ASHP's CEO

Paul W. Abramowitz is the Chief Executive Officer of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and President of the ASHP Foundation.

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. For over 80 years, ASHP has championed innovation in pharmacy practice, advanced education and professional development, and served as a steadfast advocate for members and the patients they serve. ASHP is also the accrediting body for pharmacy residency and technician training programs, and provides comprehensive resources to support pharmacy professionals through every stage of their careers.

Prior to joining ASHP in September 2011, Dr. Abramowitz worked in hospitals and health-systems for over 30 years. He served as Associate Hospital Director for Professional Services and Chief Pharmacy Officer at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, and Professor at the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy. He also held prior positions as Director of Pharmacy and Associate Professor at the Medical College of Virginia and the University of Minnesota.

Dr. Abramowitz received a Bachelors Degree in Chemistry and Biology from Indiana University, a Bachelors Degree in Pharmacy from the University of Toledo, a PharmD from the University of Michigan, and completed his residency at the University of Michigan Medical Center.

In addition to serving as ASHP President in 1993-94 and as Treasurer of ASHP from 2007-10, he chaired the Boards of: the ASHP Research and Education Foundation, the Iowa Board of Pharmacy, and the Iowa Statewide Poison Control Center.

Dr. Abramowitz has actively combined practice, teaching, and research throughout his career. He has lectured and published extensively focusing on: the effect that quality pharmacy care can have on improving outcomes and reducing costs of care, developing new pharmacy care models, reducing adverse drug events, and expanding comprehensive medication management to all sites of care.

He was a recipient of the John W. Webb Lecture Award in 2000 and the Harvey A.K. Whitney Lecture Award in 2009, health-system pharmacy’s highest honor. In 1990, he received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Toledo College of Pharmacy, in 2010, the Alumni Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award from the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy, and in 2015, he was recognized as one of Washington’s Trending Association Leaders by Bisnow. Dr. Abramowitz received Honorary Doctor of Science degrees from the University of Toledo in 2013 and the Touro College and University System in 2022.

Currently, Dr. Abramowitz serves on the Boards of the American Nurses Foundation, the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board and the GTMRx Institute. He also serves on the Howard University College of Pharmacy Board of Visitors, is a member of the National Steering Committee for Patient Safety of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and a Professor-Emeritus at the University of Iowa.