Kyana Stewart

Her Story

Dr. Stewart completed a Pharmacy Practice Year 1 Residency in 2011 at Huntsville Hospital System(Huntsville, AL). She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from University of Houston (Houston, TX) in 2010, a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering Sciences from the Univerity of Florida Gainesville, FL) in 2006, and her Bachelor of Science with a major in Chemistry from the Southern University and A&M College (Baton Rouge, LA) in 2004. Dr. Stewart joined the Ochsner Clinical Pharmacy team in 2018 as an Infectious Diseases Clinical Specialist Pharmacist. Prior to joining the team at Ochsner she has served in multiple roles including Antimicrobial Stewardship Program Co - Chair (Children’s Medical Center - Dallas), Clinical Instructor, Infectious Diseases (UTSW Medical School), Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice (Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center) all leading to the development & implementation of antimicrobial stewardship programs and provision of didactic and experiential learning experiences for pharmacy students & residents, medical residents & fellows respectively.

I have been a member of ASHP since my residency year in 2010 and now serve on the new Pediatric SAG, as facuty for the BCPS review and recertification course, and I have had the opportunity to present as an invited speaker at previous Midyear Clinical Meetings in the Therapeutic Debates, Clinical Pearls (Pediatrics and Adult), and Intensive studies for recertification sessions.

Overview of Facility/Health System

In her current role she works collaboratively to provide infectious diseases pharmacotherapy support to the Ochsner Infectious Diseases consult services as well as contributing to the growth and expansion of the antimicrobial stewardship program at Ochsner Medical Center, a 602 - bed academic, tertiary care center affiliated with the University of Queensland Medical School (Australia). Ochsner Medical Center New Orleans is part of the greater Ochsner Health Care System that includes of the only ranked pediatric programs in the state at the Ochsner Hospital for Children. Ochsner Medical Center also serves as one of the leading liver transplant and multi organ transplant institutes in the gulf South.

Significant Projects

Ongoing research efforts include evaluation of the utilization of antifungal agents for prophylaxis and treatment of invasive fungal infections in immune compromised hosts, dose optimization of broad spectrum beta lactam antibiotics in the setting of renal replacement therapy, expansion of antimicrobial stewardship activities in a tertiary care center via non - ID trained clinical pharmacy specialist and unit base clinical pharmacist interventions, and use of machine learning tools to facilitie risk mitigation antimicroabil stewardship activities to decrease the incidence of CDI in high risk populations. In addition to these activities, Dr. Stewart is also actively engaged in research to characterize candida infections as well as determine optimal means of implementation of vancomycin AUC based dosing algorithms for pediatric patients.

Initial Involvement in ASHP

I became involved in ASHP to remain current with ever evolving clinical practice needs assessment as well as to be an active participant in the advocacy for clinical pharmacy practice and provision of education to peers and trainees.

Advice for Someone New to Your Specialty Area

1. Identify a mentor early in your career and continually seek mentorship across platforms.
2. Get involved in organizations, like ASHP that will allow you the opportunity to grow and develop in your own interests as well as easily liaise with others in your primary practice area as well as other areas you may collaborate with often secondary to overlap between your specialty area and others.
 3. Stretch past your comfort zone to engage in new areas and facilitate continual growth.

Value of ASHP

Since my initial involvement I have continued to grow in my involvement as it has enhanced my practice and relationships within my area and served as a great resource for my day to day roles irrespective of where I have practiced. It truly takes quality collaboration to remain current in the field and collegial relationships gained from my involvement with ASHP have made a difference in the level of quality care delivered, education provided to residents, and it has empowered me to be able to design and implement new services within some of the institutions I have been privileged to practice in.

ASHP allows for the musings of a few to become the rally cry for many. ASHP not only provides resources for all level practicioners but also has stood at the forefront of clinical practice guideline development, Joint commision standard creation and updates, and taken core stances in the legislative arena to further role delineation and growth of clinical pharmacy.