Jennifer Williams

Jennifer Williams received her Doctor of Pharmacy in 2012 from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Pharmacy in Little Rock, Arkansas. Williams also holds a Bachelor of Arts in French from Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas. Williams worked for several years at St Bernard’s Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro, Arkansas, before moving back home to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 2015. Williams has since been working as a clinical pharmacist at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, primarily in surgical and oncology pharmacy areas with special passion for parenteral nutrition and patient/medication safety.

Current Responsibilities:
Williams serves as a postgraduate year 1 (PGY1) preceptor and as a member of the medication variance committee at Mercy and contributes professionally to various associations and committees including the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy Preceptor Advisory Board, Iowa Pharmacy Association (IPA) Innovation and Growth Advisory Committee, and ASHP’s Section of Inpatient Care Practitioners Educational Steering Committee.

Facility:
Mercy Medical Center was founded in 1900 by the Sisters of Mercy as Mercy Hospital. Today, Mercy serves the community as an independent, non-profit acute care medical center of 450 beds with a level II critical care unit and a level III trauma center, as well as surrounding outpatient clinics, urgent care centers, and emergency departments. Mercy’s Pharmacy department is comprised with central and decentralized services, including antimicrobial stewardship/infectious diseases, cardiology, emergency medicine, intensive care, oncology, pulmonary/internal medicine, surgery, and outpatient pharmacy, and is an ASHP-accredited PGY1 residency site.

Recent Significant Projects:
I spearheaded a project for optimization of cyclic parenteral nutrition timing within the EHR medication administration record, for which I had the opportunity to present to the Medication Safety Officers Society (MSOS). I completed the competitive Decker-Temple Pharmacy Leadership Conference course (a joint leadership program with IPA and the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin), which inspired a new appreciation for professional engagement at the state level. At the inaugural ASHP Pharmacy Futures meeting in 2024, I attended as an alternate delegate for the state-affiliate in my first such policy role and I plan to continue my involvement as a delegate this year. Within my service with ASHP, I have participated in several webinar and podcast developments and have ongoing work in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

Advice for Someone New to a Specialty Area:
No matter where one’s specialty lies, networking is a valuable tool to gain insights and partnerships, and I would advise others to join groups on the state level as well as within ASHP to meet colleagues. I also recommend sharing interests an ideas; these have immeasurable impacts and can (will) lead to opening doors. Networking can be difficult to do starting out, but it all starts with one person. One opportunity to engage in the professional community can lead to further growth opportunities.

Involvement with ASHP:
I have been involved with ASHP ever since pharmacy school and have remained a member after graduating. I was inspired to search for deeper roles in membership which led to applying and being accepted to the SICP Educational Steering Committee, where I find a continually rewarding role.

Reason for ASHP Involvement:
ASHP has always been a resource throughout my career. From pharmacy student resources to a teaching certificate, to board certification preparation and maintenance. When I was looking for ways to deepen my professional involvement and service, I naturally looked to ASHP. Each Midyear Clinical Meeting that I attended always provided education that inspired practice changes and optimization of patient care. My ongoing desire for growth with ASHP and IPA broadened my horizons, and I now serve in multiple capacities on the state and national level. The journey continues, as each engagement further energizes my drive to learn from colleagues across the country.

Value of ASHP for Peers or Colleagues:
ASHP is a consortium for advocacy, resources, guidelines, education, and networking for students, pharmacists, and even patients. Organizations like ASHP ensure that pharmacy continues to be an innovative, respected, and valuable profession that is best serving the needs of patient care.

Value of ASHP for the Profession:
In an ever-changing healthcare environment, ASHP navigates at the forefront to ensure the pharmacy workforce can meet challenges and plan for future growth and opportunities. For pharmacy professionals, ASHP provides resources and tools for education, professional development, and engagement. I am always encouraged to see member discussions on forums such as ASHP Connect where ASHP leadership keeps a pulse on pharmacy practice to drive materials for the membership. Through my involvement, I have been able to see a strong body at work behind the scenes to make sure ASHP remains current and continues to offer value.