Meghan D. Swarthout, PharmD, MBA, BCPS, CPEL, FASHP (mdavlin1@jhmi.edu) is the Executive Director of Pharmacy Patient Care Services and Population Health at the Johns Hopkins Health System. She is responsible for adult medicine, surgery, oncology, and pediatric pharmacy services for The Johns Hopkins Hospital and ambulatory care, population health, and clinical pharmacy services for Johns Hopkins Health System. Swarthout also maintains a clinical practice in The Johns Hopkins Hospital hematology anticoagulation clinic. Swarthout earned her Doctorate of Pharmacy from Ohio Northern University. Following completion of her PharmD, Swarthout completed her PGY1 and PGY2 in Health System Pharmacy Administration at The Johns Hopkins Hospital while also completing her MBA in Medical Services Management at Johns Hopkins University.
Swarthout’s ASHP involvement includes Chair of the ASHP Council on Education and Workforce Development, Vice Chair of the Pharmacy Practice Accreditation Commission, Chair of the ASHP Committee on Nominations, a Maryland Delegate in the ASHP House of Delegates, a member of the Women in Pharmacy Leadership Steering Committee, and President of the Maryland Society of Health System Pharmacy. Early in her career Swarthout served as the Resident Member of the Commission on Credentialing and Executive Committee member of the Pharmacy Student Forum. Her team was a recipient of the ASHP - APhA Medication Management in Care Transitions Best Practices Award.
Our patients deserve the best of our abilities every day. Leadership is essential to navigating the volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity of our health care system and world at large. I would be honored to serve as a member of the Section’s Executive Committee to continue to advance our profession and optimize care for our patients, especially our most vulnerable and underserved populations. The Section has set an inspiring vision that all pharmacy leaders are empowered to advance practice and patient care. Section members create meaning and value through collaboration, advocacy, and challenging the status quo. Leading in today’s healthcare environment requires commitment, strategic thinking, vulnerability, and courage.
I want to leverage my strengths in communication, strategic thinking, and influence to serve, engage, and strengthen the members of the Section of Pharmacy Practice Leaders. Some of the initiatives I would like to see the Section explore and accomplish in the years ahead include helping leaders build the value proposition for the expansion and optimization of pharmacist primary care services, promoting educational programming and enhancing resources on payer contracting and value-based care models, preparing leaders to ethically deploy and optimize artificial intelligence, and continuing to invest in leadership development. Importantly, I will be a thoughtful listener and agile adapting our strategy based on the needs of our section members. There is much to be energized and hopeful for as we shape the future of our profession, and I look forward to the opportunity to work with you!