Board of Trustees

boardofdirectors

APhA Officers & Trustees

Alex C. Varkey

APhA President, 2024-2025

Alex C. Varkey, PharmD, MS, FAPhA, has dedicated his career to advancing the pharmacist's role in patient care. His passion for professional service began as a student pharmacist, when he served as national president of the American Pharmacists Association Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA–ASP). Varkey's service and dedication to APhA and other pharmacy organizations have continued for almost two decades, including his current service as trustee on the APhA Board of Trustees. Varkey is passionate about promoting practitioner well-being as an essential component of a well-functioning health care system, and is a recognized pharmacy thought leader in this space. As chair of APhA's Well-Being Steering Committee, Varkey promotes awareness of well-being concerns in pharmacy and resources to help individuals and organizations address these concerns. Varkey is currently director of pharmacy at Houston Methodist Hospital. In this 950-bed academic medical center, he and his team have implemented innovative technologies to enhance efficiency and safety in medication-use processes and developed thriving learner programs including their award-winning two-year health-system pharmacy administration and leadership residency. Most recently, Varkey and his team coordinated efforts to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to over 150,000 Houstonians. Varkey received his Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Houston and Master of Science in Health-System Pharmacy Administration from The Ohio State University. He completed a two-year health-system pharmacy administration residency at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, OH.

Randy McDonough

APhA President-elect, 2024-2025

Dr. Randy McDonough is Co-owner/CEO of Towncrest, Solon Towncrest, Towncrest LTC, Towncrest Wellness Apothecary, Bennett Pharmacy, and Cornerstone Apothecary Pharmacies. He is also co-founder/co-owner of Innovative Pharmacy Solutions and Professor of Pharmacy Management and Innovation at Loma Linda University School of Pharmacy. He is responsible for development, implementation, and quality assurance for all aspects of the clinic and services. He is board certified in geriatrics and as a pharmacotherapy specialist. His areas of interest include community-based outcomes research, student development, residency training, geriatrics, new business models for service delivery, and developing and implementing patient care services. Dr. McDonough has published and presented extensively about pharmaceutical care, MTM, and implementing patient care services in the community pharmacy setting. He is recognized for his efforts in developing and implementing new pharmacy business models. He has co-authored a book on pharmaceutical care and has written chapters for several other texts. He has presented nationally and internationally on pharmaceutical care, MTM services and Performance Measures in the community pharmacy setting. Dr. McDonough is a member of the American Pharmacists Association, National Community Pharmacists Association, American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists, American College of Clinical Pharmacy, and the Iowa Pharmacists Association. He served in various roles in these organizations. He is recognized nationally for his work and he received the APhA Daniel B. Smith Award, NCPA Independent Pharmacist of the Year, IPA Innovative Pharmacist of the Year, and Parata’s Lifetime Achievement, Entrepreneurial, and Patient Care Pharmacist of the Year Awards.

Valerie Prince

APhA Immediate Past President, 2024-2025

Valerie Prince, PharmD, FAPhA, BCPS, is clinical pharmacy specialist on the interdisciplinary acute care team of St. Vincent’s Family Medicine Residency Program at Christ Health Center where she also serves as adjunct faculty. She is a professor of pharmacy practice at Samford University. Prince graduated from Mercer University and completed a residency at Regional Medical Center at Memphis. She has enjoyed practicing in acute care, ambulatory, independent, chain, and long-term care pharmacies. Prince has served APhA as APhA–Academy of Pharmacy Practice and Management President, Speaker of the House of Delegates, and APhA Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA–ASP) national officer. She is currently the APhA President-Elect Designate. She received the Alabama Pharmacy Association (APA) Wayne Staggs Distinguished Service Award for her extensive state level involvement that included service as APA Research and Education Foundation (APAREF) President. Recently she was awarded the APA Faculty Member of the Year. She is a past national president of Phi Lambda Sigma leadership society and was recognized as National Chapter Advisor of the Year. She is a recipient of the Linwood F. Tice Friend of APhA–ASP Award and the APhA–APPM Distinguished Achievement in Clinical Practice Award. She has a long record of community service and mentoring including years as a Girl Scout Leader. She currently serves on the Governor’s Task Force on Opioids. Prince lives in Odenville Alabama with her husband Chip, family cats and dogs, and foster dogs. They have two beautiful daughters, Carlee and MattiLynn and they attend Church of the Highlands.

Greg Fox

Treasurer, 2019-2024 (second term)

Gregory A. Fox, BSPharm is the Health & Wellness Merchandiser (Director) for The Kroger Co.’s Central Marketing Area, encompassing Indiana, Illinois, and parts of Missouri, Michigan, and Ohio. Fox’s experience includes community, managed care, long term care, and consultant pharmacy. He served on numerous health insurance plan boards as a board member or P&T committee member. He received his pharmacy degree from the University of Cincinnati and is a graduate of the University of Mississippi APhA Community Pharmacy Business Management Program. He was the President of the Ohio Pharmacists Association when legislation passed allowing pharmacists to immunize and provide collaborative services. He initiated and testified for similar laws in Indiana. Fox is member of the APhA APPM section and is a House Delegate and a contributing author. He serves on the Indiana State Board of Pharmacy Technology Committee, the Indiana Pharmacists Alliance, the Ohio Pharmacists Association, the Indiana and Illinois Retail Pharmacy Committees, and the Medication Safety Partnership of Indiana. Fox is responsible for the development of the Kroger/Purdue Community Pharmacy Residency Partnership. He is an Adjunct Professor of Pharmacy Practice for several Colleges of Pharmacy and sits on three Pharmacy Dean’s Councils. Fox was awarded the BCPA Pharmacist of the Year, Ohio’s Young Pharmacist of the Year and a Kroger Chairman’s Award. Purdue University recognized Fox with the 2010 “Friend of Pharmacy Award” for dedication to the profession and the College.

Valerie Prince

Alex C. Varkey

Randy McDonough

Greg Fox

Ilisa Bernstein

Ilisa Bernstein, PharmD, JD, FAPhA, is Interim CEO and Executive Vice President at the American Pharmacists Association (APhA). She is responsible for leading the development and implementation of APhA’s strategies, policies, and programs, and guiding APhA as the voice of pharmacists in all practice settings. Prior to this position, Dr. Bernstein was Senior Vice President for Pharmacy Practice and Government Affairs at APhA. She has over 30 years of experience advocating for pharmacy and patients at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), where she has held several senior leadership positions. Prior to joining APhA, Dr. Bernstein was deputy director of FDA’s Office of Compliance in the Center for Drug Evaluation & Research, leading policies, compliance, and enforcement in areas including drug compounding, supply chain security, drug manufacturing and quality, drug shortages, and post-market drug safety. Dr. Bernstein also served as director of pharmacy affairs for FDA and senior advisor for regulatory policy in the Office of the Commissioner. She started at FDA as clinical pharmacology reviewer of investigational and new drug applications. Previously, Dr. Bernstein was senior associate director of worldwide regulatory affairs for Pfizer and completed a post-doctoral clinical residency at the National Institutes of Health. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy and her Juris Doctor from American University Washington College of Law

Officer(s) of the House

Brandi Hamilton

APhA Speaker and Trustee, 2023-2025

Brandi Hamilton, PharmD, MS, BCPS is the Director of Pharmacy at California Rehabilitation Institute in Los Angeles, CA. Brandi began her pharmacy career over 20 years ago as a pharmacy technician. She received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Pharmacy and her Master of Science in Pharmacy Leadership and Administration from the University of Houston College of Pharmacy.

She completed a PGY1/PGY2 Health-System Pharmacy Administration residency at CHI St. Luke’s Health – Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center in Houston, TX. Brandi has held, and continues to hold, numerous leadership roles within several pharmacy organizations. As a student she served as APhA-ASP National President and APhA Trustee. As a practitioner she continues to be actively engaged in a variety of organizations. She currently serves on the CPhA Elections Committee, the Pharmacy Today Editorial Advisory Board, and as Speaker-elect of the APhA House of Delegates. Brandi enjoys helping others reach their potential, working with colleagues to optimize their strengths and promoting their development as pharmacy professionals. Her top five strengths are communication, strategic, activator, woo, and ideation.

Brandi Hamilton

Academy Presidents

Patricia Fabel

APhA-APPM President and Trustee, 2023-2025

Dr. Patricia Fabel is the Executive Director of the Kennedy Pharmacy Innovation Center and a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy. She received her PharmD from the University of Rhode Island and completed a community pharmacy practice residency at the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy and Kroger Pharmacy. She has over 10 years’ experience developing and implementing patient-care services in community pharmacy settings. Specifically, she has implemented medication therapy management (MTM), vaccination, health and wellness, adherence and pharmacogenomics programs in both independent and chain pharmacies. In addition, Dr. Fabel served as the Director for the college’s Community-based Residency Programs for 8 years. She is a former president of the South Carolina Pharmacy Association and worked as their assistant coordinator for grant programs for almost a decade, helping to manage a pharmacist-provided hypertension coaching program, assisting in the implementation of a statewide MTM & Group Lifestyle Coaching program, and most recently, worked to promote the incorporation of pharmacists into the primary care team within FQHCs and rural health centers across the state. In the last few years, her scholarly activities have focused on the sustainability of pharmacist and physician collaborative services, maternal health services in a community pharmacy, and pharmacist's role in digital death. On a personal note, she lives on a 100-acre farm with her husband, Josh, daughter, Georgianna, and a plethora of animals, including a goat, sheep, chickens, dogs, and cats.

Henry Young

APhA-APRS President and Trustee, 2024-2026

Henry N. Young, PhD, is the Department Head and Kroger Professor in the Clinical and Administrative Pharmacy Department at the University of Georgia. He is a behavioral and social scientist with expertise in health services research. His research interests include studying medication use, health communication, and health outcomes, focusing specifically on minority and underserved populations.

Miranda Montoya

APhA-ASP President, 2024-2025

Hi there, my name is Miranda Montoya! I’m a third-year student pharmacist at the University of New Mexico College of Pharmacy. I completed my bachelor’s degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of New Mexico in December 2022. I currently work as an intern at the Inpatient Pharmacy of The University of New Mexico Hospital. When I’m not stressing about school I spend my free time with family and friends. I find peace in spending time outside. You can always find me with walking around with a matcha latte or coffee. Currently, I serve as APhA-ASP National President-elect. I have had 3 years of experience in both hospital and community pharmacy. My passion for advancing the profession has inspired me to take action and fight for what I believe in. Joining my local APhA-ASP chapter has allowed me to find my “pharmily”. My passion for APhA-ASP was sparked by student mentors; without them, I would have never found my pharmacy home. I aspire to be that same spark that ignites fervor in other students. Following graduation in May 2025, I plan on completing a community-based residency. Having been born and raised in the small town of Las Vegas, New Mexico, I have a strong devotion to my community and people. My admiration for home influenced my decision to not only continue my education in New Mexico but eventually practice here as well. As a practicing pharmacist, I cannot wait to advocate and serve por mi gente

Patricia Fabel

Henry Young

Miranda Montoya

Trustee-at-Large

Vibhuti Arya

APhA Trustee-at-Large, 2022-2025 (first term)

Vibhuti Arya is a Professor at St. John's University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and Clinical Advisor to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. She works to integrate pharmacists into public health initiatives, particularly among high-risk, medically underserved areas in NYC, and advises on legislation pertinent to pharmacy practice and access to care. To date, she has been engaged with several efforts including public heath detailing, expanding naloxone access through community pharmacies, syndromic surveillance, and emergency preparedness. Through her teaching, Dr. Arya engages her students to examine public health programs and policies through the lens of equity, applying social justice principles and frameworks to help reduce inequities in care. She is also a member of the Health Department’s Institutional Review Board and serves as a Global Lead for the Equity and Equality Workforce Development Goal for FIP. Dr. Arya completed the Pharmaceutical Care Leadership Residency at the University of Minnesota, and her MPH from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Lauren Bode

APhA Trustee-at-Large, 2023-2026 (first term)

Lauren E. Bode PharmD, BCPS, CDCES, BC-ADM is currently an Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice at the Vermont Campus of Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and practices with University of Vermont Department of Family Medicine as an ambulatory care clinical specialist. In 2010, she graduated summa cum laude from Boston University with a degree in art conservation but realized she wanted to use chemistry to restore people instead of art and went to the University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy, graduating with highest honors in 2016. After graduation, she completed a PGY1 and PGY2 Pharmacotherapy Residency at the University of North Carolina Medical Center. Involvement in APhA and state pharmacy organizations has been a feature of her career since being student, serving as the APhA-ASP Speaker of the House and then in a variety of state and national leadership positions, including Chair of the New Practitioner Advisory Committee and is serving as Trustee at Large from 2023-2026. She is unwavering in her belief that pharmacists are central to improving the lives of patients and seeks to create opportunities for pharmacists to do so in innovative and fulfilling ways. For her efforts, Bode was awarded the Distinguished Young Pharmacist Award from the Vermont Pharmacists Association in 2019.

Stephen Carroll

APhA Trustee-at-Large, 2022-2025 (first term)

Stephen Carroll received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 2005 from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Pharmacy. He also completed his Masters in Business Administration degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 2006. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from Arkansas State University. He currently practices and is a co-owner in AllCare Specialty Pharmacy in Little Rock. Dr. Carroll served on the Arkansas Pharmacists Association (APA) Board of Directors from 2010-2020 and served as President of the APA Board of Directors in 2018-2019. Dr. Carroll was appointed to the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission and served as a commissioner from 2016 until 2019. Dr. Carroll is also an active member of the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) and the National Association of Specialty Pharmacy (NASP).

Melissa McGivney

APhA Trustee-at-Large, 2024-2027, (first term)

Melissa Somma McGivney, PharmD, FCCP, FAPhA, is committed to advancing pharmacist provided patient care and inspiring the next generation of student pharmacist leaders. As Associate Dean for Community Partnerships and Professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, she has fostered novel partnerships between academia, community pharmacies (independent and chain), state and local health departments, professional associations, and health payers supporting the development and payment for pharmacist provided patient care. She is skilled at bringing people together to collaboratively solve problems, build programs, and advocate for the betterment of our profession and patient care. McGivney is a founding board member of the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Care Network/CPESN of over 200 community pharmacies. She directs the Academia-CPESN Transformation (ACT) Pharmacy Collaborative of faculty from 101 colleges/schools of pharmacy and served as a PGY1 Community-based Residency Director for 15 years. She collaboratively developed patient care practices in family medicine, chain, and independent pharmacies and most recently, the University's mass vaccination services. She serves as APhA-Academy of Student Pharmacists faculty advisor and is an active member of the APhA, Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association (PPA), American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP), and American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP). She is a frequent speaker and contributor to association programs. She received her PharmD degree from the University of Pittsburgh and completed an Ambulatory Care Residency at UPMC Presbyterian/PittPharmacy. She joined the PittPharmacy faculty in 2003 after appointments at Wilkes University Nesbitt School of Pharmacy and UPMC St. Margaret Family Medicine Residency Program.

Vibhuti Arya

Lauren Bode

Stephen Carroll

Melissa McGivney

Jeffrey Neigh

APhA Trustee-at-Large, 2024-2027, (first term)

Jeffrey J. Neigh, PharmD, MBA, MHA, BCPS is a highly adaptable executive pharmacy leader with more than 22 years of experience in the military guiding global pharmacy organizations and driving access to critical treatments for patients. He is regarded as a trusted leader and clinical partner with the ability to build strong relationships and quickly establish rapport with medical leaders through evidence-based,scientific communication. Jeff cultivates internal cultures built on continuous improvement,accountability, and trust to deliver significant results while enhancing the lives of patients. Jeff’s career has spanned multiple practice areas to include ambulatory care, inpatient, oncology, clinical pharmacist roles in internal medicine, critical care, emergency medicine and nephrology as well as numerous years of administration experience. Jeff’s passion for APhA began during his time as a student pharmacist, through APhA Annual Meeting and especially through the Joint Federal Pharmacy Seminar. In 2017, Jeff had the privilege of spending a year on APhA Staff as a Federal Fellow, reigniting his passion to serve the profession. Jeff has since been involved as a delegate in the APhA House of Delegates, serving on House Committees (Policy, Policy Review, and New Business Review), and two years service as an APhA-APPM Member-at-Large. When not serving the profession, his favorite pasttime is spending time and making memories with his wife and three children. Jeff looks forward to continuing to serve the profession he loves and inspiring others to share their passion for pharmacy with the world.

Cathy Worrall

APhA Trustee-at-Large, 2023-2026 (first term)

Dr. Cathy Worrall is the Associate Dean for Admissions & Student Affairs and a Professor in the Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Outcomes Sciences at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) College of Pharmacy. Formerly a critical care registered nurse, Dr. Worrall earned her PharmD at the University of Florida, then completed a residency in critical care and nutrition support therapeutics at the University of Tennessee - Memphis. Following residency training, Dr. Worrall worked as a critical care clinical pharmacy specialist at the Mayo Medical Center in Rochester, Minnesota, where she started Mayo’s Critical Care Pharmacy Residency Program. She later accepted a position at MUSC where she specialized in burn, trauma and nutrition support until she transitioned in 2009 to the Dean’s Office at the College of Pharmacy. Dr. Worrall served as the Associate Dean for Student Affairs & Experiential Education for 10 years prior to serving in her current role. She is a board-certified pharmacotherapy specialist. Her current research interests focus in the areas of student pharmacist personal and professional development, including self-awareness, leadership development, emotional intelligence, wellness & resiliency. Dr. Worrall is an active member of AACP, APhA, Phi Lambda Sigma, and Rho Chi and has served in numerous leadership roles in these organizations. She is an APhA Fellow, a past recipient of APhA’s Distinguished Achievement Award in Hospital/Institutional Practice, and South Carolina Pharmacy Association’s Kenneth Couch Distinguished Mentor Award.

Jeffrey Neigh

Cathy Worrall

Ex Officio Member – Honorary President

Richard Bertin

APhA Honorary President, 2024-2025

Bertin is currently a consultant in private practice on certification and credentialing topics. In December 2010, he retired as Executive Director of the Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS), a position he held since February 1997. As the Board’s first Executive Director, Bertin was responsible for the overall management and growth of the BPS specialty certification program and for securing its national accreditation. During his tenure, the number of BPS certificants, staff size, and budget nearly tripled. In that position, he worked with several national membership organizations and educational institutions on a wide variety of credentialing activities across pharmacy and other professions. Prior to his role at BPS, Bertin served for more than 30 years in the United States Public Health Service in a variety of clinical and administrative positions. While in the Public Health Service, he served as Chief Pharmacist Officer (as an Assistant Surgeon General at the grade of Rear Admiral) as well as in the National Institute of Mental Health, the Bureau of Medical Services, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, the Office of the Surgeon General, and the Food and Drug Administration. His responsibilities ranged from clinical pharmacy practice to advising the Surgeon General, the Assistant Secretary for Health, and other Federal and non-Federal leaders on national pharmacy issues. Bertin received a bachelor of science in pharmacy degree from the University of Pittsburgh, and a master's and PhD from the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy.