Sarah Hardeman

Dr. Hardeman received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Biochemistry from LaGrange College in LaGrange, GA in 2012. Afterwards, she attended Belmont University in Nashville, TN where she obtained her Doctor of Pharmacy Degree in 2016. Dr. Hardeman then went to Midtown Medical Center in Columbus, GA (now Piedmont Columbus) for her PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice Residency. After residency, Dr. Hardeman started work as clinical staff pharmacist at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville, TN where she obtained her board certification in pharmacotherapy.

Currently, Dr. Hardeman is a clinical staff pharmacist and evening and night shift supervisor at the University Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville, TN. The UT pharmacy provides integrated, decentralized pharmacy services 24/7. In this role she serves as preceptor for the University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy, on the Patient Care and Quality Committee as well as the Institutional Review Board for the UT Graduate School of Medicine. Her true passion in preventing burnout and promoting resilience among her direct reports and the pharmacy department.

Overview of Facility/Health System:
The University of Tennessee Medical Center is a 710 bed tertiary care teaching hospital and the region’s only academic medical center. The hospital serves as a referral center for Eastern TN, Southeast KY and Western NC. UT is a Magnet recognized hospital and Level I Trauma Center with seven Centers of Excellence (brain and spine; cancer; emergency and trauma; heart, lung, and vascular; orthopedics; primary care collaborative; and women and infants).

Significant Projects:
With the emphasis to address wellbeing, we were able to put together an Unnecessary Task Committee to address some of the department's suggestions and integrate many of the techniques being investigated to mitigate burnout and promote resilience. Processes were streamlined and unnecessary waste eliminated. While unable to “fix” every issue we were able to address all of them and start discussions with the staff and management.

Advice for Someone New to Your Specialty Area:
Never stop learning! One of my favorite things about pharmacy is you can never learn it all. Seek advice, clinical and career, from others. Sometimes the best information comes from someone you least expect.

What is your current involvement with ASHP?
I currently serve on the Clinical Leadership SAG for the Section for Clinical Specialists and Scientists. In this role, I was able to host a Twitter “chat” on burnout in pharmacists as well as start discussions regarding resilience in a multitude of forums. I am also currently participating in the Well-Being Ambassador program to further understand how to assess and address burnout in pharmacists.

Why did you become involved in ASHP?
I continued my ASHP membership after pharmacy school because I saw the value of being connected to a large group of pharmacists. The ability to spread ideas and discuss issues with those practitioners in areas different from your own are critical in being able to advance the practice of pharmacy at my own site. In addition, ASHP provides a multitude of opportunities to grow and develop my leadership skills with pharmacy leaders from all over the nation.

How would you explain the value of ASHP to a friend or colleague?
ASHP not only provides a mechanism for pharmacists and technicians to connect but a way to advocate for the pharmacy profession. ASHP as an organization provides a voice for pharmacy on a national stage and provides resources for individuals to do the same in their practice.

What is the value of ASHP for the profession?
ASHP is constantly pushing the boundaries of what a pharmacist is and what they can do. ASHP provides direction for the profession as well as guidance for how to practice in an ever-evolving healthcare landscape. I am excited to be apart of what pharmacy will become.