Stephanie L. Conway-Allen

Dr. Stephanie Conway-Allen is Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS), her alma mater. She graduated from MCPHS in Worcester, Massachusetts (her hometown) and went on to complete a PGY1 cmmunity-based pharmacy residency program through Walgreens Pharmacy and MCPHS. Within the University, Dr. Conway-Allen teaches in the accelerated Doctor of Pharmacy,Non-Traditional Doctor of Pharmacy, and the Master of Physician Assistant Studies programs. Outside of her primary institution, she also serves as Adjunct Associate Professor in the department of Family Medicine and Community Health at the T.H. Chen School of Medicine and teaches within the School of Medicine and Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing.

Current employment, practice, and academic responsibilities:

The accelerated Doctor of Pharmacy program at MCPHS is delivered across both the main campus in Worcester, Massachusetts and the satellite campus in Manchester, New Hampshire. At the University, Dr. Conway-Allen oversees the facilitation of two fundamental courses designed for first-year students, aiming to familiarize them with the intricacies of pharmacy and patient care. Among these courses is an integral element—a professional pharmacy practice laboratory—which immerses students in a simulated pharmacy setting incorporating both institutional and community activities and experiences. This immersive experience is instrumental in providing students with essential skills and insights as well as invaluable preparation for their upcoming introductory pharmacy practice experience (IPPE) rotations and subsequent coursework. She also teaches in other courses such as Self-Care Therapeutics, Pharmacotherapeutics, and other elective courses. In addition, Dr. Conway-Allen chairs the Admissions Committee, serves on the Assessment Committee, and is a fellow within the Faculty Mentoring Institute (FMI). Dr. Conway-Allen also works with advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE) students at her practice site in Ambulatory Care at the UMass Hahnemann Family Health Center.

Significant projects and accomplishments:

In her recent pharmacy teaching approach, Dr. Conway-Allen embraced a progressive three-semester patient education model that redefines traditional methods. During Semester 1, students engage in dynamic group patient education sessions, fostering collaborative learning. Moving into Semester 2, the course harnesses cutting-edge telehealth simulations, where students counsel an advanced peer, receiving constructive feedback for skill refinement, and reflect on their experience. By Semester 3, the culmination unfolds with live, in-person patient counseling sessions with real-time feedback, providing a comprehensive and innovative learning journey that mirrors real-world pharmacy practice.

Promotion of Health System Pharmacy Practice: 

Within the Doctor of Pharmacy program at MCPHS, students collaborate with peers from various disciplines such as nursing, physician assistant, physical therapy, acupuncture, medical sonography, dental hygiene, occupational health, and optometry through Interprofessional Education (IPE) activities nearly from day 1 at MCPHS. This cross-disciplinary engagement facilitates culturally focused discussions and introduces a valuable layer of depth to our already diverse student body. By intentionally incorporating these activities across programs, Dr. Conway-Allen works with her colleagues at MCPHS to create a holistic learning environment that prepares students for the dynamic and interconnected nature of healthcare.

Professional Engagement & Section of Pharmacy Educators (SPE): 

For the last 11 years, Dr. Conway-Allen has served as a semi-final round judge for the ASHP Clinical Skills Competition, and a final-round judge for four of those years. She recently joined the ASHP Section of Pharmacy Educators Collaboration between Health Systems and Academia Advisory Group (SAG) and serves on the group. She has been the ASHP Student Society of Health-System Pharmacists (SSHP) advisor for MCPHS for more than a decade and served on the ASHP faculty advisory panel for several years. In addition, Dr. Conway-Allen regularly serves as a mentor and evaluator for student, resident, and professional posters and CV writing for ASHP, and recently become active in her regional affiliate and joined the Massachusetts Society of Health-System Pharmacists (MSHP) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.

ASHP & Pharmacy Education:

Joining ASHP in 2007 as a student exploring graduate opportunities, I underestimated the profound impact the organization would have on my professional journey. ASHP has evolved beyond being a mere membership; it has become an invaluable resource, a platform for meaningful mentorship, an advocate for pharmacist well-being, and a pillar supporting the advancement of patient care. ASHP serves as a window into the profession and offers a panoramic view of pharmacy (and healthcare!) that enriches the professional experience.

Professional Advice:

Get involved early and often! There is so much cool stuff in pharmacy. Explore the many areas within the profession, identify your genuine interests, and see where your journey leads. While pharmacy may seem like a small world in many ways, it’s actually a sea of opportunities waiting to be explored!