Brian Shepler

Brian's Story

Dr. Shepler received his Pharm.D. and B.S.Pharm. degrees from Purdue University in 1999. He worked as a clinical pharmacist at Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie Indiana before returning to Purdue's College of Pharmacy as the Associate Director of Experiential Learning. He has been actively involved in a leadership role within the Experiential Learning office for 18 years and serving as Assistant Dean for Experiential Learning and most recently Assistant Dean for Partnerships and Engagement. He is also a Clinical Associate Professor in the Pharmacy Practice department. In addition to his administrative duties, he precepts an ambulatory care specialty clinic in nephrology with the local nephrologists, coordinates the P1 Integrated Pharmacotherapy course, and lectures on chronic kidney disease, acute kidney injury, hemodilaysis and other renal replacement therapies, and drug induced nephrotoxicities. He also serves as the faculty adviser for Purdue's Chapter of IPhO (Industry Pharmacists Organization) and on IPhO's Chapter Advisor National Committee.

Dr. Shepler is currently an active member of ASHP and was recently appointed to the Section of Ambulatory Care Practitioners Educational Steering Committee.

Facility

Purdue University College of Pharmacy is a nationally ranked program in the United States that graduates approximately 150 Pharm.D. and 40 BSPS students each year. The main campus is located in West Lafayette Indiana with clinical and research offices located in Indianapolis at Eskenazi Hospital. The Indiana University Health ambulatory nephrology clinic is located in Lafayette and is staffed by 3 nephrologists and a clinical nurse specialist. The clinic takes one Pharm.D. student each month that is precepted by Dr. Shepler as well as the nephrologists there.

Recent Significant Projects

 Dr. Shepler's main contributions to pharmacy practice and education are related to documenting student interventions during APPE rotations, developing robust APPE track programs in institutional, ambulatory and industrial settings and publishing concise scientific reviews with students on nephrology based topics.

Initial Involvement in ASHP

 "I have been a member of other pharmacy organizations and they allow me to interact with others who experience the same challenges I do in my Experiential Learning/Academician role. I wanted to have an organization that could serve that same purpose but for my preceptor/practitioner role in the ambulatory nephrology clinic. ASHP seemed like a great fit."

Advice for Someone New to Specialty Area

"Our greatest resource is people. Whether we are finding new preceptors or making hiring decisions for our clinic or office, it is important to never underestimate the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people because they will shape the landscape of your practice."

Value of ASHP

 "It is tremendous for networking, sharing ideas, and even affecting practice in the US."

"The profession certainly needs powerful organizations that can clearly articulate what pharmacists do to a variety of audiences. This can help us with recognition as highly qualified caregivers."