Ambra Hannah

Her Story

Dr. Hannah earned her Pharm.D. degree from Xavier University of Louisiana in 2009. Afterwards, she completed a PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice residency at Atlanta Medical Center in Atlanta, GA and a PGY-2 Medication Use Safety residency at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD.

She currently serves as the Medication Safety Supervisor at WellStar Health System in Marietta, GA. In her current role, she collaborates with multiple healthcare professionals on process improvement to optimize medication safety across Wellstar Health System. Dr. Hannah also serves as the Residency Program Director for the PGY2 Medication Use Safety & Policy program.

Overview of Facility/Health System

Wellstar is a not-for-profit health system including 11 hospitals, 5 health parks, 9 cancer centers, and over 300 medical office locations across greater Atlanta. Wellstar healthcare professionals provide personalized care for patients at every age and stage of life.

Significant Projects

Dr. Hannah has been involved in various projects optimizing the use of safety technology regarding medication administration, including increasing compliance with medication and patient armband scanning. She also works with a multidisciplinary group to optimize the dose error reduction software (i.e. drug library) for smart infusion pumps used throughout the health system. Lastly, Dr. Hannah serves on various committees working toward continuous optimization of the EMR, specifically as it relates to medication management.

Initial Involvement in ASHP

Dr. Hannah is a current member of the SOPIT Section Advisory Group on Operations and Automation. Prior to joining this SAG, she was a member of the SICP Section Advisory Group on Medication Safety for many years. Throughout her years of involvement, she has served on SAG workgroups to update guidelines and position statements and participated in multiple national conferences hosted by ASHP.

Advice for Someone New to Your Specialty Area

“Be a sponge” …. Make connections and absorb knowledge from others that have been in the field for a longer period. Also, don’t shy away from voicing your ideas and accepting challenging assignments. It helps you grow in your specialty and build lasting connections.

Why did you become involved in ASHP?

Due to her interest in health systems and positively impacting patient care, Ambra’s involvement with ASHP started during pharmacy school through active engagement in the student chapter (LSHP). She had the opportunity to complete a rotation at ASHP headquarters during her PGY2 Residency, which provided an even greater appreciation for the organization, and she has been actively engaged with the organization ever since.

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

ASHP is an invaluable organization that works hard to promote pharmacist and healthcare in general.

What is the value of ASHP for the profession?

ASHP has been a consistent leader in advancing the profession and advocating for the betterment of health systems. ASHP has a large membership which allows for ample opportunity to connect with experts throughout the profession.