PGX for Pharmacists Pharmacy Podcast Network

On this episode, Dr. Avni Santani, Chief Genomics Officer of Let's Get Checked, Dr. Behnaz Sarrami, and I discuss how Let's Get Checked solves several major barriers that have held pharmacogenomics back from becoming the standard of care in medication therapy management, pharmacists' critical and unique role in PGX at Let's Get Checked, and how nontraditional PGx payers are championing for PGx testing to decrease adverse drug events, increase therapeutic medication outcomes, and improve patient adherence to their medications.  https://www.letsgetchecked.com/mypgx/Becky Winslow, BS, PharmD and Behnaz Sarrami, MS, PharmD (Hosts) Avni A. Santani, PhD, FACMG, Chief Genomics Officer at LetsGetChecked



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Explore the realm of pharmacogenomic testing as patients open up about their experiences, sharing stories of both success and tragedy. These courageous guests provide insights into the power of personalized medicine and the crucial lessons learned along the way.
A journey from medication struggles to success through pharmacogenomics. A heartbreaking tale of genetic-based medication complications. Navigating emotions while uncovering genetic insights.
Triumphs of Personalization: Guests share uplifting accounts of renewed health and life improvements due to pharmacogenomic testing.
Learning from Tragedy: Stories underscore the consequences of neglecting genetic factors, advocating for greater awareness.
Emotional Resilience: Discussing the psychological challenges in the context of chronic conditions and medication adjustments.
Empowering Patients and Providers: Guests stress education and dialogue between patients and medical professionals for informed decisions.
Join us as we unravel narratives of strength, hope, and knowledge in pharmacogenomic testing. This episode provides a valuable perspective on the fusion of genetics and healthcare, whether you're a patient, healthcare provider, or simply intrigued by personalized medicine's evolution.
Special interviews with Christina Delsoldato, Karen Merrit, Christine Von Raesfeld, and Joanne McIntyre.
Behnaz Disclaimer: These are my personal views and opinions, and I am not speaking on behalf of Castle Biosciences, Inc.

Dr. Dave Kisor, a professor and director of pharmacogenomics at Manchester University. He graduated from The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy in 1986 and completed a two-year fellowship in therapeutic drug monitoring/pharmacokinetics at OSU. Before he joined Manchester, Dave was professor of pharmaceutical sciences at Ohio Northern University after being a research scientist at Burroughs Wellcome Co/GlaxoWellcome. Dave has over 80 peer-reviewed publications including being the lead author on two pharmacogenomics textbooks. He is a past chair of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) Pharmacogenomics Special Interest Group. Dave was named a Fellow of the American College of Clinical Pharmacology in 2017, and in 2021, along with Dr. Tom Smith, he received an AACP Innovations in PGx Teaching Award. His current research is related to PGx and opioid use disorder. Dave currently serves as co-chair of the Pharmacogenomics Global Research Network (PGRN) Education Committee and is Editor-In-Chief of Pharmacogenomics: Foundations, Competencies, and the Pharmacists’ Patient Care Process.
 
Behnaz Disclaimer: These are my personal views and opinions, and I am not speaking on behalf of Castle Biosciences, Inc.

Few people with a cause walk the talk as boldly and graciously as Christine Von Raesfeld, founder and CEO of People with Empathy. Christine is a pillar of patient advocacy and allyship in the rare and chronic disease community. Through the lens of her lived experiences in healthcare, she has become a champion for patient voices, diversity and inclusion in clinical research, and equitable patient-sponsor partnerships. Christine has brought her unique perspective and honed expertise to countless roles as a featured speaker for numerous conferences on topics ranging from clinical trial recruitment to data & digital rights, from a true patient perspective. She serves as an e-patient scholar with Stanford MedicineX and a Technical Expert Panelist with CMS among other roles. Wherever possible, Christine generates momentum toward progress along her patient advocacy interests and has become a thought leader worldwide, stimulating dialog on a range of topics relevant to patients, clinicians, and industry. As a patient advisor, Christine has assisted several initiatives including the Stanford "Humanwide" Precision Medicine Program and the NIH All of Us Research Program and serves as a board member/advisor to multiple organizations and startups. For her many contributions to the field, she has been named one of the top 100 Women of Influence by Silicon Valley Business Journal, a member of the 2021 HIMSS Future50, and one of Medika Life's 50 most influential voices in healthcare among other distinctions. www.peoplewithempathy.org/
Behnaz Disclaimer: These are my personal views and opinions, and I am not speaking on behalf of Castle Biosciences, Inc.

Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) is a potentially life-threatening pregnancy disease that may cause weight loss, malnutrition, dehydration, and debility due to severe nausea and/or vomiting, and may cause long-term health issues for mother and baby(ies). It occurs in up to 3% of pregnant women and may last the entire pregnancy, which can lead to malnourished. Dr. Danielle Plummer has unfortunately been a three-time survivor of HG and she is the founder and CEO of HG clinical solutions (www.hgclinicalsolutions.com). Please visit that website and learn more. She offers personalized medication planning and patient advocacy in addition to educating providers on HG disease state. She has women around the world reaching out to her for advice and support, and she is looking forward to the day that PGx is utilized in all the countries that she is supporting. www.HGPharmacist.com is a link to Danielle's free ebook called "Dear ER doctor, Believe Us" There is also a FaceBook support group: www.facebook.com/groups/hgsolutions.
"Coming Soon" is the course called "Preparing for a Hyperemesis Pregnancy". Connect with Danielle to sign up.
 
Behnaz Disclaimer: These are my personal views and opinions, and I am not speaking on behalf of Castle Biosciences, Inc.

DYPD is a gene that provides instructions for making an enzyme called dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD). This enzyme plays very important in breaking down a substance called uracil, which is found in our DNA and RNA. Mutations in the DYPD gene can lead to decreased or absent DPD activity, which if you think about it can cause a buildup of uracil in the body. If someone is DPD deficiency it can make it difficult for the body to process certain chemotherapy drugs and can lead to severe side effects, such as nerve damage, GI problems, and even death. Genetic testing before being placed on a chemo agent, to see if there is a DPD deficiency is vital. According to Advocates for Universal DPD/DPYD Testing (AUDT), Europe is becoming the standard of care for testing for this gene and only in some selected institutions in the US the testing it being done. AUDT is made up of a group of patient advocates and medical professionals who are seeking to improve treatment outcomes for patients that are preparing to receive chemotherapy based on fluoropyrimidine drugs. One of the founders of this non-profit organization, AUDT, Karen Merritt is our guest today. She lost her mother in 2014 due to being DPD deficient and after getting her first infusion of 5FU. Karen dedicated herself to advocating and raising awareness about pre-testing for DPD deficiency before fluoropyrimidine chemotherapy administration to reduce unnecessary suffering.
Disclaimer: These are my personal views and opinions, and I am not speaking on behalf of Castle Biosciences, Inc.Resources: https://test4dpd.org/about-us/