Julie Akers, PharmD, FWSPA
Julie Akers, PharmD, FWSPA, is the Interim Dean of the Washington State University College of Pharmacy and
Pharmaceutical Sciences (WSU CPPS). After graduating from WSU CPPS, Akers spent 14 years in community
pharmacy serving as a district manager for a large regional chain and then overseeing outpatient pharmacies
as part of a physician-owned clinic. After selling the clinic pharmacies, she joined WSU CPPS in 2013. In
addition to serving as interim dean, Akers teaches pharmacy law, lectures in health care systems, pharmacy
management, and pharmacotherapy and oversees an advocacy elective. Her research focuses on increasing
patient access to quality care in the community pharmacy setting through pharmacists serving in a primary
provider role for minor conditions, chronic diseases, and preventive health care.
Katelyn M. Alexander, PharmD
Katelyn M. Alexander, PharmD, is director of experiential education and associate professor in the
Department of Pharmacy Practice at East Tennessee State University Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy. She
received her PharmD from The Ohio State University (2011) and completed a PGY1 community-based pharmacy
residency at the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy. She joined the faculty at ETSU in August 2012.
Prior to her administrative appointment, Alexander worked with several local independent pharmacies to
provide clinical services and helped to launch the ETSU Charitable Pharmacy. She has also supported regional
pharmacy practice transformation as a coach with the Community Pharmacy Foundation’s Flip the Pharmacy
initiative. Alexander’s teaching focuses on nonprescription medicines and she serves as a facilitator in the
interprofessional education curriculum. She also precepts final-year students and postgraduates on elective
academia rotations. A long-time APhA–ASP advisor, she has mentored student pharmacists for over a decade.
Alexander has sustained service within the college, particularly in the areas of curricular oversight and
assessment, and is engaged at the local, state, and nation levels.
Hillary F. Blackburn, PharmD, MBA
Hillary Blackburn, PharmD, MBA, is a clinically and business-trained pharmacist with more than a decade of
experience across hospital, community, specialty pharmacy, and health plan settings. She brings deep
expertise in health care strategy, formulary management, and the design and scale of innovative medication
access programs. Blackburn currently serves as director of medication access and affordability at
AscensionRx, where she leads systemwide initiatives to optimize medication access for underserved
populations, drive affordability, and support value-based care. Previously, she was chief pharmacy officer
at the Dispensary of Hope, a national nonprofit medication distributor hosted by Ascension, where she
oversaw the formulary, research strategy, and a national pharmacist advisory network. A graduate of the
University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy, Blackburn completed her PGY1 residency at the University of
Mississippi Medical Center. She was recently appointed to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
(ACIP) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), where she contributes her expertise to
national vaccine policy and implementation. She has held numerous leadership roles with professional
organizations, including the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), where she served on the APPM Executive
Committee (2021–2023), the Women in Pharmacy Committee, and Care of Underserved SIG Advocacy Committee. She
also serves on the Board of Trustees for the Tennessee Pharmacists Research and Education Foundation and has
contributed to TPA's Legislative and Regulatory Policy Committee. She is a dedicated preceptor for student
pharmacists from multiple colleges of pharmacy and serves on the Dean’s External Advisory Committee at
Belmont University and the Dean’s Advisory Committee at the University of Mississippi. A recognized thought
leader, Blackburn is the founder and host of the Talk to Your Pharmacist podcast, featuring over 250
episodes on health care innovation and pharmacy leadership. She is also the author of How Pharmacists Lead:
Answers from Women Who Are Leading, Succeeding, and Impacting Pharmacy (2020). Blackburn lives in Nashville
with her husband and their two young children. She is passionate about advancing public health and
transforming health care through evidence-based, pharmacist-led solutions.
Kelly Brock, PharmD
Kelly Brock graduated from the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy and then completed a pharmacy practice
residency with an emphasis in community care at The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy. She was one
of the first PGY1 Community-based Pharmacy Residents in the country in 2002. From the beginning, she has
always had great vision, energy, and passion to create change in community pharmacy practice.
Building on her unique experiences early on in her career, Kelly founded KB Pharmacy Solutions, Inc., a
consulting company, with the goal of building her career around her growing family. She wanted to be able to
contribute to the profession she loved while being present for her family. Kelly has a passion for helping
others and empowering individuals and organizations to fulfill their missions. As a consultant, she
supported the work of several national organizations through content building for educational programming,
meeting planning, meeting facilitation, and consensus building activities over the years. She is very proud
to say that she trained thousands of pharmacists to administer vaccines while she served as a faculty member
and primary writer for the APhA Pharmacy-Based Immunization Delivery Program. Kelly also served as a project
management specialist for several of the APhA Foundation’s national projects. One of her proudest
accomplishments as a project manager was when the Project IMPACT Immunizations Pilot received the
International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) Pharmacy Practice Improvement Award in 2018. Kelly thrives
when she is coaching and supporting community pharmacists to create change and transform how care is
delivered in their practice sites, and this led her to serve as a practice transformation coach and team
lead for the Flip the Pharmacy Program, a multimillion-dollar practice transformation initiative funded by
the Community Pharmacy Foundation (CPF).
Kelly’s excellence in teaching, coaching, project management, research, and networking coupled with her
passion and vision led her to become the executive director of the CPF in 2021. CPF is a nonprofit
organization dedicated to advancing community pharmacy practice through grant funding and resource sharing.
Since its inception in 2000, CPF has provided over 18 million dollars to fund over 220 grants and special
projects focused on advancing community pharmacy practice. Kelly is honored to lead this incredible
organization that is deeply committed to affecting positive change in community pharmacy practice.
Kelly recognizes how fortunate she is to have incredible mentors and a network of professional colleagues
who have supported her throughout her career. The relationships she has cultivated throughout her career are
her most treasured professional accomplishment. Her mentors have taught her important lessons that guide her
actions every day. Some of her favorite lessons are: “Trust that you are exactly where you are supposed to
be right now.” “Do good.” “Make a difference.” “Pay it forward.”
In 2013, Kelly was recognized by the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy with the Genesis Award for her
major accomplishments in pharmacy practice and her exceptional service to her community, the college, the
profession, and the public. Her way of paying it forward, coupled with her desire to make a difference and
cultivate the potential in others was to work with the dean of the College of Pharmacy to establish the
Genesis Board, a volunteer board of alumni, whose mission was to enhance the student experience and
facilitate student success. Kelly served as the inaugural chair of this board for the first 8 years and is
proud to say it is still making a difference at the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy.
Kelly finds great joy in supporting her husband’s career and adventures as well as her children’s hopes and
dreams. She knows she could not do any of this without the love and support from her husband, Aaron, and
their three amazing children, Noah, Cameron, and Bayla. They inspire her every day and truly are her pride
and joy.
Lawrence Cohen, PharmD, FASHP, FCCP, FCP, FAAPP, FNAP, BCPP
Lawrence Cohen is a consultant, advisor, academic educator, and researcher with over 45 years teaching in
pharmacy, medical and nursing schools. Cohen is Distinguished Professor of Pharmacotherapy at the University
of North Texas College of Pharmacy. He is currently adjunct professor in the UNT College of Pharmacy, and
Touro University College of Pharmacy – New York City. Cohen is emeritus professor of pharmacotherapy at
Washington State University College of Pharmacy. Cohen’s research career includes serving as global director
of Central Nervous System Research for Kendle International, a global contract research organization.
Cohen’s previous academic institutions include University of Oklahoma Colleges of Pharmacy and Medicine,
University of California, San Francisco School of Pharmacy, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy and
University of Cincinnati Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy.
Cohen is a fellow of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy, the American Society of Health-System
Pharmacists, American College of Clinical Pharmacology, American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists and
Fellow and Distinguished Practitioner of the National Academies of Practice – Pharmacy Academy.
Cohen has been a board-certified psychiatric pharmacist since the credential was established in 1996 and has
served as a member of the Board of Pharmaceutical Specialties (BPS) Psychiatric Pharmacy Specialty Council,
Geriatric Pharmacy Specialty Council, currently the Pediatric Pharmacy Specialty Council and is a member of
the BPS Employer Advisory Council.
Cohen's scholarly interests include pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of psychotropic medications,
geriatric psychopharmacology, pharmacoeconomics and health outcomes, pharmacoepidemiology, and emergency
preparedness (specifically, access to health care during times of crisis). He has served as a consultant for
numerous pharmaceutical companies and national managed care organizations. Cohen has fulfilled an extensive
invited lecture schedule and has both authored and coauthored numerous articles in professional and
interprofessional journals. Cohen has been recognized for his clinical skills, leadership and management
abilities, and professional activities. While admitting to be “semi-retired,” Cohen continues to serve as an
advocate for patient’s access to affordable health care, including pharmacotherapy through his work as a
consultant and advocate.
Ryan Costantino, PharmD, PhD, BCPS
Lieutenant Colonel Ryan C. Costantino, PharmD, PhD, BCPS, is an active duty Army pharmacist and faculty
member at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. He currently serves as the Chief of
Service and Demand Management for the Enterprise Intelligence and Data Solution Program Management Office
within the Defense Healthcare Management Systems Program Executive Office.
Ryan received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences,
and a Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Health Service Research and a Master of Science in Palliative
Care from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. He completed a PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency at the
University of Maryland (UM) Medical Center and a PGY-2 Pain and Palliative Care Pharmacy Residency at the UM
School of Pharmacy.
Ryan is passionate about ensuring military service members have access to pharmacy services, that their
medications are optimized, and that the U.S. maintains a robust and secure pharmaceutical supply chain. Ryan
has held and continues to serve in a variety of leadership roles supporting professional pharmacy
organizations, including as the Chair of the Clinical Sciences Section of APhA-APRS. Ryan has also served as
a Regional and National Officer in the Phi Delta Chi professional pharmacy fraternity, and is an active
reviewer for several academic journals, including Pain Medicine, American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy,
and Military Medicine.
Nicholas Dorich, PharmD
Nicholas Dorich serves as the associate director of pharmacy accounts at PQS by Innovaccer. In this role, he
manages PQS’ relationships with pharmacy customers that include more than 60,000 pharmacies. Dorich is
passionate about quality improvement in health care, expansion of pharmacy services, and new pathways for
pharmacy reimbursement. Prior to PQS, Nicholas led professional affairs, education, and research at the
National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) and NACDS Foundation. Nicholas earned his PharmD from the
University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy in 2011 and completed an Executive Residency with the NACDS
Foundation in 2012.
Laura E. Knockel, PharmD, BCACP
Laura Knockel, PharmD, BCACP, is a clinical associate professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice and
Science at the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy. She earned her PharmD from the University of Iowa and
completed a community-based pharmacy residency with the College and Hy-Vee Pharmacy. At Iowa, Knockel serves
as director of Pharmacy Practice Laboratories, where she oversees the longitudinal skills laboratory
curriculum. Her teaching emphasizes community pharmacy skills, including immunizations and self-care. She
also practices as a community pharmacist at the University of Iowa Health Care outpatient pharmacies.
Knockel draws on these experiences to design educational activities that are practical and relevant,
ensuring students develop skills aligned with contemporary pharmacy practice. She has been recognized for
her excellence in teaching, receiving the College’s P1 Teacher of the Year award in 2018 and 2022. Knockel
has held numerous leadership roles in professional organizations. She is a past trustee and speaker of the
House for the Iowa Pharmacy Association. Nationally, she has served on multiple committees within the APhA
Immunizing Pharmacists Special Interest Group, including 1 year as coordinator. She is also active in AACP
and currently serves as chair-elect for the Self-Care Therapeutics/Nonprescription Medicine SIG
Yifei Liu, B.S. Pharm, M.S., Ph.D
Yifei Liu, BS Pharm, MS, PhD, is a tenured associate professor at the University of Missouri – Kansas City
(UMKC) School of Pharmacy, a fellow of the UMKC Healthcare Institute for Innovations in Quality, a faculty
fellow with the Diane Filion Center for Advancing Faculty Excellence, and a doctoral faculty member at the
UMKC Henry W. Bloch School of Management. He earned his BS in Pharmacy from West China University of Medical
Sciences, and MS and PhD in Pharmaceutical Socioeconomics from the University of Iowa.
Liu teaches in the areas of the U.S. health care system, health care marketing, pharmacy practice
management, and health economics. His research examines patient and provider behavior, implementation and
evaluation of pharmacist-led services, determinants of health care utilization, and the opioid epidemic. His
work has been funded by government agencies, professional organizations, and pharmaceutical manufacturers.
He has been an associate faculty for the PGY2 Western Missouri Psychiatric Residency Program and a preceptor
for the Walgreens Local Specialty PGY1 Community Residency Program and the UMKC PGY1 Community Pharmacy
Residency Program. He has mentored more than 30 PGY1/PGY2 residents and has served as faculty advisor for
the UMKC student chapter of the Industry Pharmacists Organization. He was also the implementation co-lead
for the Kansas City Quality and Value Innovation Consortium Opioid Management Project.
Liu has contributed extensively to scholarly publishing and has held multiple editorial appointments,
including two terms on the Editorial Advisory Board of JAPhA. He is a long-standing APhA member, a six-term
delegate, and the 2025–2026 chair-elect of the Research and Science Community. His service in other
professional associations includes roles as co-chair of Member Engagement for the ISPOR Clinical Outcome
Assessment SIG and secretary of Knowledge Management for the AACP Public Health SIG, as well as three terms
on ISPOR’s selective International Program Committee.
Ashley R. Lorenzen, PharmD
Ashley R. Lorenzen is the chief of pharmacy at the VA Illiana Health Care System in Danville, IL, a position
she has held since May 2024. Her extensive career in pharmacy encompasses various leadership, instructional,
and clinical roles. Lorenzen's educational foundation includes a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) from the
University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Pharmacy and a Bachelor of Arts in chemistry from William
Jewell College, Liberty, Missouri.
Lorenzen began her professional journey with various internship roles and transitioned into clinical
pharmacist positions at establishments including St. Joseph’s Medical Center and Ascension Medical Group
after completing her PGY1 Residency Program. She served as the associate chief of pharmacy – clinical
services at the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center in Iron Mountain, MI, from 2019 to 2024 before ascending
her current role. She has also held numerous teaching appointments across several universities, where she
has significantly contributed to resident and student education.
Lorenzen's scholarly contributions include numerous professional publications and invited presentations. She
has authored articles in esteemed journals such as the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association and
the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin. She has been an invited speaker at various conferences, sharing her
expertise on a number of topics to audiences within and outside the profession of pharmacy.
In addition to her professional roles, Lorenzen is deeply committed to service. She has participated in
various hospital committees, community health initiatives, and educational endeavors. Her involvement with
organizations like the American Pharmacists Association and the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin underscores
her dedication to the advancement of the pharmacy profession.
Ashley R. Lorenzen embodies a remarkable blend of clinical expertise, academic dedication, and leadership
acumen, making her an invaluable asset to the field of pharmacy and the communities she serves.
Kevin W. McCloy, PharmD, BCPS
Kevin McCloy is the manager of clinical pharmacy opioid management for Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New
Jersey. Currently, he focuses on the Medicaid population, overseeing opioid safety initiatives, clinical
programs, and a managed care pharmacy residency program. McCloy earned his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from
the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy at Rutgers University and is a board-certified pharmacotherapy
specialist. McCloy’s professional background includes hospital, community, hospice and palliative care, and
managed care pharmacy.
Throughout his career, McCloy has been actively involved with the American Pharmacists Association (APhA).
He has served on the Editorial Advisory Board of Pharmacy Today, as a peer reviewer for the Journal of the
American Pharmacists Association (JAPhA), abstract reviewer, poster judge, participated in various
committees, and currently serves as the chair-elect of the Pain, Palliative Care, and Substance Use Disorder
Community. Outside of pharmacy, McCloy enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, and volunteering in
his local community.
Phung C. On, PharmD, BCPS
Phung C. On, PharmD, BCPS, is an associate professor of pharmacy practice at the Massachusetts College of
Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS), where she also serves as the community engagement coordinator for the
School of Pharmacy–Boston. She practices as a clinical pharmacy specialist at Codman Square Health Center, a
federally qualified health center in Boston.
On earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from MCPHS and completed a PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency with a
focus in ambulatory care, transitions of care, and managed care at the University of North Carolina Eshelman
School of Pharmacy and AccessCare, a network of Community Care of North Carolina. She is a board-certified
pharmacotherapy specialist with experience spanning community pharmacy, long-term care, hospital, and
health-system practice, grounding her in a comprehensive, patient-centered approach to pharmacy care.
An active APhA member for more than 15 years, On has demonstrated sustained leadership and service to the
profession. She currently serves as member-at-large for the Community Coordination Council, member-at-large
for the Ambulatory Care Community Policy and Professional Affairs Committee, and co-chair of the Transitions
of Care Community Policy and Professional Affairs Committee. Her previous involvement includes elected
leadership positions and multiple committee appointments within the Transitions of Care Special Interest
Group, as well as contributions to the Academy of Pharmacy Practice and Management (APPM). She has also
served as an abstract reviewer and poster judge for the APhA Contributed Papers Poster Program and is a
long-standing advisor for the MCPHS–Boston APhA–ASP Chapter.
On has co-developed several national APhA practice resources—including tools, checklists, and practice
models supporting pharmacists in transitions of care—and has authored peer-reviewed publications and
textbook chapters focused on chronic disease management, interprofessional practice, and care transitions.
Her professional engagement further extends to statewide advocacy through her involvement with the
Massachusetts Diabetes Network, the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, and state pharmacy
organizations, including the Massachusetts Pharmacists Association and the Massachusetts Society of
Health-System Pharmacists.
David R. Steeb, PharmD, MPH
David Steeb, PharmD, MPH, is the founding dean of the College of Global Population Health at the University
of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis. In his role as Dean, Steeb leads strategic planning and
organizational development of the college, oversees academic program development, and enables local and
global partnership opportunities. Before his current role, he was a faculty member and director of global
engagement at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. Throughout his career, Steeb has published over 35
peer-reviewed manuscripts and has delivered over 100 national and international presentations. Steeb’s
research focuses on health professions education and capacity building with collaborators across the U.S.
and the world. Steeb helped found the Public Health Special Interest Group of the American Pharmacists
Association (APhA) and is a former APhA Board of Trustees member. He is a past recipient of the APhA
Distinguished New Practitioner Award and the AACP New Investigator Award. He received his Bachelor of
Science in chemistry and biology from the University of Miami and both his Doctorate of Pharmacy and Master
of Public Health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is currently pursuing his PhD at
Monash University in Melbourne, Australia.
Jessica Wooster Thomas, PharmD, BCACP
Jessica Wooster Thomas, clinical pharmacist at Lt. Col. Luke Weathers, Jr. VA Medical Center, specializes in
heart failure, arrhythmia, and coronary artery disease in a cardiology clinic. She also practices in the
ambulatory care women’s clinic. Previously, she was a clinical associate professor at the University of
Texas at Tyler where she practiced in a cardiology clinic and led transitions of care services. Wooster
Thomas enjoys conducting research and providing education to health care professionals on improving
cardiology therapy management and optimizing transitions of care. She enjoys serving her profession through
committee work for APhA and other pharmacy organizations.
Roxane L. Took, Pharm.D., BCACP
Roxane L. Took, PharmD, BCACP, is an ambulatory care clinical pharmacy specialist at SSM Health Saint Louis
University Hospital’s Transitions of Care Clinic and a nationally recognized leader in transitions of care.
She has advanced innovative clinical services, published peer-reviewed research and contributed to multiple
APhA toolkits, practice resources, and national presentations. Took has provided extensive service to APhA
through leadership roles in the Transitions of Care SIG and expert content review. She currently serves as
president of the Missouri Pharmacy Association and is deeply committed to advocacy, mentorship, and
advancing patient-centered pharmacy practice.
Sara A. Wettergreen, PharmD, BCACP, BC-ADM
Sara Wettergreen is a passionate pharmacy educator and clinical pharmacist. She works as an associate
professor in the Department of Clinical Pharmacy at the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and
Pharmaceutical Sciences. Her primary teaching areas are related to patient-centered communication and
advanced diabetes management. Wettergreen spends half of her time as a clinical pharmacy specialist at
UCHealth Lone Tree Primary Care clinic, where her practice focuses on type 2 diabetes management.