Phuoc Anne Nguyen

Phuoc Anne Nguyen, PharmD, MS, BCPS, FTSHP received her Bachelors in Biology and Doctor of Pharmacy degree at the University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy in 2009 and 2013 respectively. In 2015, she completed a combined PGY1/PGY2/MS Health-System Pharmacy Administration Residency with the Houston Program at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center with a Master of Science in Health Outcomes and Policy at the University of Houston College of Pharmacy. Prior to her current role as a Transitions & Post-Acute Care Services Pharmacy Manager, she has been practicing mainly in an inpatient setting as a Pharmacy Manager at the Houston Methodist West Hospital for ~ 5 years and a Transitions of Care Coordinator/Clinical Specialist in Internal Medicine at MD Anderson Cancer Center for ~3 years after completing her residency. To pursue her passion in digital health and population health, she completed a CDC Fellowship in Population Health in 2021 prior to joining Harris Health System.

She currently works at Harris Health System. Transition & Post-Acute Care Pharmacy Manager priority is to deliver optimal medication management for Harris Health patients at care transitions and post-acute care. This role coordinates medication management services throughout the care continuum with the goal of enhancing patient health and well-being, improving adherence to medication programs, and reducing health care costs. This position will also be responsible for hospital at home programs including, infusion, outpatient antibiotic parenteral therapy (OPAT), specialty referral medications need, and home infusion treatment. This role is to focus attention of medication management through the implementation and integration of innovative practices with the following goals: Improve access to medication, reduce adverse medication events, improve quality, prevent hospital readmissions, and reduce morbidity and mortality associated with the use of high-risk high alert medications in patient populations most vulnerable to harm.

Overview of Facility/Health System:
Harris Health System is the nation’s fourth largest public healthcare system. It has 2 full service teaching hospitals, 18 community health centers (including the nation's first free-standing HIV/AIDS treatment center), 15 outpatient pharmacies, 1 central fill for home delivery medications, and 5 school-based clinics. In addition, the system has 1 ambulatory surgical center, 1 freestanding dental center, 1 dialysis center, and 8 homeless shelter clinics & 4 homeless eligibility service locations. Annually, Harris Health System has about 4,000 births, 1.4 million outpatient clinic visits, and 130,000 emergency visits.

Significant Projects:
Harris Health System is the first large academic center in Houston, TX to implement hospital at home program and it has been such a wonderful opportunity to collaborate with an interdisciplinary team to navigate different opportunities to make personalize care at the comfort of the patient’s home. Dr. Nguyen has learned a lot from other hospitals that are rolling out similar programs in the past few years. In addition, to help relieve the inpatient beds and infusion center’s capacity, she is working with an interdisciplinary team to assess the needs of home infusion therapies for our vulnerable patient population.

Advice for Someone New to Your Specialty Area:
Be open minded and adapt to change as health care landscape is constantly evolving. Leverage your relationships with others to learn what has worked and ask for their guidance so you don’t have to create from scratch. Look what other associations have published or shared and be ready to be a sponge and learn as much as possible. Innovation breeds more innovations and don’t be afraid to take a leap of faith.

What is your current involvement with ASHP?
Within ASHP, Dr. Nguyen is currently the Immediate Chair of the Clinical Leadership Advisory Group, where she leads a group of enthusiastic leaders who want to make positive impact on clinical leadership at ASHP and beyond. Dr. Nguyen started her volunteer work with ASHP in 2010 as a member of the Education and Programming Advisory Group (EPAG). Her passion to ascend to leadership roles and continue to volunteer with ASHP started when she served as the Chair of Student Career Development and Education Advisory Group (CDEAG) in 2012. She enjoyed the interaction with her team and loved the opportunities to build relationships with her peers and mentors across the nation. Since then, she was hooked and continue to serve on several advisory groups such as Membership and Outreach Advisory Group (MOAG), Pharmacy Practice Managers Section Advisory Group (SPPM SAG), and Leadership Development Advisory Group (LDAG). In addition to ASHP, she is highly involved at state and local organizations, including previous leadership roles as Chair of TSHP New Practitioner Section Executive Committee and Director at Gulf Coast Society of Health System Pharmacists.

Why did you become involved in ASHP?
Simply put, my mentors, Diane Ginsburg, Richard Cadle, and Lou Cuellar, encouraged and inspired me to do so. I want to be a catalyst for change and lead positive changes for our profession, not be a bystander or a victim of the societal and professional change.

How would you explain the value of ASHP to a friend or colleague?
ASHP serves you and have your best interests at heart. Hence, in return, be a member to help them with their advocacy efforts. It is a great opportunity to network and learn from many experts.

What is the value of ASHP for the profession?
ASHP serves as the voice for our profession.