Lea Eiland

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

Dr. Lea Eiland graduated with her Doctor of Pharmacy from The University of Texas at Austin and completed an ASHP-accredited pediatric specialty residency at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. She joined the Auburn University faculty in August of 2002 and became an Associate Department Head of Pharmacy Practice in 2010. She has developed services in the pediatric ICU, general pediatric inpatient, and pediatric ambulatory care settings. Dr. Eiland participated in the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy's Academic Leadership Fellows Program during the 2008-2009 year. She has served as a PGY1 preceptor and continues to precept APPE students.

Current employment, practice, and academic responsibilities:

Dr. Eiland is a full-time Clinical Professor at Auburn University Harrison School of Pharmacy, a public institution in Alabama. Her responsibilities involve 5 pillars: teaching, research and scholarship, outreach, service, and administration. Dr. Eiland teaches in the areas of pediatrics, drugs in pregnancy and lactation, infectious diseases, and leadership. She also teaches in the school's Resident Teaching and Learning Program and precepts APPE students in academia and pediatrics. Her practice and research interests include various pediatric infectious diseases and the scholarship of teaching and learning. She serves as the Curriculum Committee Chair and has been extensively involved in professional pharmacy organizations such as ASHP and PPA. As an administrator, she guides departmental activities and mentors faculty members.

Significant projects and accomplishments:

Dr. Eiland's recent projects include evaluating students' perspectives of remote teaching, student outcomes of incorporating simulation in pediatric pharmacy education, and the use of the new pregnancy and lactation label information in drug information resources. She is the lead author on the ASHP–PPAG Guidelines for Providing Pediatric Pharmacy Services in Hospitals and Health Systems, and her pediatric studies of vancomycin dosing were cited in the 2020 therapeutic monitoring of vancomycin for MRSA consensus guidelines. Dr. Eiland has received the PPA Scholarship of Teaching Award twice. She was awarded the Excellence in Teaching Award from the Harrison School of Pharmacy and the Preceptor of Excellence award four times.

Professional involvement with ASHP. What has been your ASHP journey?

Dr. Eiland joined ASHP as a first-year pharmacy student knowing she wanted to practice in health-system pharmacy. Her service to ASHP has spanned her entire career including Board of Directors; Director-at-Large and Chair of the Section of Clinical Specialists and Scientists (SCSS) Executive Committee; Member, Vice-Chair, and Chair of the Council on Education and Workforce Development; member of the House of Delegates; member of the Women in Pharmacy Leadership Steering Committee; member of the SCSS Advisory Group on Pediatrics; EVP/CEO Search and Screen Committee; Task Force on Pharmacy's Changing Demographics; and Task Force on Organizational Structure. She is a SSHP faculty advisor, has published in AJHP, and presented numerous presentations and posters at ASHP meetings.

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?

Educating pharmacists, technicians, learners, and others in the healthcare setting has been a core component of ASHP's Strategic Plan. ASHP continues to expand PGY1 and PGY2 residency opportunities that develop strong practitioners and administrators for our workforce. They provide a plethora of professional development resources for students and technicians. Through continuing education, board certification, and certificate opportunities, ASHP's educational resources strengthen our workforce's skills and knowledge, which improves patient care. ASHP's educational content is member-driven, timely, and provided through various platforms. All members of the workforce can call ASHP their home for exceptional educational opportunities.

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

We are all educators and can impact the knowledge and skills of others to improve patient care. First, tailor your teaching to the appropriate level and type of learner. Consider what the P3 student, PGY1 resident, pharmacist with 15-year experience, medical resident, nurse, versus technician need to know when designing your educational session or teaching impromptu. Second, teaching is not just imparting knowledge. It is essential to understand the learner's goals and needs so that you can maximize learning opportunities. After teaching, take time to reflect and determine what went well and what could be better the next time. Developing this habit will strengthen your teaching skills.