Katie Hayes

Katie's Story

Katie Hayes, Pharm.D., BCPS, graduated from South Dakota State University in 2008 and subsequently completed a PGY1 residency at Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center in Sioux Falls, SD. Following residency, Dr. Hayes obtained a position as a clinical pharmacist at Regional Health Rapid City Hospital in Rapid City, SD, where she helped develop the PGY1 residency program and serves as the Residency Program Director. Recently, she was appointed chair of the hospital's Anticoagulation Committee. She precepts residents on their internal medicine rotation.

She recently became involved as a member of the Section Advisory Group on Small and Rural Hospitals and has also served on the Section Advisory Group for Pharmacy Practice Experiences. In addition, she often serves as a Resident Poster Mentor at Midyear and has been on the ASHP House of Delegates. Dr. Hayes recently experienced the role of Clinical Proofreader for an ASHP book.

Overview of Facility/Health System

Regional Health Rapid City Hospital (RHRCH) is a nonprofit acute-care community hospital licensed for 366 beds. It is the largest hospital in a 350-mile radius and is a Level II Trauma Center and Primary Stroke Center and is home to the state's busiest emergency department. RHRCH is part of the Regional Health system, which is comprised of more than 40 health care healing environments throughout Rapid City and the Black Hills region.

Significant Projects

 “As the residency program director, I recently co-developed a leadership certificate for our residents. We implemented the certificate with our current residency class and hope to offer the certificate to all residents in the state soon. In addition, we were recently successful in obtaining new positions for a PGY2 Oncology and PGY2 Critical Care Resident. These programs will begin in 2019. I was one of two pharmacists who piloted rounding with four hospitalist teams, leading to the current pairing of each decentralized floor pharmacist with one hospitalist team.”

Initial Involvement in ASHP

“I have always tried to stay involved in professional organizations as they work to further the role of our profession. ASHP is dedicated to improving medication use and enhancing patient safety which should be priorities for all pharmacists. I am a big proponent of residency training, so it makes sense to be involved with ASHP. The experience has been valuable as it has not only improved my knowledge but also provided me with valuable networking opportunities.”

Advice for Someone New to Your Specialty Area

“Be curious! As a pharmacist, you need to be committed to lifelong learning. In addition, don't forget to dedicate some of your time to those things that are scientifically linked to improved well-being (kindness, social connection, time affluence, mind control, healthy practices).”

Value of ASHP

“First of all, supporting ASHP supports our profession. A mentor once told me that supporting professional organizations is the dues one pays for being a pharmacist. Beyond that, there are personal benefits - education, training, networking.”

“ASHP supports furthering the role of pharmacists as the medication experts. They advocate for changes that are needed on a policy level. In addition, they provide education, training, networking and accreditation opportunities.”