Scott Nelson, PharmD, MS, FAMIA, ACHIP (scott.nelson@vumc.org) is an informatics pharmacist and Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical Informatics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He serves as the Director of the Master of Science in Applied Clinical Informatics (MS-ACI) online program and as a Clinical Director in HealthIT. His expertise include artificial intelligence, clinical decision support, medication safety, e-prescribing, and medication reconciliation. He earned his PharmD from the University of Utah, followed by a two-year fellowship in Medical Informatics with the Department of Veterans Affairs and a MS in Biomedical Informatics from the University of Utah. He is a Fellow of the American Medical Informatics Association (FAMIA) and an AMIA Certified Health Informatics Professional (ACHIP).
Dr. Nelson’s leadership in ASHP includes currently serving as an inaugural member of the Section of Digital and Telehealth Practitioners (SDTP) Executive Committee, an advisory panel member for the ASHP Foundation Pharmacy Forecast, and a frequent contributor to AJHP articles and publications. He regularly participates and presents at the ASHP June Meeting and Midyear Clinical Meetings, and served as faculty for the ASHP Artificial Intelligence in Pharmacy Certificate and Basics of Data Analytics Certificate programs. Additionally, he is a member of the Section of Pharmacy Informatics and Technology (SOPIT). Outside of his professional endeavors, he enjoys spending time with his children, boating, running, traveling, and rock climbing.
The rapid evolution of technology is transforming healthcare. Artificial intelligence (AI) and other advanced technologies will continue to significantly influence pharmacy practice. Pharmacists must be well-educated about AI to effectively utilize these tools in patient care.
As an inaugural member of the Executive Committee, I have contributed to the development of the Section and its future direction. I aim to continue my involvement to further grow and develop the Section, focusing on expanding educational opportunities, facilitating collaboration, and advocating for policies that ensure the safe and ethical use of AI. I believe that increasing awareness and engagement around digital health tools and AI technologies among pharmacists will benefit the profession. Pharmacists need to be actively involved in the development and implementation of these technologies to ensure optimal outcomes.
As such, we should be open to new ideas, approaches, and opportunities, and explore new technologies and practice models. While doing so, we must keep our focus on patient-centered care and find ways to make our interactions with patients and other care providers more human and joyful.