In celebration of Veterans Day 2023, ASHPOfficial is highlighting three pharmacist members who volunteered to join the military in service to our Nation. In this episode, we speak with John Spain, Eugene de Lara, and Stephen LaHaye about their stories, reflections, and perspectives on how their military experience helped shape their careers, lives, and their sense of paying it forward to provide an inspiration for others.
SPEAKERS
John Spain (he/him), MA, PharmD, BCPS
earned his Bachelor of Science in pharmacy from St. John’s University, his PharmD from Rutgers University, and his Master of Arts in public administration from Bowie State University. He is board certified in pharmacotherapy. In his spare time, he is active in several Veteran Service Organizations and enjoys traveling and hiking with family and friends.
Eugene de Lara (he/him), PharmD, MBA
is a Navy veteran and pharmacist with 24 years active-duty service, rising to the rank of Navy Captain. Retiring in 2013, he joined the Department of Veterans Affairs Maryland Health Care System as the chief of pharmacy services where he oversaw a $60 million operation. de Lara had numerous leadership positions including the director of pharmacy at Walter Reed in Bethesda, MD and several operational deployments including Iraq for which he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal.
Stephen LaHaye (he/him), PharmD, BCPS, FVSHP is a senior consultant for Becton, Dickinson and Company’s National Program Team. He earned a bachelor's degree in pharmacy from Northeast Louisiana University and PharmD from the Medical College of Virginia. He served as a pharmacist in the US Air Force from 1991–1995. He has served in a variety of clinical and administrative roles in health-system pharmacy over the past 32 years.
Eric Maroyka, PharmD, BCPS, is senior director, Center on Pharmacy Practice Advancement at ASHP. He earned a Bachelors Degree in Pharmacy and PharmD from Rutgers University and completed a Pharmacy Practice Residency at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Previously, he was the Director of Pharmacy at Fauquier Health in Warrenton, Virginia and served over 22 years in the United States Army working in a variety of pharmacy and senior healthcare leadership roles.
