Sara Smith

Her Story

Dr. Smith received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Ohio Northern University in 2015. After graduating, she decided to not pursue a residency and accepted a position with a corporate retail pharmacy. A few months later, the community hospital in which she was born and her mom was an RN for 30 years, had an opening for a staff pharmacist. In 2016 she was promoted to pharmacy manager and took on the responsibility of day-to-day operations within the pharmacy. Throughout the span of her pharmacy management career she found a niche in clinical informatics and was able to lead successful implementations of IV pump interoperability, a pharmacy inventory management system with a carousel, and all new medication dispensing cabinets. In 2023 she was promoted to Clinical Informatics Director for the health system.

She is currently Clinical Informatics Director along with intermittent staffing responsibilities in the pharmacy at Fisher Titus Medical Center.

Describe the facility where you work (eg. Is it a teaching hospital? Health Center?)

Fisher-Titus is a non-profit health system serving Huron County and the surrounding communities. Fisher-Titus operates a 99-bed acute care hospital; Norwalk Memorial Home, a 69-bed skilled nursing facility; Carriage House, a 48-unit assisted living facility; a Home Health Center, emergency transport through North Central EMS; and an employed primary and specialty care physician group.

Established in 1917, Fisher-Titus provides comprehensive medical services, including cardiovascular; oncology; neurological; orthopedic; women and children’s services, including a birthing center and pediatric care; surgical services, including robotic-assisted; and emergency services with a dedicated Primary Stroke Center and a verified Level III Trauma Center. 

Most recently Sara has been involved in the transition from Cerner to pyxis automated dispensing cabinets, and also leading a medication reconciliation initiative across the health system.

Initial Involvement in ASHP

I sit on the Section Advisory Group for Small and Rural Hospitals within the Section of Inpatient Care Practitioners and I will be serving as the lead facilitator of the Small and Rural Hospitals Roundtable at ASHP’s Midyear Clinical Meeting this year. 

Why did you become involved in ASHP? 

I have been to ASHP’s Midyear three times now and have really enjoyed the Small and Rural Hospitals programming. I decided I wanted to get involved to learn even more about what's impacting pharmacy practice today, network with like-minded professionals, and to leave the profession better than I found it!

Advice for Someone New to Specialty Area

ALWAYS ask the question, even if you think it's a dumb one! I've learned so much by just asking those questions that people are normally too afraid to ask. If you are thinking it, someone else probably is too!

How would you explain the value of ASHP to a friend or colleague?

 ASHP is a trusted resource that can be used in many facets of the pharmacy profession. From networking, to CE, to establishing best practices, and lobbying for our profession there is value to every pharmacist no matter where they are in their journey.