols in pharmacies today.
Joe D'Silva, founder, CEO, and CSO of Patient & Consumers (P&C) Pharma, has always had an eye toward developing high-quality pharmaceutical products. Driven by a passion for enhancing personalized patient care and a vision to take the technology used in the pharmaceutical industry into the pharmacy itself, Joe left roles in the pharmaceutical industry to found P&C Pharma. Through this work, Joe developed QuartetRx, a first-in-class oral liquid compounding device that leverages wet milling technology to produce consistent oral liquid medications without the need for manual compounding. In this episode of DISRxUPT, Will Boyko, consultant pharmacist with P&C Pharma, along with Joe D'Silva, join us to discuss their journey of taking QuartetRx from a dream to a reality and the ways in which this technology can benefit both patients and pharmacists. We will also discuss how current and future pharmacists can be change agents in the profession.
Sue Paul is a pharmacist who sees and seizes every opportunity. Energized through her experiences in various pharmacy settings and driven to provide better care for patients, Sue went on to become president and founder of SyneRxgy Consulting, co-founder of Medipreneurs, and co-founder of PGx101. In this episode of DISRxUPT, Sue joins us to discuss her unique experiences as a pharmacy entrepreneur, the many people who supported her along the way, and her passion for connecting other pharmacy innovators with one another to foster change in the profession.
Innovation in the pharmacy space sometimes comes in unexpected forms. Based on his own journey facing student loan debt after pharmacy school, Dr. Tim Ulbrich saw a need to empower other pharmacists to achieve financial freedom. This led to the creation of Your Financial Pharmacist (YFP). In a few short years, Tim and the rest of his team have taken YFP from an idea to a thriving business that has supported thousands of pharmacists and pharmacy students around the US on their path toward financial independence. In this episode of DISRxUPT, Tim joins us to discuss his journey as co-founder and CEO of Your Financial Pharmacist along with some lessons learned as an entrepreneur and leader.
Smoking continues to be a public health concern in the United States. Despite clear data on the negative health implications of smoking, 14% of adults in the US are current smokers. Pharmacists, with accessibility in underserved communities and unique knowledge regarding nicotine replacement products, are uniquely positioned to assist individuals interested in smoking cessation. In this episode of DISRxUPT, Dr. Myriam Shaw-Ojeda, assistant professor for pharmacy practice at The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy and Director of Pharmacy Extension and Public Health at the Ohio Pharmacists Association and The Ohio State University Extension, and Dr. Andrew Straw, assistant professor of pharmacy practice at Cedarville University, join us to discuss this topic. Listen as we describe the unique work that the Ohio Pharmacists Association has done to provide training for pharmacists interested in providing smoking cessation services, including the opportunity to manage nicotine replacement therapy and be reimbursed for these services in the state of Ohio.
Local community pharmacies and free clinics may not be the first places you think of when it comes to improving the healthcare system. In a day when customer service and care seem to be devalued, this might be the best place to start. We as people are created for connection, thus genuine care and innovation in healthcare start with a recognition of realities. In this episode of DISRxUPT, Dr. Justin Coby, Director of Cedar Care Village Pharmacy in Cedarville, Ohio, joins us to discuss these topics and many more. Listen as we discuss the impact that pharmacists can have on community health specifically through independent pharmacies and free medical clinics, along with where he sees pharmacy care going in the future.
Radiopharmaceuticals are used daily in medical care as both diagnostic and therapeutic agents. With the expertise of nuclear pharmacists, radiopharmaceuticals can be used to precisely diagnose and treat many conditions. Radiopharmaceuticals can act like "flashlights," illuminating certain organs or cells through advanced imaging techniques. They can also act as "hand grenades," delivering a focused and fatal blow to cancer cells.
In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Andrew Brown, Manager of Quality Assurance in the Pharmacy Practice Division of Nuclear and Precision Health Solutions at Cardinal Health. Listen as he discusses the practice of nuclear pharmacy, new regulatory standards for the field, and the future of radiopharmaceuticals.
The opioid epidemic, a three-phased crisis thus far in the United States, has ravaged American communities both small and large. Ohio has been a major intersection for drug trafficking and is often cited as one of the worst-hit states in the nation. Initially fueled by predatory pharmaceutical marketing, this crisis was worsened by illicit laboratory production and the rise of black-market synthetic opioids like fentanyl. Opioid medications are effective and useful in the correct medical setting and with the correct precautions, but what can we do to prevent the great harm they continue to cause?
In this episode we are joined by Dr. Jon Sprague, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) Eminent Scholar at Bowling Green State University and the Director of Science and Research for the Ohio Attorney General, as he discusses the background and current state of the opioid epidemic, as well as medical and community-based solutions for preventing opioid harm to communities.
Pharmacists receive the most extensive medication experience out of any healthcare professional. Much of the profession’s recent growth has been in areas that allow this expertise to be leveraged alongside key communication skills. Pharmacists are increasingly involved in helping to influence medication prescribing to align with current medical literature and guidelines. One tool that can be utilized by pharmacists to promote these efforts is academic detailing, an educational outreach process that involves face-to-face interaction with and education of prescribers.
In this episode of DISRxUPT, we welcome Cedarville University alumna, Dr. Stephanie Tubb, who provides academic detailing as a clinical pharmacy specialist and works as an ambulatory care pharmacist in the women's primary care clinic at the Dayton VA Medical Center. She also serves as assistant professor of pharmacy practice for the Cedarville University School of Pharmacy. Tune in as she discusses the importance of academic detailing in her role as a pharmacist.
In this episode of DISRxUPT, we explore how artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are changing the ways pharmacists work each day. We are joined by Luke Mennen, Health System Pharmacy Administration & Leadership Resident at the Cleveland Clinic and Cedarville alumnus. In this episode, we discuss how AI is transforming all aspects of pharmacy, from drug discovery to the bedside. Luke also explains various ways in which the medication use process is impacted by AI technology now and how it might be further implemented in the future to improve health outcomes of patients.
In this episode of DISRxUPT, we explore the important role that 503B outsourcing facilities play in today's drug supply chain. We are joined by Jeff Hval, chief operating officer and chief pharmacist with STAQ Pharma, a 503B outsourcing facility based in Colorado. Jeff explains the history behind the creation of 503B outsourcing facilities, key differences from 503A pharmacies and drug manufacturers, the role of the FDA in oversight of 503B facilities, and the importance of current good manufacturing practices (cGMP) in this space. He also highlights the key role that pharmacists play in this growing sector. Listen in as we explore this unique and important facet of the drug supply chain!
In this episode of DISRxUPT, we continue our conversations about COVID-19 vaccines by diving into the topic of vaccine hesitancy. We are joined by Dr. Aleda Chen, interim dean and associate professor at the Cedarville University School of Pharmacy. Listen in as Dr. Chen and Dr. Cole discuss the impact of vaccine hesitancy, common beliefs about the COVID-19 vaccines, and how the social determinants of health impact our health beliefs. We also discuss how healthcare providers can utilize patient-centered communication practices like motivational interviewing to engage patients with compassion and encourage vaccine confidence.
On this episode of DISRxUPT we discuss pharmacy advocacy with Dr. Thad Franz, Vice Chair of Experiential Programs with the Cedarville University School of Pharmacy and director of Cedar Care Village Pharmacy in Cedarville, Ohio, alongside Dr. Andrea Kowalski, Director of Clinical Services with Shrivers Pharmacy, a multi-store independent pharmacy is Southeast Ohio.
Andrea this to say about pharmacy advocacy: “We can’t expect change or progress in our profession without showing the value of a pharmacist. And that means that we go beyond our traditional roles by finding new innovative ways to use our knowledge and unique position within the community to best serve our patients.”
Listen in as we discuss the basics of the pharmacist’s role in advocacy through patient and provider relationships.
In this episode of DISRxUPT, we discuss pharmacy advocacy with Dr. Melody Hartzler, Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice at Cedarville University and founder of PharmToTable. Dr. Hartzler has worked closely alongside the Ohio Pharmacists Association for legislative efforts and has participated in providing testimony to the Ohio Legislature on the language of the law for consult agreements. She says this about pharmacy advocacy:
“Advocacy is speaking up about what our profession can do to influence change in laws and practice.”
These efforts and many others have culminated in important recent changes in Ohio pharmacy law, including provider status, payor recognition, and provider ID numbers. Listen in as we discuss the basics of the pharmacist’s role in advocacy through patient, provider, and legislature relationships.
In today’s episode, Cedarville alumnus, Dr. Ryley Uber, will be discussing the practice of pharmacogenomics, which is how an individual’s genetic code can affect the way different medications interact and are processed within the body. The implications of research in this field are enormous. From pharmacovigilance to personalized medication dosing, everyone involved in the medication process stands to benefit from pharmacogenomic data. Dr. Uber’s interest in pharmacogenomics began during his time at Cedarville, which led to an internship studying pharmacogenomics with the FDA. He then serves as the first Clinical Pharmacogenomics Fellow with the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy and Medical Center. He now serves as Pharmacogenomics Program Director for Geisinger Health. Listen in to hear Dr. Uber discuss how pharmacogenomics is being implemented in the medical world and how it may affect your medication use for the better.
In today’s episode, Dr. Justin Cole is joined by a panel of medical professionals, including a retired physician and ethicist, an infectious disease specialty pharmacist, and a student from Cedarville University School of Pharmacy. Dr. Dennis Sullivan, professor emeritus of pharmacy practice at Cedarville University, and Rachel Wolthoff, a current second-year student pharmacist, will provide background information and detailed perspective on the ethical dilemmas surrounding COVID-19 vaccine development, production, and distribution. They are joined by Dr. Zach Jenkins, associate professor of pharmacy practice in the Cedarville University School of Pharmacy and a frontline infectious disease pharmacist who is familiar with COVID-19, its treatment, and the scientific basis for vaccinations.
Listen in to hear more from our panel as they explain the scientific background of COVID-19, vaccinations, and the ethical questions surrounding the COVID-19 vaccine. With vaccine approval and availability just days away, this panel provides a unique opportunity better understand the unique healthcare dilemmas and ethical challenges that COVID-19 and a potential vaccination has brought to our world.
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In today’s episode Dr. Mohan Pereira, Assistant Professor of Physics at Cedarville University, outlines the basics of nanotechnology applications in medicine. Dr. Pereira shares his career journey from a young child in Sri Lanka with an interest in science to a nanotechnology expert in the United States. The physics professor says this about the surprising way in which his career in which physics and medicine have come together:
“Even when I was a child I never thought of pursuing my career and research in nanomedicine.”
Through his experience with a variety of interdisciplinary science teams, Dr. Pereira became more interested in the novel ways a physics-based approach can be utilized in other various scientific fields, particularly drug design and delivery. The field of nanomedicine includes new drug delivery mechanisms such as pHLIP™ (pH-low insertion peptide) technology. Dr. Pereira describes this technology as a unique collection of peptides that sense local pH changes, which can be used to accurately deliver drugs or other target molecules to individual cells.
Listen in to hear more from Dr. Pereira as he explains the science of nanotechnology, its potential role in therapeutics, and various examples of Subscribe to this podcast to stay up-to-date with current projects, interviews, and innovation in pharmacy.
Welcome to the first episode of the Disrupt Podcast, brought to you by the Cedarville University Center for Pharmacy Innovation. In this inaugural episode, Dr. Justin Cole, the director of the center, as well as two of the center’s student innovators, discuss their backgrounds, interests in innovation, and current projects.
Luke O’Brien, one of the center’s student innovators, mentioning his interest in technology and informatics, says this about his interest to work in this setting: ”The more I learned about pharmacy informatics and leveraging new workflow, the more I found it really exciting.” Luke continues to serve the center and its partners in a number of projects involving data collection and media production.
Matt Merical, with his interest in advancing the clinical practice of pharmacists, mentions this regarding the expertise and training of pharmacists: “We have a lot of skills that are sometimes over-developed and then underutilized.” Matt supports the center for pharmacy innovation by conducting research and collaborating with its partners in innovation.
Dr. Justin Cole, a pediatric pharmacist by training, has led the center since its founding in 2018. Utilizing the resources inside the Center for Pharmacy Innovation, he desires to help change the face of pharmacy practice with innovative approaches to healthcare and systems design, saying, “When we hear the words ‘pharmacy innovation’, I think our minds are naturally drawn to thinking about new drugs. But we also want to ask ‘How can we improve the care system around us?’ We want to be proactive and forward-thinking on how we can improve the health of our patients.”
Listen in to hear more from each member of the team, and subscribe to this podcast to stay up-to-date with the rapid pace of change in the profession of pharmacy.