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Official Newsjournal of the Illinois Council of Health-System Pharmacists

ICHP Leadership Spotlight
Meet Erin Shaughnessy, PharmD, MBA, BCPS

What is your leadership position within ICHP?
I am the Treasurer of NISHP.

Where is your practice site?
I am the Director of Pharmacy at Rush University Medical Center.

What is a pharmacy issue that keeps you from sleeping at night?
As we all know, COVID-19 and other societal challenges have put immense pressure on our healthcare system and our teams this year. Sustaining a parallel between providing high quality patient care, balancing pharmacy practice models, and having a culture that encourages team members’ wellness is at the forefront of my mind. Finding that consistent stability is a challenging opportunity, but it is important for all of us.

How do you apply ICHP learning and resources into your work?
I find the NISHP educational dinners and the ICHP Reverse Expos to be especially useful in my practice. The NISHP educational dinners are a great way to refresh clinical knowledge and compare processes with colleagues. The ICHP Reverse Expo “speed dating” format allows me to explore a multitude of vendors and products in an expedited time frame. Each time I attend an educational dinner or a Reverse Expo I walk away with 1-2 new insights, products, and/or vendors that I may never have found otherwise.

What makes ICHP great?
ICHP is great because it provides a way for all of us to get involved in advocating for our profession. There are many changes and challenges in the future and ICHP helps us to ensure pharmacy needs are heard. It also provides diverse opportunities for leadership development and growth at many levels.

Is there an individual you admire or look up to, or a mentor that has influenced your career?
I have been fortunate to have had a group of strong role models and coworkers throughout my career. They have shown me how to be a leader through example, encouraged me to take on new challenges, engaged in vigorous discussions and debates, and supported me during tough times. Even when our professional paths have advanced on different courses, we have continued to keep in touch and support each other’s successes. Thank you to the UIC pharmacy team, the MetroSouth pharmacy team, the AdvocateAurora pharmacy and respiratory care teams, and the Rush University Medical Center pharmacy team for being outstanding colleagues!

What advice do you have for pharmacy students?
Don’t forget to start networking immediately and broadly. ICHP is a great place to begin networking within our profession. Meet a wide range of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians and then start networking outside of pharmacy. It’s important for nurses, physicians, and hospital leadership to understand how integral our role is to the success of the healthcare team. It’s also important for pharmacists to understand the perspectives and the roles of other professions in order better collaborate on patient care.

Do you have any special interests or hobbies outside of work?
Outside of work I am an avid hiker, camper and yogi. I love to go on long backwoods hikes and camping trips with my friends and family. A sky full of stars and a roaring campfire is my favorite way to spend a weekend.

What is the most interesting/unique fact about yourself that few people know?
I am also a yoga and meditation instructor! My favorite classes to teach are hatha and restorative yoga.