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APhA Officers & Trustees

Magaly Rodriguez de Bittner, PharmD

Magaly Rodriguez de Bittner, PharmD


APhA President-elect, 2025-2026

Magaly Rodriguez de Bittner, PharmD, FNAP, FAPhA, is the Gyi Endowed Professor in Pharmapreneurship, Associate Dean for Clinical Services and Practice Transformation, and Executive Director of the Center for Innovative Pharmacy Solutions at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. Her current practice includes delivering patient care services within interprofessional value-based integrated networks and physician practices. She served as APhA trustee from 2018 to 2024 and is past President of the Maryland Pharmacists Association and the American Pharmacists Association Foundation. She served on the ACPE International Commission from 2013-2019 (Chair 2017), Chair of the Pharmacy Academy of the National Academy of Practice, and Community Pharmacy Residency Director and Preceptor. She has implemented a variety of innovative advanced pharmacy programs, including the Maryland P3 Program, the e-Heath Center at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, the Interprofessional Care Transition Clinic, and pharmacy services within the Integrated Quality Care Primary Care Network in value-based models and the Maryland Primary Care Program CMMI Innovation model. She practiced at the Baltimore VA Medical Center as an ambulatory care provider. Her honors and awards include the Maryland Daily Record Maryland 100 Women 2024, APhA Women In Pharmacy Honoree in 2022, the 2019 NAP Creativity in Practice and Education Award, 2015 APhA Foundation Individual Pinnacle Award, 2014 Maryland Innovator of the Year, 2013 UMB Entrepreneur of the Year, 2013 APhA Daniel B. Smith award, 2007 APhA Community Pharmacy Residency Excellence in Precepting Award, and 2005 Bowl of Hygeia. She has many national and international publications and presentations and is regarded as an inspirational leader and advocate of the pharmacy profession.

LCDR Neelam Gazarian, PharmD, MS

LCDR Neelam Gazarian, PharmD, MS


APhA Trustee-at-Large, 2025-2028

LCDR Nelly Gazarian serves as a Senior Policy Advisor at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH) in the Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy. She is an active-duty officer with the U. S. Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps and a leader who spearheaded development of programs aimed at establishing public health strategies to mitigate the crisis of viral hepatitis, Sexually Transmitted Infections, and HIV epidemics within the rural and tribal communities and across the United States. She provides steadfast leadership and support on a range of programs, policies and activities in response to the pandemic of HIV, mpox (formerly monkeypox), and sexually transmitted infections, including the management of the Minority HIV/AIDS fund to support racial/ethnic minorities in achieving better health outcomes.

Scott Tomerlin, PharmD

Scott Tomerlin, PharmD


APhA Trustee-at-Large, 2025-2028

Scott Tomerlin, PharmD, is Manager for Pharmacy Affairs for Walgreens, where he partners with state and national pharmacy associations, academia, legislatures, and boards of pharmacy to advance the profession of pharmacy and empower pharmacists, student pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians. Scott has served as a Delegate in the APhA House of Delegates representing Florida and APhA-APPM, served on multiple APhA House of Delegates Committees, and is currently serving on the APhA Political Action Committee Board of Governors. Scott is a 2006 graduate of Mercer University College of Pharmacy. Scott is an Eagle Scout and is married to a fellow pharmacist; they are proud parents of 3 children. Scott has experience serving in numerous leadership roles, including President of the Florida Pharmacy Association and Brevard County Pharmacy Association. He is the recipient of the James Beal Florida Pharmacist of the Year award in 2022, Distinguished Young Pharmacist of the Year Award by the Florida Pharmacy Association in 2007, and Mercer University College of Pharmacy Young Alumni of the Year award in 2016. As a practicing community pharmacist for the first 17 years of his career, including throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Scott understands the challenges that community pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are facing and can impact change internally within the support center in his current role. Scott looks forward to providing this unique perspective to the APhA Board of Trustees in its decision making for the Association.

Anne L. Burns, BSPharm, RPh

Anne L. Burns, BSPharm, RPh


APhA Honorary President, 2025-2026

Anne L. Burns, BSPharm, RPh, is currently President of Pharmacy Horizons, LLC. For 25 years prior, she worked at the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), most recently serving as Vice President, Professional Affairs. In this capacity, she was responsible for the Association’s strategic practice initiatives focused on advancing pharmacists’ patient care service delivery, payment for pharmacists’ services, interprofessional collaboration, health information technology, health care quality, and addressing the opioid epidemic. In 1999, she guided the launch of the APhA/ASHP partnership to accredit community pharmacy residency programs and implemented a multi-faceted approach to facilitate the growth of these programs. She led the Joint Commission of Pharmacy Practitioners’ development of the Pharmacist Patient Care Process and Medication Management Services Definition, co-led the creation of the APhA/NACDS Medication Therapy Management Core Elements Service Model, and contributed to the formation of the Pharmacy Health Information Technology Collaborative. Her service to boards, coalitions, and workgroups includes the Board of Directors for the Pharmacy Quality Alliance and the Council on Credentialing in Pharmacy, the Board of Trustees for the Society for Pain and Palliative Care Pharmacists Foundation, the National Advisory Board for the National Rx Drug Abuse and Heroin Summit, the National Academies of Medicine Action Collaborative on Combatting the U.S. Opioid Epidemic, the CDC Opioid Guidelines Workgroup, the Pharmacy HIT Collaborative Workgroup on Professional Service Claims and Codes and the Ohio State University (OSU) College of Pharmacy Dean’s Corporate Council. She has received several awards, including the APhA Community Pharmacy Residency Lifetime Achievement Award, The Ohio State University (OSU) College of Pharmacy Distinguished Alumni Award, and The OSU College of Pharmacy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Burns joined APhA in 1997. Prior to her work at APhA, she served on the faculty at the OSU College of Pharmacy for 13 years. She received her BS in Pharmacy from OSU and completed the Wharton Executive Management Program for Pharmacy Leaders.

Magaly Rodriguez de Bittner, PharmD


Magaly Rodriguez de Bittner, PharmD, FNAP, FAPhA, is the Gyi Endowed Professor in Pharmapreneurship, Associate Dean for Clinical Services and Practice Transformation, and Executive Director of the Center for Innovative Pharmacy Solutions at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. Her current practice includes delivering patient care services within interprofessional value-based integrated networks and physician practices. She served as APhA trustee from 2018 to 2024 and is past President of the Maryland Pharmacists Association and the American Pharmacists Association Foundation. She served on the ACPE International Commission from 2013-2019 (Chair 2017), Chair of the Pharmacy Academy of the National Academy of Practice, and Community Pharmacy Residency Director and Preceptor. She has implemented a variety of innovative advanced pharmacy programs, including the Maryland P3 Program, the e-Heath Center at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, the Interprofessional Care Transition Clinic, and pharmacy services within the Integrated Quality Care Primary Care Network in value-based models and the Maryland Primary Care Program CMMI Innovation model. She practiced at the Baltimore VA Medical Center as an ambulatory care provider. Her honors and awards include the Maryland Daily Record Maryland 100 Women 2024, APhA Women In Pharmacy Honoree in 2022, the 2019 NAP Creativity in Practice and Education Award, 2015 APhA Foundation Individual Pinnacle Award, 2014 Maryland Innovator of the Year, 2013 UMB Entrepreneur of the Year, 2013 APhA Daniel B. Smith award, 2007 APhA Community Pharmacy Residency Excellence in Precepting Award, and 2005 Bowl of Hygeia. She has many national and international publications and presentations and is regarded as an inspirational leader and advocate of the pharmacy profession.

LCDR Neelam Gazarian, PharmD, MS


LCDR Nelly Gazarian serves as a Senior Policy Advisor at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH) in the Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy. She is an active-duty officer with the U. S. Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps and a leader who spearheaded development of programs aimed at establishing public health strategies to mitigate the crisis of viral hepatitis, Sexually Transmitted Infections, and HIV epidemics within the rural and tribal communities and across the United States. She provides steadfast leadership and support on a range of programs, policies and activities in response to the pandemic of HIV, mpox (formerly monkeypox), and sexually transmitted infections, including the management of the Minority HIV/AIDS fund to support racial/ethnic minorities in achieving better health outcomes.

Scott Tomerlin, PharmD


Scott Tomerlin, PharmD, is Manager for Pharmacy Affairs for Walgreens, where he partners with state and national pharmacy associations, academia, legislatures, and boards of pharmacy to advance the profession of pharmacy and empower pharmacists, student pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians. Scott has served as a Delegate in the APhA House of Delegates representing Florida and APhA-APPM, served on multiple APhA House of Delegates Committees, and is currently serving on the APhA Political Action Committee Board of Governors. Scott is a 2006 graduate of Mercer University College of Pharmacy. Scott is an Eagle Scout and is married to a fellow pharmacist; they are proud parents of 3 children. Scott has experience serving in numerous leadership roles, including President of the Florida Pharmacy Association and Brevard County Pharmacy Association. He is the recipient of the James Beal Florida Pharmacist of the Year award in 2022, Distinguished Young Pharmacist of the Year Award by the Florida Pharmacy Association in 2007, and Mercer University College of Pharmacy Young Alumni of the Year award in 2016. As a practicing community pharmacist for the first 17 years of his career, including throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Scott understands the challenges that community pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are facing and can impact change internally within the support center in his current role. Scott looks forward to providing this unique perspective to the APhA Board of Trustees in its decision making for the Association.

Anne L. Burns, BSPharm, RPh


Anne L. Burns, BSPharm, RPh, is currently President of Pharmacy Horizons, LLC. For 25 years prior, she worked at the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), most recently serving as Vice President, Professional Affairs. In this capacity, she was responsible for the Association’s strategic practice initiatives focused on advancing pharmacists’ patient care service delivery, payment for pharmacists’ services, interprofessional collaboration, health information technology, health care quality, and addressing the opioid epidemic. In 1999, she guided the launch of the APhA/ASHP partnership to accredit community pharmacy residency programs and implemented a multi-faceted approach to facilitate the growth of these programs. She led the Joint Commission of Pharmacy Practitioners’ development of the Pharmacist Patient Care Process and Medication Management Services Definition, co-led the creation of the APhA/NACDS Medication Therapy Management Core Elements Service Model, and contributed to the formation of the Pharmacy Health Information Technology Collaborative. Her service to boards, coalitions, and workgroups includes the Board of Directors for the Pharmacy Quality Alliance and the Council on Credentialing in Pharmacy, the Board of Trustees for the Society for Pain and Palliative Care Pharmacists Foundation, the National Advisory Board for the National Rx Drug Abuse and Heroin Summit, the National Academies of Medicine Action Collaborative on Combatting the U.S. Opioid Epidemic, the CDC Opioid Guidelines Workgroup, the Pharmacy HIT Collaborative Workgroup on Professional Service Claims and Codes and the Ohio State University (OSU) College of Pharmacy Dean’s Corporate Council. She has received several awards, including the APhA Community Pharmacy Residency Lifetime Achievement Award, The Ohio State University (OSU) College of Pharmacy Distinguished Alumni Award, and The OSU College of Pharmacy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Burns joined APhA in 1997. Prior to her work at APhA, she served on the faculty at the OSU College of Pharmacy for 13 years. She received her BS in Pharmacy from OSU and completed the Wharton Executive Management Program for Pharmacy Leaders.

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