It’s that time of year again! Cast your ballot for the 2020-2021 VPhA Board of Directors! This year’s open positions include President-Elect, Secretary, and Representatives from Regions A, D, F, G, and H. Keep an eye on your inbox for the ballot for your region!
Deadline to Submit is Friday, July 3, 2020.
President-Elect:
I am a Virginia native lucky enough to grow up only a couple hours south of Charlottesville in Danville. Some childhood memories become unclear as one grows older, but there’s one thing I can say for sure: All I ever wanted to be was a pharmacist. For my first career day in third grade other children showed up as astronauts, ballerinas, and football players, but I went as a pharmacist. I always loved the local pharmacy in my hometown and visiting the caring pharmacist that worked there. When I was 15, I got a job working at a pharmacy in Danville. By the time I was 30, I had spent time working for retail chains, independent small stores, hospitals, and mental health pharmacies. It didn’t take me long to realize that independent community pharmacy is where I wanted to be.
I gained a tremendous amount of experience at VCU – Medical College of Virginia Campus. Not only did I graduate with my PharmD degree, but I was fortunate enough to be accepted into 1 of 5 residency positions in the VCU Community Pharmacy Practice Residency Program. Being a pharmacist doesn’t require a residency. However, it was important to me to seek advanced training to be on the cutting edge of pharmacy practice in order to better serve my patients with the most innovative patient care services around.
Secretary:
Cindy Coffey completed her pre-pharmacy education at Christopher Newport University in Virginia. She received her Doctor of Pharmacy from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2001. She completed her Community Pharmacy Practice Residency with Mercer University Southern School of Pharmacy in Atlanta, GA.
After completing her residency, Cindy remained at Mercer University as a Clinical Assistant Professor for three additional years. She then had the opportunity to work with independent and chain pharmacies within the Atlanta area which focused on compounding, community disease state management programs, immunizations, and HIV/AIDs pharmacy.
Cindy has contributed as an author for the Handbook of Non-prescription Drugs and published in the Journal of Pharmacy Teaching and America’s Pharmacists.
She is currently residing in Yorktown, Virginia with her husband and two teenage sons. Cindy is the Pharmacy Manager for Cardinal Health and Riverside Pavilion Pharmacy in Newport News, VA.
Region A:
Shamly Abdelfattah is an Adjunct Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice at the Appalachian College of Pharmacy. Dr. Abdelfattah completed the requirements for a master’s degree in Medicinal Chemistry and earned a Bachelor of Pharmacy and a PharmD Degree from the University of Tennessee. His research in medicinal chemistry focused on developing a new spectrometric method for the analysis of iron preparations. While at the University of Tennessee, he conducted research in pediatric oncology at St. Jude’s Children Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. This research focused on the protein binding and metabolism of methotrexate. He has also conducted research in the area of infectious disease by comparing the efficacy and safety of cefotaxime and ceftizoxime in patients with pneumonia. He is the recipient of the University of Tennessee award for outstanding research.
Dr. Abdelfattah has over 20 years of pharmacy experience as a clinical pharmacist and as a Director of Pharmacy. He owned and operated a home infusion and a retail pharmacy. He also established nutritional support, home infusion, and therapeutic drug monitoring services at several hospitals. He designed and developed pharmacokinetics software to calculate dosing for aminoglycosides, vancomycin, and theophylline.
He teaches in numerous courses at the Appalachian College of Pharmacy, including medicinal chemistry, clinical toxicology, clinical pharmacokinetics, and pharmacotherapeutics.
He and his wife, Felecia, and their two children, Bridgett and Samir, reside in Bristol, Virginia.
Niki has been a member of VPhA since 1999. Growing up in an independent retail pharmacy, I have worked for chain retail for 16 years as a practicing pharmacist. Our challenges are significant, and we must all work together to be the change we all desire. Our State Association has been changing and moving forward, yet those changes have been slow to be seen in our region. We have strong local legislators that support us at the state capitol. I want to represent you, and have your voice heard in our Association. I plan to revitalize Lonesome Pine and Southwest Pharmacists association, and I need our local pharmacists and technicians who also hope for an active and inspiring local group to come forward.
I will work with Richmond to bridge the needs of our unique pharmacy practices here in Far Southwest Virginia with those of our diverse Commonwealth. I am grateful for your support and vote to represent you as Region A Director.
Region D:
Sarah received her Doctor of Pharmacy from Albany College of Pharmacy in 2004 and completed a Community Pharmacy Residency with Price Chopper Pharmacy and Albany College of Pharmacy in 2005. Sarah is currently an Adjunct Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice at the Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy, Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia. Her faculty responsibilities include teaching communication and patient counseling skills, nonprescription products and topics related to community pharmacy practice and management. Sarah has experience with providing clinical pharmacy services at a community pharmacy and a transition of care clinic. She is currently working on pursuing her Master of Public Health at Shenandoah University.
In addition, she is an active member of the American Pharmacists Association and American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy. She serves as the co-advisor for the Shenandoah University Chapter of the American Pharmacists Association-Academy of Student Pharmacists.
Sarah is a proud member of VPhA. She has served on the VPhA legislative, membership and awards committees. She was involved with VPhA CPESN service set committee. Sarah enjoys organizing and attending VPhA’s Legislative Day with student pharmacists. She is currently the co-chair of the VPhA Meetings and Education Committee. Sarah has been recognized by VPhA for her dedication and service to the profession of pharmacy. In 2017, Sarah received the Ed D. Spearbeck Virginia Pharmacist Service Award; in 2013, she was recognized as a Top 10 under 10 New Practitioner and in 2008, she was recognized as the Distinguished Young Pharmacist. She has enjoyed all of her experiences within VPhA and networking with pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and student pharmacists from around the state. As a Board member, Sarah would work to further the pharmacy profession within the state of VA. She is looking forward to meeting more members within the region and continuing to help pharmacists understand the value of being a member of VPhA.
Sarah is actively engaged in her community, providing wellness and education activities at various community outreach events. She is an active member of her church community. She serves a lector, substitute for religious education and Secretary for the St. Bridget of Ireland Women’s Group.
Sarah enjoys spending time with her husband, Mishal and two children, Aiden and Hannah.
Jeff began working in the field of pharmacy more than 25 years ago. His interest in the profession began in high school, when he would listen to his aunt and uncles discuss their jobs as pharmacists. After high school, he attended Virginia Tech and studied Psychology and Chemistry. While there, he served in the ROTC program and served as Echo Company Commander in the Corps of Cadets. He also started the school’s initial extracurricular Pharmacy Club. After graduating from Virginia Tech, Jeff attended and graduated from The Medical College of Virginia School of Pharmacy. While a pharmacy student, he worked part-time as a pharmacy technician at both MCV Hospital and CVS Pharmacy. In addition, he served two years as pharmacy class president, three years as a member of the Dean’s Council, and was the first recipient to receive the Dean Emeritus John Ruggiero Pharmacy Award.
Since then, Jeff’s experience has been in retail pharmacy. He has been with Vienna Drug Center for the past 18 years and is their Pharmacy Manager. He was instrumental in implementing the Durable Medical Equipment accreditation process and founded their synchronization, MTM and immunization programs, which now exceeds 2,000 vaccinations per year. Jeff is a certified compounding pharmacist, certified CBD Specialist and served as a co-chair on the Work Place Issue Task Force for VPhA. He developed a CE: “CBD Oil…Why All the Hype?” and presented it at the VPhA Mid-Year conference in February 2020. He was a guest lecturer for Shenandoah University’s Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy (SU PHAR 737): “How to Hire Your Best Team” in April 2020. He also helped develop and presented the CE: “Precepting Pearls” for pharmacists interested in becoming a preceptor. He serves as a Preceptor for Shenandoah University’s Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy and MCV/VCU School of Pharmacy. He was selected as Preceptor of the Year for Shenandoah University’s Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy in 2019.
Jeff spends his time at the store working on policies and procedures, hiring and scheduling, overseeing synchronization of patient’s medications, counseling patients, precepting students, mentoring technicians, teaching classes on CBD and facilitating talks at local assisted living homes.
Region F:
Christine attended Virginia Commonwealth University/Medical College of Virginia School of Pharmacy and completed her Doctor of Pharmacy in 2005. After graduation, Christine pursued her interest in working with the geriatric population, by completing a Geriatric Community Pharmacy Residency. Currently she volunteers her time with Crossover Health Ministries and works as staff pharmacist with the Riverside Health System. Christine became a board member for the Richmond Pharmacists association (RPhA) after graduation and has held the office of secretary/treasurer for several years. In her spare time Christine enjoys traveling, shopping, watching movies and spending time with family and friends.
Christine says, “With the changing demands of pharmacy in our state, the need to show a strong pharmacy presence, and after serving on the RPhA Board for several years, I feel it is time to serve on a state level. I will carry those same energies as I did with RPhA to the state level as Region F director”.
Sharon Gatewood is an Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacotherapy and Outcomes Science, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU).
In 2002, Sharon received her Pharm.D. from VCU School of Pharmacy and completed a Community Pharmacy Residency at VCU in 2003. After graduation she worked with Ukrop’s Pharmacy providing patient care service, including point of care testing, immunizations and travel health services. For 12 years, she worked with the VCU School of Pharmacy and Ukrop’s/Martin’s Pharmacy to develop enhanced patient care programs in Richmond, VA. She is currently working with Bremo Pharmacy to implement transitions of care services and chronic care management. She is also a credentialed practitioner working in a Federally Qualified Healthcare Center, Daily Planet Health Services, to improve outcomes in patients with health disparities. Sharon has been a preceptor for community-based pharmacy residents and student pharmacists since 2003 in the areas of wellness, immunizations, diabetes, MTM, and Travel Health.
Sharon currently serves as the Director for Region F on the VPhA Board of Directors and is a member of the Executive committee for the Board of Directors of VPhA. She has served as a member and then co-chair of the VPhA Meetings and Education since 2002. Also, she has served as Community Outreach Chair for Richmond Pharmacist Association. For the past 10 years, Sharon has been involved in VPhA’s Legislative day. She has worked to train and precept students and pharmacy residents for legislative visits, and providing patient care for this event. Currently, she is working with the taskforce to develop and grow Virginia Community Pharmacy Enhanced Services Network (VA-CPESN). She has also served on the Executive Committee of American Pharmacist Association Academy of Pharmacy Practice and Management (APhA–APPM) as member-at-large, as well as Chair of the Clinical/ Pharmacotherapeutic Practice Section.
In 2002, Dr. Gatewood received the Community Pharmacy Achievement Award and the 2011 Outstanding Mentor Award from Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy. In 2003 and 2010, she received the APhA-APPM Presentation Merit Award, and in 2010 the Distinguished Young Pharmacist award from VPhA. Also in 2013, she was awarded the APhA Community Pharmacy Residency Excellence in Precepting Award and VPhA Ed D. Spearbeck Virginia Pharmacist Service Award. Most recently she has been awarded Fellow of APhA in 2015 and APhA-APPM Distinguished Service Award in 2017.
Sharon is married to Beau Gatewood, and they have two children, Ryan, age 12, and Seth, age 9. They live in Mechanicsville, VA.
Region G:
I have been a licensed pharmacist for over 10 years, with the majority of that time spend practicing in Virginia. I currently work for Riverside Health System as an ambulatory pharmacist. I practice in a variety of settings to include primary care, cardiology and geriatrics. I am a member of both VPhA and VSHP. I am interested in serving on the VPhA Board as I would like to become more actively involved in VPhA and the services it provides to Virginia pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. I believe I have substantially gained from my local pharmacy association memberships and I would like to support VPhA moving forward in such uncertain times. I also believe I practice in a relatively unique position and may be able to bring a unique perspective.
Patricia Robinson graduated from the Medical College of Virginia School of Pharmacy in 1978 and began her pharmacy career in an independent pharmacy at Providence Forge Cardinal Pharmacy in New Kent, Virginia. Since the start of her career, she has been an active member of VPhA serving in multiple capacities and through many committees. She is a network facilitator for CPESN Virginia, serving as a support contact and assisting participating pharmacies to ensure they meet the national standards. Additionally, she is a coach for Flip the Pharmacy. With the large majority of her career in independent practice, she has also been involved in the Academy of Independent Pharmacists where she is currently a board member and secretary. Patty has completed the APhA certificate programs in Immunizations, Diabetes, and Medication Therapy Management to further her ability to best serve her patients. She lives in New Kent County with her husband, Paul, and has three children and four grandchildren. She is a member of Providence Forge Presbyterian Church where she is an elder and serves on the Christian Education Committee, and is actively involved in the New Kent Junior Woman’s Club.
“Since my first job as a pharmacist in 1978, I realized belonging to VPhA was a necessary opportunity to be a part of an organization that is committed to supporting the profession of pharmacy. Being a part of VPhA meant that pharmacists worked together as a team to promote the profession of pharmacy, address the concerns of the members, and advocate for legislation within the practice of pharmacy.
I would like to serve on the VPhA Board to represent the voice and concerns of pharmacists in the state. Our profession has grown in so many ways over the years and VPhA is our leadership for the advancement of these changes.
It would be both humbling and an honor to work for the pharmacists in our state to promote the value of pharmacy and our service to our community and customers.”
Region H:
Wendy Nash has represented Region H on the Board of Directors since 2016, during which time she served on the Governing Policy and Bylaw Review committee, Marketing committee, Legislative committee, PAC committee, Executive Director Search committee, was lead for the Strategic Plan.
Wendy attended VCU/MCV School of pharmacy where she received her Bachelor of Science of Pharmacy and her Doctor of Pharmacy degrees. She is Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist, Board Certified Geriatric Pharmacist and Fellow of American Society of Consultant Pharmacists.
Practice sites include hospitals, mental health facilities, community pharmacies (both retail and non-retail), long term care. Wendy was clinical manager for Virginia Medicaid and has provided consulting services. Currently with Neil Medical Group, she provides medication management, analysis, insight, regulatory support and account management for CCRCs, PACs, Skilled NF & Rehab Centers and ALFs, including Memory Support in Virginia and North Carolina with payer sources including Medicaid, Medicare B and private pay. A majority of the Medicaid residents in ALFs have behavioral health diagnoses. She has been instrumental in process architecture design in at least 7 startup ALFs.
Immersed in lifelong learning, Wendy completed the UC Davis Healthcare Analytics Certificate program, the Lean Six Sigma course & exam, Duke Integrative Health Coach program, APHA MTM Certificate Program, APHA Immunization Certificate Program, NC AHEC Diabetes Certificate Program and attended the Virginia Master Teachers Seminar.
Publications include practical medication administration topics such as “May I Put You on Hold?”, medically complex care “IF only it were that simple again” and insights into future practice like wearables “I don’t have a thing to WEAR today.” Recent presentations reflect her passion for immunization “Roll UP Your Sleeve” an immunization update for LTC and guiding assisted living leaders by “Maneuvering through the Medication Maze”.
Commitment to the next generation includes precepting over 40 students, participating in the Chamber of Commerce Career Shadow program and chairing local high school career day.
As a pharmacist Wendy embraces innovation in healthcare while maintaining care as the foundation and resolutely advocates for pharmacists’ unique and valuable role on the healthcare team.