Courtney Isom

Biographical Information:

Dr. Courtney Isom received her Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences from North Carolina State University and her Doctor of Pharmacy from Campbell University. She completed a PGY1 Community-Based Pharmacy Residency at the University of Georgia in conjunction with Kroger Pharmacy. She also obtained her Board Certification in Ambulatory Care.

Current employment, practice, and academic responsibilities:

Dr. Isom is the Pharmacy Operations Coordinator at the Cone Health Community Health and Wellness Center Pharmacy in Greensboro, NC. The Community Health and Wellness Center offers primary care services to those who are uninsured and underinsured through the medical home model. In her current role, Dr. Isom is responsible for creating medication access, expanding clinical services, and managing the day-to-day operations of the pharmacy. She also serves in several teaching and precepting roles and is the Residency Director for the PGY-1 Community-Based Pharmacy Residency.

Significant projects and accomplishments:

Last year, Dr. Isom was involved with obtaining approval to start a PGY-1 Community-Based Pharmacy Residency at Cone Health in which she will serve as Residency Director. She also helped to create medication access for uninsured patients in a neighboring county by consulting with the site and Dispensary of Hope. Her team was recognized by Dispensary of Hope and received the Network Ambassador Award for the referral of the new site.

Please describe your professional involvement with ASHP:

I was involved with ASHP throughout my time in pharmacy school, but it was not until recently that I became reacquainted and sought opportunities to deepen my connection to the organization. I look forward to exploring how I can best contribute to ASHP while also finding my own professional growth opportunities. I also look forward to serving on this newly created executive board and thinking about how we can create positive impact for our membership.

What value do you think ASHP provides to community-based pharmacy practitioners?

ASHP’s value as a professional organization in contributing to the community pharmacy workforce is stated in part in the mission statement which is “to advocate, support, and serve as a collective voice for pharmacists to help patients achieve optimal health outcomes”. One important opportunity for ASHP from this statement is to hear the voices and needs of the community pharmacy workforce directly from these professionals. It is imperative to hear these voices since these are our frontline faces and ears to the communities we seek to best serve, and the new Section is the perfect opportunity for this. The community pharmacy workforce can provide insight into the challenges that their communities face and hopefully, with the help of ASHP through advocacy, turn some of those challenges into solutions.

What advice would you provide for individuals new to your area of expertise?

I would advise those pursuing community-based practice to be vested in the community that you serve. Community pharmacists play such a pivotal role in the healthcare of those in their community. Often, you may find yourself reaching outside of your four walls of the pharmacy to rise to a challenge or need in your community. Rising to these challenges or needs, whether big or small, can greatly impact your community and may serve as a catalyst for change.