American Pharmacists Month: Stephanie Y. Crawford, PhD, MPH, on Mentorship, Health Equity, and the Expanding Role of Pharmacists

Pharmacy Times interviewed Stephanie Y. Crawford, PhD, MPH (she/her), professor and executive associate dean for Faculty Affairs and Strategic Initiatives, Department of Pharmacy Systems, Outcomes and Policy, University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) Retzky College of Pharmacy; associate director, UIC Institute for Equitable Health Data Science Research; and affiliate faculty, UIC Center for Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomic Research, on her career in pharmacy, her commitment to public health, and the evolving role of pharmacists. Crawford explains that her career was inspired by early influences, such as her college roommate or her mentor Fred Eckel, RPh, MS, who led her to pursue advanced degrees in pharmacy and public health.

Stephanie Y. Crawford, PhD, MPH (she/her), is a professor and executive associate dean for Faculty Affairs and Strategic Initiatives, Department of Pharmacy Systems, Outcomes and Policy, University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) Retzky College of Pharmacy; associate director, UIC Institute for Equitable Health Data Science Research; and affiliate faculty, UIC Center for Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomic Research.

Reflecting on changes in pharmacy, Crawford highlights the expanded roles of pharmacists in clinical and non-clinical settings, increasing educational demands, and the challenges facing the profession, like pharmacy closures and staffing issues. She finds fulfillment in teaching and mentoring students and emphasizes her research focus on health equity and disparities, especially for underserved communities.

Crawford also values the role of pharmacists in patient care, sharing personal experiences where pharmacists have been instrumental in supporting her family's health needs. Finally, she encourages pharmacists to engage in continuous learning and community involvement, sharing her own rewarding experience as an expert volunteer with the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) on nomenclature and labeling standards. Crawford encourages others to consider similar roles, highlighting the opportunity to contribute to global medication quality.

Pharmacy Times: Can you start by introducing yourself?

Stephanie Y. Crawford, PhD, MPH: Professionally, I am an educator, researcher, pharmacist, and public health advocate. I am a professor in the Department of Pharmacy Systems, Outcomes and Policy at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) and Executive Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs & Strategic Initiatives at the UIC Retzky College of Pharmacy. I am also the Chair of the USP Nomenclature and Labeling Expert Committee.

Pharmacy Times: How did you get started with pharmacy?

Crawford: My choice of majoring in pharmacy was influenced by my dormitory roommate, who was interested in pharmacy school and shared information with me during our first year at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC). In the 1980s, the BS pharmacy degree was a 1 to 4 year program at UNC, ie, 1 year of general college before starting pharmacy courses. My career direction was influenced by the legendary Editor Emeritus of Pharmacy Times and UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy professor emeritus Fred Eckel, RPh, MS!

Eckel was the first to have discussions with me about graduate study, which was the path I pursued. I completed an MS in institutional pharmacy programs at the University of Maryland Baltimore, and American Society of Health-System Pharmacists residency at the University of Maryland Hospital, followed by a PhD in pharmacy (major pharmacy policy) at University of Texas at Austin. My pharmacy and public health backgrounds (MPH degree in health policy and administration from UIC) anchor the backdrop of my professional endeavors.

Pharmacy Times: How have you seen the profession change over your career?

Crawford: Pharmacist roles have expanded tremendously across practice sites, as well as non-practice careers such as the pharmaceutical industry and government. Changes have corresponded with increased educational requirements for new graduates, escalating pharmacist scope of practice, interprofessional education and practice, postgraduate training, and opportunities for specialization. While many changes are positive, others are cause for concern, such as the closure of many community pharmacies, some non-transparent practices by pharmacy benefit managers, and stresses on pharmacists who report insufficient staffing levels. It is heartening to see that pharmacists are increasingly finding their voices and speaking up on the need for policy changes to foster patient safety, as well as pharmacy staff well-being.

Pharmacy Times: What is the most rewarding part of pharmacy for you?

Crawford: I am a quintessential “people person!” There is special joy in interacting with the pharmacy students and graduate students, observing their desire to learn and professional growth. I teach first-year PharmD students in their core course on pharmacy and the US health care system. As the health care system is robust and dynamic, continually updating and revamping lectures always provides a learning experience for me, too. I teach our departmental graduate course on research methods where course examples and applications include pharmacy practice, health services research, and health outcomes research. My research interests focus on health equity, access, and disparities reduction in safe and effective medication use. This includes targeted research on rural and inner-city populations, low-income populations, underserved minority populations, and other historically marginalized patient groups. These backgrounds have enabled me to contribute to policy considerations and appointments for national and local organizations, including the USP, FDA, and Chicago Department of Public Health.

Pharmacy Times: What is the value of the pharmacist to you personally and to the overall health care system?

Crawford: As a non-practicing pharmacist, I value the advice of colleagues in clinical practice professionally (eg, research collaborations) and personally in medication management for myself and members of my family. For example, in year 2009, my independent community pharmacist proactively synchronized my mother’s medications when she moved to the Chicago area (years before this practice was recognized and promoted as a standard). When other close family members experienced health issues in 2023, the first people I contacted were clinical pharmacy colleagues who educated me on important considerations so that I was able to assist family in navigating the health care system, suggest questions for my family to ask, and help address their concerns. The role of pharmacists in the health care system is essential.

Pharmacy Times: Is there anything you'd like to add?

Crawford: To be “indispensable,” practicing pharmacists must continually build on their education and stay up to date to meet societal needs. I encourage pharmacist colleagues to be involved in professional associations and engaged in the community. The myriad of career paths with a pharmacy background is extremely rewarding.

One of the professional engagements I have found most fulfilling is my role as a USP Expert Volunteer on the Nomenclature and Labeling Expert Committee. Expert volunteers at USP work alongside staff to develop and revise public quality standards that help make it possible for people around the world to access quality medicines. I encourage pharmacists who are interested in this kind of opportunity to learn more about it. USP is currently accepting expert volunteer applications at: https://bit.ly/USPExpertVolunteer