Sherwyn Tenia

Dr. Tenia received his PharmD from Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy in 2019. He completed a combined two-year Health System Pharmacy Administration and Leadership residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and a MBA in Healthcare Administration through Western Governors University. Upon completion of his residency in 2021, Dr. Tenia became Pharmacy Manager of Sterile Products and Perioperative Services at UNC Health Rex. Dr. Tenia decided to gain a deeper understanding of the informatics side of pharmacy practice and is currently the postgraduate year two (PGY2) Pharmacy Informatics Resident at Mayo Clinic.

Overview of Facility/Health System
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to clinical practice, education, and research, providing whole-person care to everyone who needs healing. Mayo Clinic has major campuses in Rochester, MN; Phoenix, Arizona; and Jacksonville, Florida with a network of clinics, hospitals, and health care facilities, known as the Mayo Clinic Healthcare System (MCHS), servicing communities in southern Minnesota, western Wisconsin, and northern Iowa. International locations include London, United Kingdom and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Mayo Clinic cares for 1.3 million patients in 130 countries across the globe each year.

Reference: About Mayo Clinic

Significant Projects
I am currently involved in a research project to investigate the effectiveness of using enhanced functionality within an interruptive alert to reduce the number of antimicrobial orders with duplicative coverage in appropriate situations, and a quality improvement project optimizing a pharmacy productivity dashboard that is used across the Mayo Clinic Enterprise. During my time at UNC Health I oversaw the transition of pharmacy compounding compliance software.

Initial Involvement in ASHP
I am a member of the Section on Pharmacy Informatics and Technology Section Advisory Group on Operations and Automation. I serve as lead for the Get IT Done workgroup.

Why did you become involved in ASHP?
I first became involved in ASHP as a pharmacy student within the Student Society of Health-System Pharmacists (SSHP). Through that involvement I have been able to learn from and work with colleagues in a variety of pharmacy areas across the nation. ASHP has also provided me with the opportunity to give back to the profession of pharmacy on a broader scale than I would have been able to otherwise.

Advice for Someone New to Your Specialty Area
Have an inquisitive mind and be open to learning new things. Pharmacy informatics is involved in all aspects of the medication use process, so expanding your knowledge of the technical aspects throughout the process will serve you well as you progress in your career. Don't be afraid to give your perspective and understanding of a process because it may offer insight into how others also view the process.

How would you explain the value of ASHP to a friend or colleague?
As a national organization, ASHP offers a variety of opportunities for learning, networking and advocacy within health system pharmacy and the pharmacy profession as a whole. It serves as an avenue for pharmacy professionals to engage with each other across all stages of their career. ASHP also serves as an excellent source of information for topics affecting pharmacy practice.

What is the value of ASHP for the profession?
ASHP continually advocates for the profession of pharmacy and all persons within the profession. It serves as a voice for pharmacy to other members of the healthcare landscape. ASHP provides avenues and standards for education of all pharmacy professionals.