Jonathan G. Leung

Jonathan's Story

Jonathan Leung, Pharm.D., received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the Raabe College of Pharmacy at Ohio Northern University in 2008. Following completion of a PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at Akron General Medical Center (Akron, Ohio) he went on to complete a Psychiatric Pharmacy Residency at Virginia Commonwealth University Health System (Richmond, Virginia). Dr. Leung is a board certified clinical pharmacist specialist in pharmacotherapy and psychiatry at Mayo Clinic, Rochester where he is also an Assistant Program Director for their PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program. He practices primarily on a general adult psychiatry unit.

Dr. Leung is currently involved with the ASHP as a member of the Section of Inpatient Care Practitioners Advisory Group (SAG) for Medication Safety. He has served as a CV reviewer for students and residents and been involved in the Midyear Clinical Meeting Poster Mentor program. Dr. Leung has also been involved with his State chapter of ASHP, having participated in numerous committees and education planning opportunities.

Overview of Facility/Health System

Mayo Clinic - Rochester is an academic medical center located in Rochester, Minnesota and consists of two campuses with 2,000 inpatient beds. Also within these campuses and surrounding areas are numerous outpatient areas that facilitate approximately 1.4 million visits per year. The department of pharmacy supports both inpatient and outpatient areas with approximately 250 pharmacist. At Mayo Clinic - Rochester, there are four inpatient psychiatry care areas including general adult, medical/geriatric, mood disorders, and child/adolescent units. Psychiatric pharmacists at Mayo Clinic provide services to each area and work directly with the multidisciplinary care teams.

Significant Projects

Dr. Leung’s primary clinical areas of interest include promoting the safe and effective use of clozapine for treatment-resistant psychiatric illness. He has been significantly involved in establishing the hospital’s policy for clozapine continuation in medically admitted patients to ensure patient safety and compliance to the medication’s REMS program. He is currently working on a multicenter survey study assessing psychiatrists’ attitudes and knowledge related to clozapine prescribing and played a primary role in establishing a clozapine clinic that utilizes a collaborative practice. Other research and clinical interests include topics in which psychiatry and medical issues intersect, such as alcohol withdrawal and delirium/agitation management. He has helped to develop a benzodiazepine-sparing alcohol withdrawal protocol at his institution, and is a co-investigator on a prospective study evaluating its use in a general medical population.

Initial Involvement in ASHP

"As a student, ASHP provided access to important networking opportunities and professional development resources that helped solidify my path to residency. These resources continued to be invaluable as a resident and practicing pharmacist. I continue to be impressed with what ASHP has to offer its members not only on disease state management but also other aspects important to the profession, such as preceptor development."

Advice for Someone New to Your Specialty Area

"In residency you are asked to always understand the “why’s” and not just the “what’s.” This should not end once residency is over and is crucial to prevent a complacency of your current knowledge. In healthcare, advances in research and technology will continue to drive the creation of new treatment approaches and management of illnesses. Establishing and maintaining a system or process to promote ongoing education is important to be actively engaged as a life-long learner."