College of Pharmacy Alumna Appointed to Prestigious National Post
Leigh A. Briscoe-Dwyer ’94Pharm.D., BCPS, FASHP was recently elected President of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP).
“We have made significant strides in how pharmacists are perceived by the public, but we need to do more to continue to promote all the positive ways pharmacists impact patient care and how fulfilling the job really is,” she said. “The opportunities are endless, and the future will be an exciting time for our profession.”
ASHP is the largest association of pharmacy professionals in the United States, representing 60,000 pharmacists, student pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians in all patient care settings, including hospitals, ambulatory clinics, and health-system community pharmacies.
“Being elected President of ASHP is the honor of a lifetime,” Dr. Briscoe-Dwyer recently shared. “My hope is to continue to promote the profession and all the possibilities that exist for pharmacists in the health-care environment today.”
She stressed the importance of professional organizations in the life of pharmacists. “I believe membership is a professional responsibility. The problems facing health care and pharmacy today are too big to fight alone. Being part of a professional organization amplifies your voice so it can be heard. The only thing more important than a mission is a shared mission, being part of a professional organization gives you that mission and vision.”
Dr. Briscoe-Dwyer recalled her time at St. John’s and the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences fondly. “I had been working in a hospital for five years, and knew I needed to pursue an advanced degree if I wanted to advance in my career. St. John’s had both the reputation and a robust program that would challenge me and make me a better clinician.”
She cited Joseph M. Brocavich, Pharm.D., Associate Professor and Associate Clinical Professor, as a noteworthy influence. “As my mentor and research collaborator, he showed me what excellence looks like and taught me never to settle for less than that.”
Initially, Dr. Briscoe-Dwyer specialized in infectious diseases. “I loved the challenge of working in a field that was constantly adapting and required strategy and application of basic concepts,” she explained. “We often needed to rely on theory to treat something new or unexpected, and I gained much satisfaction when those things worked out.”
She later moved to an administrative role. “While I don’t get to practice at a patient-specific level, the decisions I make hopefully impact the profession to move in a positive direction, ultimately impacting patient care.”
While at St. John’s, Dr. Briscoe-Dwyer did her clinical rotations at Long Island Jewish Medical Center and Nassau University Medical Center.
“We have made significant strides in how pharmacists are perceived by the public, but we need to do more to continue to promote all the positive ways pharmacists impact patient care and how fulfilling the job really is,” she said. “The opportunities are endless, and the future will be an exciting time for our profession.”
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