Talk to Your Pharmacist

Pharmacy Advisory Group

We're dispensing stories of success from across the continuum of care. Talk to Your Pharmacist is a podcast for pharmacists, student pharmacists, and others across the country to hear from industry leaders about their leadership stories and current healthcare topics. The Talk to Your Pharmacist podcast was founded and hosted by pharmacist, Dr. Hillary Blackburn.

  1. 12/30/2025

    Clinical Implementation of Pharmacogenetic Testing with Mary Relling

    In this episode, our guest is Mary V. Relling, Pharm.D. Emerita Member, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN. Dr. Relling earned her undergraduate B.S. degree from the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy and her doctoral degree from the University of Utah College of Pharmacy. She completed post-doctoral fellowships with Dr. William Evans at St. Jude and with Dr. Urs Meyer at University of Basel. She joined St. Jude as a faculty member in 1988, and was chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences from 2003-2020. She was also a professor at the University of Tennessee in the Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy. Her primary interests are in the treatment and pharmacogenetics of childhood leukemia and in the clinical implementation of pharmacogenetic testing in medicine. Dr. Relling is co-founder of CPIC, the Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium. She has published over 450 original scientific manuscripts. She was elected to the Institute of Medicine (National Academy of Medicine) in 2009. Topics to discuss: Foundations & Career Journey You’ve had an extraordinary career at St. Jude since joining in 1988. What first drew you to pediatric pharmacology and pharmacogenetics?Your work has helped shape how we treat childhood leukemia. What do you see as the most transformative advancements in this space over your career?Pharmacogenetics & CPIC You co-founded the Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium (CPIC). What was the impetus behind its creation, and how has its mission evolved?What do you see as the biggest barriers to widespread clinical implementation of pharmacogenetic testing today?How do you respond to skepticism about the clinical utility of pharmacogenetic testing in everyday medical practice?Which pharmacogenetic guidelines do you believe have had the most significant clinical impact so far—and why?What advice do you have for institutions that want to start implementing pharmacogenetic testing but don’t know where to begin?Implementation in Clinical Settings At St. Jude, you helped lead efforts to integrate pharmacogenetic testing into clinical care. What lessons did you learn about operationalizing this work in real-world settings?How important is interdisciplinary collaboration—between pharmacists, physicians, geneticists—in making pharmacogenetic testing work in practice?Can you share an example where pharmacogenetic testing changed the course of treatment for a pediatric patient?Policy, Ethics, and Future Vision What policy or regulatory changes would help accelerate the clinical adoption of pharmacogenetic testing?As someone who has contributed extensively to the science, how do you think we should balance data privacy with the need for clinical data sharing in genomics?What are you most excited about in the future of pharmacogenetics? Are there particular therapeutic areas or technologies that you think will drive the next wave of innovation?Legacy & Advice You’ve mentored many rising leaders in the field. What qualities do you think are most important for the next generation of pharmacogenomics researchers and clinicians?With over 450 publications and a career that has changed pediatric pharmacology, what legacy do you hope your work leaves behind?Guest: Mary V. Relling, Pharm.D. Emerita Member, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Host: Hillary Blackburn, PharmD, MBA www.hillaryblackburn.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/hillary-blackburn-67a92421/  ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

    37 min

  2. 12/23/2025

    Personalized Medicine & Longevity- The Power of Compounding in Modern Wellness with Kate Campbell

    In this episode, our guest is Kate Campbell, PharmD, who serves as the Director of Pharmacy at Olympia Pharmacy. She is a proud alumna of the University of Florida, graduating Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in biology and a doctorate in pharmacy. Dr. Campbell's previous work experiences in retail and hospital pharmacy have led to a passion for whole-person care and preventive medicine, prompting her shift towards compounding. In her pursuit, she has become a certified hormone replacement therapy specialist with a focus on bioidentical hormone replacement therapy for females. In her personal time, Kate loves connecting with her family and friends. She especially enjoys getting out on the water, playing pickleball and trying new restaurants. 1. Opening & Background Kate, welcome to the show! Can you start by sharing your journey into pharmacy and what ultimately drew you toward compounding and personalized medicine? You’ve worked in both retail and hospital settings before moving into compounding—what gaps did you notice in traditional pharmacy that compounding helps to fill?How did your education at the University of Florida shape your path and perspective on whole-person care?2. Understanding Compounding & Regulatory Landscape For listeners who may not be familiar, can you explain the difference between 503A and 503B compounding pharmacies?What are some of the key compliance and quality distinctions between these two types of operations?Olympia Pharmacy operates under a 503B designation—what advantages does that provide in terms of scalability, safety, and product consistency?How do you see the role of compounding evolving as more patients seek individualized therapies? 3. Hormone Replacement & Preventive Medicine You’re a certified hormone replacement therapy specialist, focusing on bioidentical hormones for women. What drew you to that niche?What are some of the biggest misconceptions about bioidentical hormone therapy?How do you personalize treatment for women across different stages of life—perimenopause, menopause, and beyond?What are the key questions women should ask their providers when considering hormone replacement therapy?4. Longevity & Wellness Trends Longevity is becoming a buzzword in healthcare. From your vantage point, what longevity-focused products or therapies are worth the hype—and which are not?What innovations are you most excited about in the patient wellness space for the upcoming year?How is Olympia Pharmacy staying ahead of emerging trends—whether it’s peptides, nootropics, or nutraceuticals?5. GLP-1s and Post-Therapy Care GLP-1 medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide have transformed weight management—but we’re seeing challenges after patients discontinue them.What strategies or compounded therapies are helping patients maintain results post-GLP-1 use?How can pharmacists play a role in supporting metabolic health and sustainability beyond the initial weight-loss phase? 6. Leadership, Lifestyle & Personal Balance As a director and pharmacist, how do you balance the science of pharmacy with the art of patient care?You’ve mentioned enjoying pickleball, the water, and exploring new restaurants—how do you recharge outside of work?What advice would you give to other pharmacists looking to explore nontraditional or entrepreneurial paths in pharmacy? 7. Closing What’s next for you and Olympia Pharmacy?How can listeners connect with you or learn more about the services Olympia offers? ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

    24 min

  3. 08/31/2025

    Investing in Impact: How Healthcare Innovation Can Transform Patient Outcomes with Sam Libby

    In this episode, our guest is Sam Libby, President and Managing Director of TCB Capital Advisors. Sam's long-standing career in healthcare investment banking has seen him lead over 30 impactful transactions, totaling more than $20 billion. His dedication to healthcare is rooted in a personal connection, being the son of two therapists, which has given him a unique understanding of the sector's challenges, particularly around patient access and care quality. As co-founder of TCB Capital Advisors, Sam focuses on empowering forward-thinking healthcare companies. His work spans partnerships with companies in oncology, neurodegenerative diseases, women's health, and digital health, helping to steer innovations that profoundly improve patient outcomes.  Sam, welcome to the Talk to Your Pharmacist podcast. Now that our listeners have heard a bit about your background maybe you can fill in any gaps to that intro and share a bit about your personal life. Topics to discuss – Background & Career Sam, you’ve had an incredibly successful career in healthcare investment banking, leading over 30 transactions totaling more than $20 billion. Can you walk us through how you first became interested in the healthcare sector, and how your upbringing as the son of two therapists shaped your perspective on healthcare?As co-founder of TCB Capital Advisors, how did you identify the unique opportunity to focus specifically on healthcare companies? What challenges did you face in the early days of building your firm? Healthcare Investment Landscape You've been involved in transactions across diverse areas, such as oncology, neurodegenerative diseases, women’s health, and digital health. How do you assess which healthcare innovations and companies are worth investing in? What are some key trends you’re seeing in these sectors today?Healthcare investment banking involves navigating both financial and clinical challenges. How do you balance the business side of healthcare with the real-world impact on patient access and care quality?You’ve been part of some transformative partnerships in healthcare. Can you share a specific example of a partnership that particularly stands out to you, both in terms of financial success and its impact on patient outcomes?Healthcare Innovation & Strategy With your experience empowering forward-thinking healthcare companies, how do you foresee digital health and technology playing a larger role in the future of patient care? What do you think are the biggest opportunities and challenges?Women’s health is one of the key sectors you’ve focused on. What are some innovations or initiatives you’ve seen that are making a real difference for women’s healthcare, and how can investors further support these efforts?In your opinion, what role does patient access play in the broader healthcare investment landscape? How can companies balance innovation with the need to make these innovations accessible to all patients, especially underserved populations?Financial Strategies & Healthcare Companies Healthcare investments often involve complex financial strategies. For our audience who might not be familiar with the intricacies of healthcare investment banking, can you explain how financial strategies differ when working with healthcare companies as opposed to other industries?As a leader in healthcare investment banking, how do you guide companies through challenges like market volatility, regulatory hurdles, and competition in their efforts to innovate and grow? Are there any specific strategies you use to help them thrive?Future Outlook You’ve helped shape the growth of companies across a wide range of therapeutic areas. Looking ahead, what sectors or healthcare innovations do you believe have the most potential to revolutionize patient outcomes in the next 5 to 10 years?As someone deeply involved in healthcare strategy and innovation, what advice would you give to young entrepreneurs or companies just starting to navigate the healthcare sector? What are the key lessons you’ve learned along the way?Lastly, what excites you most about the future of healthcare, and where do you see the biggest areas for disruption and opportunity? Guest - Sam Libby, TCB Capital Advisors Host - Hillary Blackburn, PharmD, MBA www.hillaryblackburn.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/hillary-blackburn-67a92421/  ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

    35 min

  4. 08/20/2025

    Leading the Pharmacy Automation Revolution with Omnicell Founder Randall Lipps

    In this episode: Randy Lipps is Chairman, President, Chief Executive Officer, and Founder of Omnicell, a leader in transforming the pharmacy care delivery model. Under his leadership, Omnicell has grown from a single product offering to delivering the most comprehensive portfolio of medication management solutions across the continuum of care. Mr. Lipps founded Omnicell in 1992 after observing how inefficiently medical supplies were managed when his daughter was hospitalized at birth. Inspired by his work in airline industry operations and logistics, he sought to enable better management of supplies and medications to help improve patient care.Omnicell became a publicly traded company in August 2001, and today healthcare systems worldwide leverage the company’s automation and advanced services offerings to maximize clinical and operational outcomes.In 2014 Mr. Lipps was elected to the Bellwether League Hall of Fame, an industry organization that honors healthcare supply chain innovators, pioneers, and visionaries.Mr. Lipps has made giving back to the community a priority at Omnicell. Omnicell Cares, the company’s formalized charitable efforts program, translates this into action, making a positive difference by fostering opportunities for volunteerism, charitable giving, and raising awareness for critical topics and issues. Mr. Lipps and his wife, Kathy, have focused their own philanthropy on poverty, nursing and public education, pharmacy research, youth groups, and local community efforts. Mr. Lipps serves as a member of the Board of Trustees of the American Nurses Foundation.Prior to founding Omnicell, Mr. Lipps was Assistant Vice President of Sales and Operations for a division of American Airlines. He holds Bachelor degrees in both Economics and Business Administration from Southern Methodist University.  Topics to discuss – Introduction to Randy and Omnicell and his journey leading the digital transformation of medication management Staffing shortages and employee retention are top problems facing employers today, especially hospitals and health systems. In the pharmacy, labor shortages have far-reaching impacts including reduced quality of patient care, increased workloads for staff, slow delivery of medications, growing operational costs and process inefficiencies that lead to medication errors. Automation for pharmacies could be the key to addressing these issues and optimizing hospital staff’s efficiency to reduce labor gaps.How the Innovation Lab allows customers to get a firsthand look at how automation technologies can make their healthcare operations more efficient and enable nurses and pharmacists to spend more time caring for patients. The autonomous pharmacy vision. How pharmacy automation reduces medication errors through accurate dispensing, streamlines inventory management and real-time tracking, ensures controlled substance security and regulatory compliance, and gives nurses more time to focus on higher-value tasks that directly impact patient care.Guest - Randall Lipps is Chairman, President, Chief Executive Officer, and Founder of Omnicell Social Media: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/randall-lipps-a76412195/Website: https://www.omnicell.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Omnicell1 Host - Hillary Blackburn, PharmD, MBA https://www.linkedin.com/in/hillary-blackburn-67a92421/  ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

    24 min

  5. 08/19/2025

    Tailored Approach to Medication Access with Srulik Dvorsky

    In this episode, our guest is Srulik Dvorsky, who is the co-founder and CEO of TailorMed. Drawing on his experiences caring for family members with cancer—and his background as a technological leader in the medical device space—he started TailorMed with a mission to remove barriers to care. Now the market’s category leader, TailorMed offers the nation’s largest affordability network spanning more than 800 hospitals, 1,300 clinics, and 1,400 pharmacies, as well as premier life science companies. Under Srulik’s leadership, TailorMed has received broad recognition for its impact and innovation, including Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500 list and the New York Digital Health 100 list for three consecutive years. He holds a global MBA from the Arison School of Business at Reichman University and a BSc in electrical engineering from Tel Aviv University. Topics to discuss – 1. Background on TailorMed, its mission, and its role for bringing down the cost of care for patients Founding of TailorMed: After caring for several family members with cancer, Srulik wanted to leverage his expertise in technology to help solve a critical challenge in healthcare. He co-founded TailorMed in 2018 with a mission to help patients overcome barriers to care. 2. Problem Overview: Affordability in Healthcare / Specialty Care: Rising medication costs lead many patients, particularly those who require specialty care, to delay or forgo therapy. About 1 in 5 U.S. adults says they have not filled a prescription, while 1 in 10 has cut pills in half or skipped doses in the last year, due to cost. This leads to higher rates of prescription abandonment and loss of revenue for pharmacies–and poor adherence and worse outcomes for patients. 3. How TailorMed Partners with Pharmacies: There is an abundance of financial assistance to help patients afford their medications, amounting to over $50 billion in total. These resources are underutilized because pharmacies and providers often lack a proactive approach to identify patients in need and efficiently match them with assistance programs. TailorMed enables pharmacies and providers to flag financially at-risk patients and streamline program matching and enrollment. TailorMed began with provider partners and expanded to include top specialty pharmacies, infusion centers, and life science companies—building the nation’s largest affordability network. 4. Key Considerations for Pharmacy Teams Tackling Medication Affordability: Streamline financial assistance workflows to proactively address cost barriers at scale. Embed affordability solutions into day-to-day operations to reduce administrative burden. Use data and automation to boost efficiency and support better patient outcomes. Prioritize change management and IT collaboration to ensure smooth adoption and long-term success of tech-driven solutions. Track both clinical and financial impact to refine your approach and promote best practices. Guest - Srulik Dvorsky, MBA TailorMed’s https://tailormed.co/  Srulik Dvorsky’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/srulik/  TailorMed’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tailormed---medical-journey-innovations/  Host - Hillary Blackburn, PharmD, MBA www.hillaryblackburn.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/hillary-blackburn-67a92421/  ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

    26 min

  6. 07/22/2025

    Modernizing Public Health Infrastructure with Dr. Heidi Steinecker

    In this episode, our guest is Heidi Steinecker, DrPH & Principal of Health & Human Services Consulting at Resultant. With over two decades of leadership in public health and healthcare systems—including as Deputy Director of the California Department of Public Health—Heidi is helping states transform how they use data to prevent crises and protect vulnerable communities. Heidi takes complex public health challenges and breaks them down into clear, data-driven strategies that work. She’s spent her career modernizing outdated systems, leading emergency responses, and designing early intervention models that save lives. Today at Resultant—recently named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies of 2025—Heidi is focused on helping agencies turn massive amounts of public health data into actionable, equitable solutions. Heidi, welcome to the Talk to Your Pharmacist podcast. Now that our listeners have heard a bit about your background maybe you can fill in any gaps to that intro and share a bit about your personal life. Topics to discuss -- How public health agencies can move from reactive to proactive using predictive analyticsWhy modernizing health data systems is no longer optional—and how to get startedFrom Classroom to Policy Leadership – before becoming California’s Deputy Director of Public Health during the COVID‑19 pandemic How did your early experiences in teaching inform your approach to leadership and communication during a public health crisis? Leading Transformation at Scale – At CDPH, you transformed manual inspection systems into proactive, cloud‑based predictive models Can you discuss a specific challenge you faced transitioning these systems, and how you overcame resistance to change? Bridging Local and Global Health – Your doctoral work at MCW focused on infectious diseases in high-risk settings and you emphasize “local health is global health” How do you translate lessons learned in global health contexts to strengthen health systems here in the U.S.? Modernizing Public Health Infrastructure – In a recent podcast, you emphasized that modernization starts with relationships—combined with tech like AI and predictive analytics.What are the critical steps to building both the relational and technical foundations needed for effective public health modernization? Guest - Heidi Steinecker https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidiwsteinecker/ Host - Hillary Blackburn, PharmD, MBA www.hillaryblackburn.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/hillary-blackburn-67a92421/  ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

    31 min

  7. 04/06/2025

    Bringing New Cancer Drugs to Market with Founder & CEO, Lewis Bender

    In this episode, our guest is Lewis Bender, Chairman, and CEO, of Intensity Therapeutics’ Founder which is a late-stage clinical biotechnology company whose mission is to help patients live longer, higher quality lives by discovering, developing, and commercializing first-in-class cancer drugs that attenuate tumors with minimal side effects, while training the patient’s immune system to fight the cancer.  The Company’s lead product candidate, INT230-6, is currently in human clinical studies to treat refractory solid tumors. Talking points:Milestone Achievement: "Congratulations on dosing the first patient in the INVINCIBLE-4 Phase 2 clinical trial for triple-negative breast cancer. Can you walk us through the significance of this milestone and what it means for the future of Intensity Therapeutics?" Innovative Approach of INT230-6: "Intensity Therapeutics focuses on developing cancer treatments that not only attenuate tumors with minimal side effects but also train the immune system to fight cancer. Could you explain how your lead product, INT230-6, achieves this unique approach and what differentiates it from existing cancer therapies?" Collaboration with SAKK: "Your partnership with The Swiss Group for Clinical Cancer Research (SAKK) is a key component of the INVINCIBLE-4 study. How does this collaboration enhance your clinical development efforts, and what are you hoping to achieve together in this trial?" Impact on Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC): "Triple-negative breast cancer is known for being particularly aggressive and having limited treatment options. How does INT230-6 address the unmet needs of TNBC patients, and what potential impact do you foresee it having on improving patient outcomes?" Future Vision and Next Steps: "Looking ahead, what are the next steps for Intensity Therapeutics following the initiation of the INVINCIBLE-4 study? How do you envision the future of your company in the evolving landscape of cancer therapeutics?" Guest - Lewis Bender Host - Hillary Blackburn, PharmD, MBA https://www.linkedin.com/in/hillary-blackburn-67a92421/ @talktoyourpharmacist for Instagram and Facebook ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

    35 min

  8. 03/31/2025

    Handling the Intersection of Faith and Work with Dean Tom Campbell

    In this episode, our guest is Tom Campbell, the Dean and Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice at Lipscomb University College of Pharmacy in Nashville. Dr. Campbell received his Pharm.D. degree from the University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy and received board certification in pharmacotherapy in 1995. His prior work experience includes a pharmacy practice residency with VA Medical Center in Memphis, Columbus Regional Health System in Columbus, Georgia, and Sanofi Pharmaceuticals. He also served as Clinical Assistant Professor at Auburn University. Dr. Campbell has served as President of the Tennessee Pharmacists Association and served on the Board of Directors. He is a member of AACP, ASHP, APhA, CPFI and TPA. He's a recipient of the 2024 APhA Academy of Student Pharmacists Outstanding Dean Award which was established to recognize a school or college of pharmacy dean who has made significant contributions to the APhA-ASP Chapter and promoted with distinction the welfare of student pharmacists through various community service, leadership and professional activities.  Dr. Campbell is a Sunday school teacher and former elder at the Spring Meadows Church of Christ in Spring Hill, TN. He has traveled to Central America as part of medical mission campaigns numerous times. Dr. Campbell and his late wife, Susan, have three sons. During the discussion, we explored questions around: How faith influences our daily work in healthcareThe ways faith impacts health behaviors and decision-makingThe role faith plays in job satisfaction and professional fulfillmentIt was inspiring to engage in meaningful dialogue with a leader who also sees their work as a calling to serve others. I'm grateful to Dean Campbell at Lipscomb University for fostering conversations that remind us of the deeper purpose behind our careers. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

    27 min
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About

We're dispensing stories of success from across the continuum of care. Talk to Your Pharmacist is a podcast for pharmacists, student pharmacists, and others across the country to hear from industry leaders about their leadership stories and current healthcare topics. The Talk to Your Pharmacist podcast was founded and hosted by pharmacist, Dr. Hillary Blackburn.

Information

  • Creator
    Pharmacy Advisory Group
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2025
  • Episodes
    272
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Talk to Your Pharmacist