Marie Chisholm-Burns

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

Dr. Marie Chisholm-Burns received her BS in Psychology and General Studies (Emphasis in Biology) from Georgia College, BS in Pharmacy and Doctor of Pharmacy degrees from the University of Georgia, Master of Public Health from Emory University, and Master of Business Administration from the University of Memphis. She completed her residency at Mercer University Southern School of Pharmacy and at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. She previously served as Professor and Head of the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science at the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy, with joint appointments as Professor in the Department of Surgery and the Division of Health Promotion Sciences.

Dr. Chisholm-Burns is Founder and Director of the Medication Access Program which increases medication access to solid-organ transplant recipients. With more than 350 publications and over $17 million in external funding as principal investigator and co-investigator from organizations such as the National Institutes of Health and several foundations, she is a prolific scholar. She has received numerous awards and honors including the Robert K. Chalmers Distinguished Pharmacy Educator Award from the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP), Clinical Pharmacy Education Award from the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP), Daniel B. Smith Practice Excellence Award from the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), Nicholas Andrew Cummings Award from the National Academies of Practice, Clinician of Distinction Award from the American Society of Transplantation, and Russell R. Miller Award from ACCP.

Current employment, practice, and academic responsibilities:

Dr. Chisholm-Burns is Dean of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) College of Pharmacy and has dual appointments as UTHSC Distinguished Professor in the Colleges of Pharmacy and Medicine. The College of Pharmacy has three campuses, located in Memphis, Knoxville, and Nashville, Tennessee. UTHSC is Tennessee’s flagship statewide, public, academic health system. Dr. Chisholm-Burns has an active scholarship program and is well known for her work in health disparities, health care access, social justice, and the scholarship of teaching. Administratively, she is well known for improving access, tuition affordability, and educational accountability.

Significant projects and accomplishments:

Under the leadership of Dr. Chisholm-Burns, the Medication Access Program has helped over 1025 solid-organ transplant recipients receive approximately $92 million in medications. Additionally, Dr. Chisholm-Burns has served in numerous elected leadership positions in several different professional organizations, is a board member of the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, and is a member of the National Academies of Practice. Textbooks published by Dr. Chisholm-Burns as primary editor and adopted in many schools of pharmacy, medicine, and nursing, Pharmacotherapy Principles and Practice and Pharmacy Management, Leadership, Marketing, and Finance, respectively, have received the Medical Book Award from the American Medical Writers Association. She has also twice received the Rufus A. Lyman Award for most outstanding publication in the American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education.

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

Dr. Chisholm-Burns has been a member of ASHP for more than 25 years. During that time, she been actively involved in the organization, serving as Director-at-Large of the Section of Clinical Specialists and Scientists Executive Committee, and as a member of the 2021 Pharmacy Forecast Advisory Committee, Literature Awards Panel for the Sustained Contributions to the Literature Award, Literature Awards Panel for the Pharmacy Practice Award (served twice), and Center for Health System Pharmacy Leadership Advisory Panel. She also served as a member of the editorial board of the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy (AJHP). Additionally, she publishes frequently in AJHP, including the fifth most read article in the journal in 2017. She is currently Chair of the inaugural Section of Pharmacy Educators Executive Committee.

Dr. Chisholm-Burns has been honored with the following awards from ASHP and the ASHP Foundation: the Award of Excellence, the Pharmacy Practice Research Award, Award for Sustained Contributions to the Literature, and the ASHP/Association of Black Health-Systems Pharmacists Joint Leadership Award.

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?

As ASHP states, its mission is to advocate and provide invaluable support for “the professional practice of pharmacy” and give a voice to pharmacists on public matters. ASHP has decades of experience being a practice leader and promoting high standards and training for pharmacy professionals. In particular, pharmacy postgraduate training as it relates to residencies has been a hallmark of ASHP. ASHP also plays a significant role in training pharmacy students and technicians as well as providing opportunities in training all pharmacy level practitioners (pharmacists and pharmacy technicians).

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

In everything you do, give it your best effort and attention. Dwell in the opportunities. Moreover, your attitude will determine your altitude. Be sincere and authentic. Remember, it is important to be the voice of the voiceless and to share your strength with those who are powerless.