Kevin W. Chamberlin, PharmD, FASCP (chamberlin@uchc.edu), is the Chief Pharmacy Officer at UConn Health and Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor for the Schools of Pharmacy and Medicine at the University of Connecticut. He serves clinically as core faculty for the Connecticut Comprehensive Pain Center at UConn Health. He earned his Doctor of Pharmacy from the UConn School of Pharmacy and completed a Specialty Residency in Geriatric Pharmacotherapy at VA Connecticut Healthcare.
Chamberlin has dedicated his career to educating and developing current and future pharmacists through roles as an academic clinician, clinical pharmacist, and Residency Program Director. He now leads the University of Connecticut’s academic medical center Department of Pharmacy, aligning research, education, clinical care, and fiscal responsibility with the University’s vision and the needs of Connecticut’s citizens. He created a 360-degree teaching evaluation program for UConn’s School of Pharmacy faculty, mentored preceptors statewide, and led outreach in pain management and geriatric pharmacotherapy through grant-funded programs and national platforms like Project ECHO. As Interim Associate Dean of Admissions and Student Affairs, he supported the School and its students during the early pandemic and the shift to online learning. A graduate of the AACP Academic Leaders Fellowship Program (Cohort 16), he remains active in advancing pharmacy education leadership. Within ASHP, he has served as Director-At-Large for the Section of Pharmacy Educators Executive Committee, Chair of the SAG on Post-Graduate Education and Learning Experiences, and member of several other preceptor- and practice-focused groups. He has presented and published extensively and mentored hundreds of residents nationwide. His clinical teaching excellence has been recognized with multiple awards, including the 2019 Louis P. Jeffrey Award for Precepting and Service to the Profession.
As a pharmacy educator and leader, I am committed to bridging academics with clinical practice to serve both learners and patients in meaningful, sustainable ways. In my role as Director-at-Large of the Section Executive Committee, I have championed this integration, believing it is essential for the future of our profession.
Pharmacy education and the workforce face dual challenges: declining student enrollment and limited employment opportunities, alongside a growing need to clearly differentiate and elevate the clinical value of pharmacists in a health system under increasing pressure to deliver more with less. To move forward, we must amplify the collective voice of our Section, positioning ourselves as strategic partners within and external to ASHP in advancing the practice and profession.
Collaboration with our interprofessional counterparts is essential—not only to understand their needs and expectations of pharmacists, but also to educate them on the full extent of our capabilities. This mutual understanding can break through outdated, fragmented perceptions and build stronger, more effective care teams.
We must also cultivate visionary leadership earlier in pharmacists’ careers. As seasoned leaders naturally transition out, a well-prepared cohort must be ready to rise, ensuring sustained progress. ASHP plays a critical role here, especially by acknowledging the growing importance of work-life balance—something highlighted and demanded by the lessons of the pandemic.
Listen. Network. Collaborate. Understand each role in the healthcare system. When we embrace this mindset, we help learners develop a deeper sense of appreciation and empathy—foundations of true professional growth and patient-centered care.