Traci White

Traci’s Story

Dr. White received her undergraduate degree (Bachelor of Science in Biology) from New Mexico State University and her Pharm.D. from the University of New Mexico. She then completed a PGY-1 residency at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle, WA. Dr. White worked as an oncology clinical pharmacist prior to her current position as Assistant Professor at the University of New Mexico College of Pharmacy with a clinical focus in hospice and palliative care. She is also the Assistant Director of the UNM/NMSU Cooperative Pharmacy Program.

Dr. White currently serves as a member of the Section Advisory Group on Pain Management and Palliative Care.

Facility

Dr. White’s clinical practice site at Mesilla Valley Hospice in Las Cruces, NM is a non-profit community hospice with its own free standing inpatient hospice house. She provides direct patient care for pain and symptom management as a pharmacist clinician with prescriptive authority under protocol with the hospice medical director. Dr. White also makes home visits for patients receiving hospice care in the home and provides medication management consultations to nurse case managers and community providers.

Recent Significant Projects

Dr. White currently serves as the co-chair of the local hospital’s palliative care committee in developing an inpatient palliative care consultation team, a service that has not previously existed in the community. She is also a preceptor for the Southern New Mexico Family Medicine Residency Program as well as a preceptor for UNM College of Pharmacy APPE students. Dr. White is a member of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) Pharmacist Steering Committee and the NM American Cancer Society Chapter Palliative Care Workgroup to support local and federal palliative care legislation.

Becoming Involved in ASHP

“I became involved with ASHP as a student because I was interested in pursuing a career in hospital/clinical pharmacy. Not only was I able to find the best fit for my residency training through the ASHP Residency Showcase, but continuing to be a member has helped to enhance my professional development through collaborations, mentorship opportunities and educational enrichment. I was fortunate to participate in the 2013 ASHP Research and Education Foundation's Pain and Palliative Care Traineeship in Baltimore, Maryland.”

Advice for Someone New to Specialty Area

“Palliative medicine is an exciting, expanding specialty that involves a true team-based, patient-centered approach to care. The pharmacist can have a significant impact on pain and symptom management for the often complex and seriously ill patient encountered in palliative care. Continue to be a strong advocate for supportive and comfort care along the continuum of serious illness through collaboration with the healthcare team for expert medication management and excellent communication skills with patients and their family members.”

Value of ASHP

“ASHP continues to drive the profession to the forefront of our current healthcare system highlighting the many roles pharmacists can impact patient care through including interprofessional collaborations, chronic disease management, care transitions, preventative health care, and MTM services. Team-based approaches have been shown to be optimal for patient care and ASHP provides a national platform for promoting best practices that include pharmacists as valued members of the patient-centered team.”