Kayla Waldron

Her Story

Dr. Waldron received her PharmD degree in 2008 from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. She completed a PGY1 and PGY2 health-system pharmacy administration residency at The Ohio State University Medical Center as well as a Masters in Health-System Pharmacy Administration from The Ohio State University College of pharmacy from 2008 to 2010. She obtained BCPS certification originally in 2012.

Dr. Waldron is currently the System Director of Pharmacy for Clinical Services and Medication Safety at UNC Health. Prior to her current role, Dr. Waldron served as the Assistant Director of Pharmacy for Acute and Ambulatory Clinical Services at UNC Medical Center for over 4 years. She was responsible for the clinical operations of the organization, supporting nearly 60 FTE, including 2 clinical managers. She directly managed the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program and Emergency Preparedness for the department. Dr. Waldron was previously the acute care clinical manager and the medication safety officer, also at UNC Medical Center.  Dr. Waldron is an active preceptor and mentor within the PGY1 and PGY2 residency programs sponsored by UNC Medical Center as well as student pharmacists from the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. Dr. Waldron is an adjunct faculty member of UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy.

Facility

UNC Health is a not-for-profit integrated health care system owned by the state of North Carolina and based in Chapel Hill. It is comprised of seventeen hospitals spanning the state of North Carolina, including UNC Medical Center and the UNC School of Medicine. UNC Medical Center is the academic medical center within the system and is currently licensed for greater than 800 beds. UNC Medical Center is a level 1 trauma center as well as a regional burn center and accredited stroke center. Counted among the specialties within UNC Medical Center, dedicated hospitals for cancer care, pediatrics, psychiatry and women's health all share the Chapel Hill campus. Additionally, numerous primary care and specialty clinics are located both within the campus as well as the surrounding area.

Recent Significant Projects

During her tenure at UNC Medical Center, Dr. Waldron developed and implemented a transitions of care program, launched antimicrobial stewardship and Emergency Department services and expanded clinical services in women’s, psychiatry, transplant and critical care. Dr. Waldron served as the founding co-chair for the UNC Health System Clinical Pharmacy Services Committee as well the Executive Sponsor for the Clinical Impact Committee. Mentorship of innovative clinical research projects by Dr. Waldron have further contributed to the pharmacy literature and strengthened the depth of clinical services provided by UNC Medical Center.

Initial Involvement in ASHP

Dr. Waldron is a member of the ASHP Section of Pharmacy Practice Leaders Advisory Group on Value, Quality and Compliance. She previously served as a member of the Council on Pharmacy Management and the New Practitioner’s Forum Executive Committee. Prior advisory group participation includes New Practitioner Forum communications and technology and public affairs and advocacy as well as the former Pharmacy Practice Manager’s Section Advisory Group on Quailty and Compliance. Dr. Waldron has also presented education sessions at the ASHP Leadership Conference as well as the Midyear Clinical Meeting and Summer Meeting, and numerous webinars as a panelist and presenter. 

Why did you become involved in ASHP? 

I became involved with ASHP as a student pharmacist because I recognized a gap in my knowledge about the opportunities offered by the profession. As I discovered that my career goals and aspirations aligned with the programming and leadership offered by ASHP, I found my professional home within the organization. ASHP has offered consistent opportunities for growth and participation, to aide not only other heath systems facing the same challenges but also personal growth.

Advice for Someone New to Specialty Area 

One of my colleagues often reminds us that we cannot let perfection be the enemy of the good. This statement has routinely helped propel me and my other teammates forward in times when were too lost in the details of the moment and enabled us to take the necessary steps forward.

How would you explain the value of ASHP to a friend or colleague?

ASHP for me has always been about connection, comradery and the coalescing of ideas. No matter what the circumstances or subject, ASHP has shown themselves to be adaptive and responsive to the ever changing needs of our profession. Without a doubt, if something new is happening in pharmacy, someone within the ASHP membership will have a similar experience to discuss and share ideas around.

What is the value of ASHP for the profession?

ASHP has demonstrated time and again their value through advocacy and keeping pace with contemporary ideas. Rarely does something new come along that ASHP has not already developed a resource for or have wagered an opinion on our behalf.