We chat with Australian pharmacists Drs. Kaitlyn Watson and Libby Mc Court about their interesting research and backgrounds as Disaster Specialists as well as their participation in the newly released ASHP Crisis and Pandemic Management Certificate Program.
SPEAKERS
Dr. Kaitlyn Watson is an internationally recognized disaster pharmacist and the founder of Disaster Pharmacy Solutions. Dr. Watson has previously provided disaster health expertise as a consultant for the World Health Organization with a focus on public health emergency management and is the co-chair of the WADEM Primary Healthcare Special Interest Group. Dr. Watson is an Australian registered pharmacist, living in North America and her research interests are in disasters and primary healthcare, and pharmacy practice.
Dr. Libby McCourt is an experienced disaster preparedness researcher and pharmacist. Her research focuses on how the pharmacy workforce can be better prepared for disasters and how primary and tertiary care can be better integrated in their disaster preparedness and response. She is a Research Manager and Hospital Pharmacist in Queensland, Australia.
Vicki Basalyga, Pharm.D., BCPS, BCPPS, is the Director for the Section of Clinical Specialists and Scientists. In this role Vicki serves as an information resource and provides guidance to ASHP members regarding science and scientific developments affecting pharmacy practice in health systems. She serves as secretary to the Section executive committee and coordinates activities to accomplish the objectives established by the Section. Additionally, Vicki has assumed the position of Council Secretary for the ASHP's Council on Therapeutics.
Vicki received her Doctor of Pharmacy from Duquesne University and completed an ASHP accredited PGY1 at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, DC. Vicki is also a Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist and a Board Certified Pediatric Pharmacotherapy Specialist.
Prior to her current position at ASHP, Vicki practiced as critical care pharmacist in both the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit and the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, DC. Other activities Vicki performed included drafting policies and procedures, co-chairing the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program, creating and drafting order sets for CPOE conversion and precepting residents and students.