Jenny He

Her Story
Jenny He is a Research Pharmacist at MultiCare Institute for Research and Innovation in Tacoma, WA. She assists in clinical trials of various indications, ranging from neonatal vaccines to adult neurology, with most of the trials being in adult outpatient oncology. Her professional experience also includes serving as an adult Medical-Surgical-Oncology Clinical Pharmacist Specialist and PGY1 Residency Program Director at MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital. Pharmacy education, Medication Safety, and Transitions of Care are her other areas of practice interest. She completed her PGY1 pharmacy residency at MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital and received her Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Washington School of Pharmacy.

Current employment, practice, and academic, teaching, or precepting responsibilities:
Serving as a Research Pharmacist involves communication and collaboration with various internal and external stakeholders for the conduct of pharmaceutical industry- and federally-funded research. It entails assessment of the feasibility for conducting the study at the site and designing study-specific workflows to meet the needs of the research protocols and the patients. Other responsibilities include the management of investigational products and creation of education materials for internal stakeholders on the proper use, storage, and handling of investigational products. Close collaboration with IS&T is required to ensure research medications and treatment plans are ordered and documented appropriately within the electronic medical record.

Describe the facility where you work
MultiCare Institute for Research and Innovation (MIRI) is part of MultiCare Health System. MIRI is the largest community-based, nonacademic research institute in the Pacific Northwest. Each year, MIRI conducts more than 500 studies with MultiCare-employed physicians, allied healthcare providers, as well as physicians practicing independently in the community. Over 2,000 patients are enrolled in clinical trials each year in a variety of therapeutic areas such as asthma, cancer, diabetes, epilepsy, and migraines.

What type of significant projects have you been involved in recently?
While the research program has existed at MultiCare for more than two decades, the Research Pharmacist position at MIRI is relatively new, having been established in 2021. It has been a steep learning curve to transition from inpatient pharmacy practice to research. Because most of the 70+ research team members are not healthcare-licensed or -trained, a significant project has been to design an education program and to train the team members on medication safety principles. Another major project has been to review and update internal policies and procedures to advocate for safer and better practice when it comes to the management of investigational medications.

What kind of advice would you provide for someone new to your specialty area?
Research pharmacy or investigational drug services is significantly different than clinical practice on a patient-care unit. Patience is key as a lot of time and effort is required during the set-up process before a study can enroll patients and it can take months, if not years, for a study to be up and running. There are not many laws and regulations that govern the safe-handling of investigational products; there is a lot of gray when it comes to research medications. However, when in doubt, patient safety should be the guiding principle when making decisions on how an investigational product should be managed.

What is your current involvement with ASHP?
Member of the ASHP Section of Clinical Specialists and Scientists - Educational Steering Committee – Year-round Education.

Why did you become involved in ASHP?
To network with fellow members and advocate for the growth of the profession of pharmacy.

How would you explain the value of ASHP to a friend or colleague?
ASHP serves as a source of information and inspiration. Attending ASHP conferences is always a rejuvenating experience, providing ideas and hope for improvements in patient care.

What is the value of ASHP for the profession?
ASHP helps to bring pharmacy professionals from all over the country and the world together to share ideas and advocate for best practice. It provides an opportunity for networking, learning up to date information, generating new ideas, and sharing lessons learned. It advocates for the growth and development of the profession of pharmacy and the profession’s integration into the healthcare landscape.