Alex Duarte

Alex Duarte is a specialty pharmacy clinical coordinator at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida. After receiving his PharmD from the University of Florida, Alex completed a postgraduate year 1 (PGY1) Community Based Residency at Yale New Haven Health and an ASHP Executive Fellowship in Association Leadership & Management.

Current Advisory Group:
Resident Advancement Advisory Group (RAAG)

Why did you become involved in ASHP?
I was very fortunate to have completed the ASHP Executive Fellowship in Association Leadership and Management. This postgraduate training opportunity really allowed me to learn all that the organization has to offer for its members, from networking opportunities to clinical resources. As I transition back into health systems, I know that ASHP will continue to provide me with the tools needed to succeed at the various stages of my professional career.

What would you tell others if asked how to get involved with ASHP?
There are many options for individuals to get involved with ASHP, both at the local and national level. A good place to start is to reach out to your ASHP state affiliate and inquire about membership and any committees you can join. For a more national involvement, consider looking into the various advisory group or councils and committees. ASHP has a home for everyone!

What unique characteristic/perspective do you bring to your everyday work or the pharmacy profession?
As a bilingual healthcare professional, I have a soft heart for Spanish-speaking patients. Although I strive to provide equal care to all patients, this patient population often faces multiple barriers that are similar to the challenges my family faced growing up. With this in mind, I ensure that these patients have all their needs met to receive equitable care throughout the patient care process.

Professional Interests:
In terms of clinical interest, I enjoy specialty pharmacy, ambulatory care, and HIV care. I also enjoy leadership and professional development.

What is one area of pharmacy you are most passionate about?
I really enjoy ambulatory care practice, especially when working under a collaborative practice agreement. It allows pharmacists the flexibility to optimize patients’ regimens and ensure safe medication use.

What do you like to do for fun? What are some of your interests/hobbies outside of pharmacy?
I'm an active runner and planning on completing my first marathon in the near future!

Fun Fact:
I've been skydiving twice!

What advice would you give to other new practitioners?
Being a new practitioner can be challenging as this can be a very transitional period in our life. This can include residency or fellowship training, obtaining a full-time position, moving, etc. You may experience some imposter syndrome, but just know that you earned your place in your current professional role. Focus on measuring your own achievements instead of comparing yourself to others, and with time, you will gain confidence in your ability to adapt and be successful in your professional career.