Leia Gaddis

Current ASHP Involvement: Career and Leadership Development (CLDAG)

Reason for ASHP involvement: I first became involved in ASHP as a member and past-president of SSHP. I continued my ASHP membership during my PGY1 and PGY2 residencies and have maintained it into my current role as a Residency Programs Coordinator for multiple residency programs.

Value of ASHP for Peers or Colleagues: ASHP provides numerous resources that I use regularly, including toolkits, resource center documents, and ASHP Connect. I also take advantage of continuing education opportunities, webinars, and certificate programs to maintain my license and board certification.

Professional Interests and Passions: I am passionate about pharmacy education, particularly post-graduate and residency education. My goal is to ensure that residency and fellowship experiences are meaningful learning opportunities rather than just milestones to check off on a career path. Additionally, I am deeply interested in medication safety because it bridges clinical and distributive aspects of pharmacy. This area offers significant opportunities for process improvement that enhance both safety and patient outcomes.

Advice for other New Practitioners: The ASHP New Practitioner Forum is here to support you during your transition from student to established pharmacist. While residency or fellowship may be part of this transition, it is not the entirety of it. We offer resources for a variety of career paths, including student-to-resident, student-to-pharmacist, resident-to-leader, and new pharmacist-to-leader. Our resource page also covers topics such as licensure, board certification, and managing new financial responsibilities.

Unique Characteristics or Perspectives: I believe strongly in learning by doing, while recognizing that foundational knowledge, such as drug information, knowledge synthesis, pathophysiology, and pharmacology, is essential for success as a well-rounded pharmacist.

Other Interests or Hobbies: Outside of pharmacy, I enjoy traveling (especially by train), reading fiction, spending time with family and friends, and watching TV or movies —Activities that help me disconnect from my work mindset.