Cara Christopher

Current ASHP Involvement: Practice Advancement and Advocacy (PAAAG)

Reason for ASHP involvement: I became involved with ASHP to connect with a community of new practitioners who are passionate about advancing health-system pharmacy practice, advocacy, and patient safety, and to contribute through national service.

Value of ASHP for Peers or Colleagues: Serving on the New Practitioners Forum Practice Advancement and Advocacy Advisory Group over the past two years has allowed me to help develop resources that support pharmacist-led innovation, policy, and practice advancement.

Professional Interests and Passions: My professional interests include medication-use quality and safety, high alert medication management, pharmacy informatics and clinical decision support optimization, investigational drug services, teaching the next generation of pharmacists, and quality improvement initiatives that enhance system-level medication safety and access.

Advice for other New Practitioners: New practitioners should seek feedback often, ask questions early, and view each challenge as a learning opportunity. Building a strong professional network, staying curious, and aligning your activities with your values and long-term goals will help you sustain resilience, find joy in your work, and maximize your impact on patients and the profession.

Unique Characteristics or Perspectives: I bring a systems-thinking mindset that bridges frontline clinical practice with quality, safety, policy, and informatics, allowing me to identify failure points and implement sustainable, data-driven solutions. With combined education in pharmacy and public health, I prioritize interdisciplinary collaboration, clear communication, and education, whether through precepting, developing continuing education, or leading quality and safety projects, to improve the medication-use process across the care continuum.

Other Interests or Hobbies: Outside of pharmacy, I enjoy cooking, going to the beach, exploring new coffee and music shops, and spending time with family and friends.