Karissa Chow

Chow is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Internal Medicine at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center. She received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy in Philadelphia, PA. After graduation, she completed her PGY-1 and 2 Pharmacotherapy residency at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD. Chow practices with the Internal Medicine services. She also serves as the Co-Chair for Penn Presbyterian’s Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee. She is an active member of the ASHP, currently as a member of the SCSS Advisory Group on Clinical Leadership. She also serves as the Co-Chair for the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy Alumni Association. Her professional interests include cardiology, benign hematology, and pain and addiction medicine.

Facility:
Penn Presbyterian Medical Center is a tertiary, level 1 trauma center and a 400 bed teaching hospital in Philadelphia, PA that is part of the 7-hospital University of Pennsylvania Health System and serves a diverse and complex patient population. The department trains pharmacy students, 4 PGY1s, and 4 PGY2 residents in Ambulatory Care, Critical Care, Emergency Medicine, and Infectious Diseases.

Current Responsibilities:
I practice with the Internal Medicine services and serve as the lead pharmacy liaison to the Addiction Medicine service. I am actively engaged in pharmacy and medical education, precepting pharmacy students and PGY1 and PGY2 pharmacy residents. I am also actively involved in formulary management.

Recent Significant Projects:
As our hospital system focuses on a health’s system approach, I championed a collaborative review of our entity's Medication Administration policy, focusing on the IV over list and health-system maximum doses. Variations were identified, and I worked closely with nursing, providers, and medication safety committee to harmonize policies where appropriate. This review improved the accessibility and clarity of information, streamlined guidance, and reduced discrepancies across entities.

Advice for Someone New to a Specialty Area:
Internal medicine spans many therapeutic areas. Be intentional by regularly reviewing new guidelines and literature. I block dedicated time on my calendar for literature review. While more urgent priorities may not allow me to complete as planned, it is a reminder to keep continuing to learn at the forefront.

Involvement with ASHP:
I am a member of the Section of Clinical Specialists and Scientists (SCSS) Clinical Leadership Advisory Group. I previously served on the New Practitioner Forum and Pharmacy Student Forum through various positions, including as a Chair and workgroup lead.

Reason for ASHP involvement:
I first became involved in ASHP as a pharmacy student while learning more about hospital pharmacy and exploring professional opportunities. Over time, I stayed connected with the many ways to make an impact on the local, state, and national levels.

Value of ASHP for Peers or Colleagues:
ASHP is an invaluable resource to develop my professional path through continuing education, podcasts, and webinars on numerous pertinent topics. I value the many opportunities for networking and mentorship with other like-minded pharmacists.

Value of ASHP for the Profession:
ASHP advocates for the profession and ensures pharmacists are prepared for future challenges and opportunities.