Ashley Smith

About my pharmacy practice journey, education, and key accomplishments:

Dr. Smith received her Pharm.D. degree from the University of Toledo in 2012 and then completed a PGY-1 pharmacy residency at Firelands Regional Medical Center in Sandusky, Ohio before becoming board certified in pharmacotherapy. She has taught internal medicine for the last 9 years and recently added staffing to her teaching modules.

Current employment, practice, and academic responsibilities:

Southwest General Health Center is a 354-bed community hospital in the suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio, where Dr. Smith works to train new residents in staffing and internal medicine, provide transitions of care services to patients both in the hospital and the Coumadin Clinic, and assist with policy and procedure development and implementation. Dr. Smith floats through various parts of the pharmacy department and has the privilege of representing staff pharmacists through various quality improvement projects.

Significant projects and accomplishments:

Recently, Dr. Smith developed an onboarding electronic medical record (EMR) training document for incoming learners. The document has increased the breadth of information students and residents receive about the EMR system, as well as streamlined the training experience for preceptors, who can be more consistent and efficient in their teaching. This has allowed preceptors to reallocate their time and focus to the clinical and operational needs of the department, while the learner expands their EMR and computer knowledge independently.

What has been your ASHP journey?

Dr. Smith became a member of ASHP during college and started off as a member of the local student society, attending various on-campus meetings. She has participated in several ASHP meetings over the years, including the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meetings and the ASHP National Pharmacy Preceptors Conferences. Additionally, she has contributed to a number of ASHP programs as a volunteer, specifically serving as a CV reviewer and frequent responder to blog posts on ASHP Connect. She enjoys teaching and learning how to precept her learners better. She is currently serving as a member of the ASHP Section of Pharmacy Educators Educational Workforce Development Advisory Group (DEW SAG).

Share your thoughts on ASHP’s value as a professional organization in contributing to the education of the pharmacy workforce? What do you think are some key success, resources, and opportunities?

ASHP offers numerous opportunities for learners, young and seasoned, to get involved and to grow professionally. No matter how much extra time you have to contribute to the profession, there are always opportunities for micro-volunteering, short-term service initiatives, or learning. For example, listening or subscribing to the ASHP Official podcasts is a great way to learn even while performing casual tasks at home.

What advice would you provide for individuals new to your area of practice?

Don't be afraid to try something new and don't be afraid to switch gears if needed. Your professional journey will be a marathon, not a sprint. Enjoy the journey along the way!