Cheryl Wood

Dr. Cheryl Wood is a Critical Care Pharmacist at Lee Health’s Gulf Coast Medical Center in Fort Myers, Florida. She earned her PharmD from the University of Florida College of Pharmacy. She then completed a PGY1 Pharmacy Residency and PGY2 Critical Care Pharmacy Residency at Lee Health Gulf Coast Medical Center. Dr. Wood is a past member of the Residency Advancement Advisory Group (RAAG) and served as chair of this group. In her free time, Cheryl enjoys completing DIY projects at home, playing and listening to music, and woodworking.

Reasons for selecting this career path:
Before pharmacy school, I taught biology, chemistry, and mathematics to students from 9th grade through college for over 10 years. After a family member’s life-changing medical event, I recognized my interest in healthcare and my innate ability to advocate for patients who could not advocate for themselves. Through pharmacy school and residency, I had some amazing critical care pharmacist preceptors who encouraged me along the path to critical care. Being able to advocate for this special patient population during some of their hardest moments inspires me daily.

Professional Interests:

• Resident/student professional development
• Pharmacy education and preceptor development
• Acute ischemic stroke
• Trauma critical care

Interest in serving on the NPF Executive Committee:
I’ve had the opportunity to serve on the New Practitioner’s Forum RAAG for the last three years. Through this experience, I was able to grow as a new practitioner and create resources that helped others take charge of their wellness and advance in their careers as new practitioners. As I approach the last few years of my time on NPF, I hope to give back to the forum and be a resource to help shape the future of new practitioners.

Benefits of being involved in ASHP as a New Practitioner:
Personally, I know I have grown as a leader and as a pharmacist through my experiences with the New Practitioner’s Forum. Through casual game nights to conversations with leaders across the country in our targeted webinars, I’ve been able to learn a lot about myself and position myself to be successful in my current career.

Additionally, NPF is made up of residents and new practitioners in all fields of pharmacy. There’s always someone available that has been in your shoes or can explain the next steps of your career progression. It is such an honor to have built-in friends, colleagues, and resources across the country.