2014 Military Pharmacist of the Year

Military Pharmacist of the Year

COL Keith Wagner, PharmD, not only took on extra responsibilities to improve pharmacy operations throughout the US Army, but he also passionately worked to ensure that the additional tasks he was given exceeded expectations.

While serving as the director of the department of pharmacy at the Moncrief Army Community Hospital in Fort Jackson, South Carolina, COL Wagner was also given the mission to optimize pharmacy operations, reduce costs, and ensure that specific standards were followed for all pharmacies within the US Army.

“His tenacity and vision ensured that any item that impacted pharmacy operations or patient care was carefully scrutinized and driven to excellence,” his nominator wrote. “His influence on excellence not only supported personnel and patients, but also vendors that support pharmacy automation. He held all vendors at high standards, which drove high quality, better integration, and optimiz[ation] throughout at the best possible cost to the government.”

Due to his success on the assignment, the surgeon general appointed COL Wagner as the first Army pharmacy informatics consultant and clinical capability manager in 2012.

COL Wagner has worked diligently in a number of pharmacy positions within the military. He has served as the chief of outpatient and pharmacy at William Beaumont Army Medical Center, chief of pharmacy service at Fort McPherson, chief of hematology and oncology at Tripler Army Medical Center, assistant chief of the department of pharmacy at Eisenhower Army Medical Center, and chief of the department of pharmacy at Moncrief Army Community Hospital.

COL Wagner has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal with 4 oak leaf clusters, the National Defense Services Medal, the global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Army Service Ribbon. In addition, he has been honored with the Order of the Military Medical Merit and the “A” Professional Designator.