John A. Armitstead, MS, RPh, CPEL, FASHP (john.armitstead@leehealth.org) is vice president - pharmacy services, Lee Health, Fort Myers, Florida. He is responsible for practice advancement, strategic planning, financial management and coordination of pharmacy care provision in a five hospital, three skilled nursing facility and county-wide ambulatory health system with a $330 million budget, including a workforce of 440 team members. Over 250 new pharmacy practice positions have been initiated at Lee Health under approved, innovative business plans.
John obtained a master’s degree in hospital/clinical pharmacy from The Ohio State University and completed a pharmacy residency at Riverside Methodist Hospitals in Columbus, Ohio. He received a Bachelor of Science in pharmacy from Ohio Northern University, Ada, Ohio. He earned the Certified Pharmacy Executive Leader credential from ASHP in 2023. John has directly precepted 250 pharmacy residents and 100 Doctor of Pharmacy students throughout his career. He also serves as a residency program director for the Lee Health PGY2 program in health services pharmacy administration and has written two financial management book chapters among over 50 publications.
As an active member of ASHP for over 40 years, John is a past president and board member of the ASHP, the Ohio Society of Health System Pharmacists, and the Kentucky Society of Health System Pharmacists (KSHP). He has served as board member and chair of the House of Delegates for the Florida Society of Health-System Pharmacists (FSHP). Armitstead is a Fellow of the ASHP, FSHP, and KSHP.
John’s professional philosophy emphasizes alignment with the ASHP vision, strategic plan, policies, and statements with a commitment to patient care, advocacy for pharmacy practice advancement, workforce development for our future, and a focus on an individual’s pursuit of excellence.
- Optimizing patient outcomes through interdisciplinary medication management.
- Advance, expand and promote pharmacy services in an enthusiastic, innovative and consistent manner, in which pharmacy is recognized as a leader, advancing practice, and care to patients where continuity of care from the patient’s perspective is expected and delivered.
- Develop and expand pharmacy training programs for pharmacy residents, student pharmacists, and pharmacy technician students, demonstrating professionalism, competency, and excellence while providing a highly trained pharmacy workforce for future challenges in optimizing care for patients.
- Contribute to providing an environment and culture for personal and professional growth for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians through encouragement, continuous professional development, recognition and utilization of the skills, talents and strengths of the individual.