Melanie J. Engels, PharmD, MBA (melanie.engels@froedtert.com), is the Director of Pharmacy Strategy & Innovation at Froedtert ThedaCare Health in Milwaukee, where she is responsible for the enterprise-wide Pharmacy Services Strategic Plan development and execution. In this role, Engels collaborates with key department stakeholders from executive leaders to pharmacists and pharmacy technicians on the front lines. Engels earned her PharmD from the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy in Ann Arbor. She completed a pharmacy practice residency at the Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System and received her MBA from New England College after completing her second year of residency in health-system pharmacy administration at Michigan Medicine.Engels has been active within ASHP, including service contributions as an ASHP Foundation’s Literature Awards review panelist, AJHP manuscript peer-reviewer, Guided Mentorship Program mentor, and Section of Digital & Telehealth Practitioners member, where she is currently serving on The Role of Pharmacists in Digital Health Transformation work group. She was honored with the ASHP Foundation’s Innovation in Pharmacy Practice Literature Award in 2017, is a published author in AJHP, and frequently presents at ASHP meetings and conferences.
This Section is well-positioned to serve a critical need for the pharmacy community by addressing the dynamic, constantly evolving, and rapidly emerging landscape of digital health technology while being laser-focused on leveraging data analytics, telehealth, and virtual healthcare to optimize healthcare delivery, expand patient access and affordability, and improve health outcomes using a safe and effective approach through pharmacy-led integration efforts. Advancements in digital health and telehealth solutions present exciting yet challenging opportunities for pharmacy, putting pressure on the Section and our industry. Section success depends upon harnessing the power of collaborative, forward-thinking leadership and members. I am confident that we are up to the challenge. I firmly believe we will rise to the occasion and blaze the trail for leading digital health and telehealth integration into patient care through meaningful goal deliverables. I am keenly committed to equipping our profession with valuable guidance and practical solutions, and, at the core of “our why”, empowering our patients in their health and elevating the healthcare experience.
I am completely humbled to be nominated as Chair for the Section. In the words of Henry Ford, “Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.” While the road ahead may not be without its potholes and sharp turns, I look forward to arriving at our bright and beautiful destination together