Get to Know the ASHP Board of Directors

The ASHP Board of Directors is our organization's governing authority. Board members safeguard ASHP’s success by cooperatively developing goals and policies. See who's on the current roster and learn how they've contributed to ASHP and the profession.

Nishaminy (Nish) Kasbekar, PharmD, BSPharm, FASHP, is vice president and chief pharmacy officer at the University of Pennsylvania Health System in Philadelphia. She earned her Bachelor of Science in pharmacy and Doctor of Pharmacy degrees from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science and completed residencies in pharmacy practice and infectious diseases at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Kasbekar began her career providing direct patient care as a clinical pharmacy specialist in infectious diseases, implementing an antimicrobial stewardship program. In her 26 years at Penn Medicine, she has led many strategic and programmatic initiatives expanding the scope, services, and influence of the pharmacy department in inpatient and ambulatory areas.

Her ASHP service includes Board of Directors (2019–2025); chair, Section Advisory Group on Multi-Hospital Pharmacy Executives; chair, Council on Pharmacy Practice; Women in Pharmacy Leadership Steering Committee; AJHP Editorial Board; and delegate to the ASHP House of Delegates for over eight years. In addition, she has served as chair, Vizient Practice Advancement Committee; president, Pennsylvania Society of Health-System Pharmacists; president, Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association Educational Foundation; and president, Delaware Valley Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Kasbekar has also received numerous recognitions for her work and contribution to pharmacy, including the Pennsylvania Society of Health-system Pharmacists Pharmacist of the Year Award, Joe E. Smith Award, Sister M. Gonzales Duffy Award, and as a Fellow of ASHP. She has also published and presented on a variety of topics, including leadership development, process improvement in healthcare, well-being and resilience, and innovative practice models. Kasbekar serves as president of the ASHP Board of Directors.

Leigh A. Briscoe-Dwyer, PharmD, BSPharm, BCPS, FASHP, is the system director of pharmacy for the UHS Hospitals System in Johnson City, New York. She received her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from Albany College of Pharmacy and her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from St. John’s University. She began her career as a clinical specialist in HIV and infectious disease at SUNY Stony Brook and has worked in various areas of pharmacy practice, including the pharmaceutical industry, spending most of the past 20 years in pharmacy leadership roles.

Her ASHP service includes Board of Directors (2020–2023); chair, Committee on Nominations; Council on Public Policy; the FASHP Recognition Committee; and New York State delegate to the ASHP House of Delegates for over 10 years. Briscoe-Dwyer is a past president of the Long Island Society of Health-system Pharmacists and the New York State Council of Health-system Pharmacists (NYSCHP). In addition, she served on the New York State Board of Pharmacy for 10 years in several capacities, including as its chair.

She is a member of the Board of Trustees of Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and is chair of its Academic Affairs Committee. She has received numerous recognitions for her contributions to pharmacy, including the Distinguished Alumnus Award from St. John’s University, the NYSCHP Board of Directors Award, and the NYSCHP research and Education Foundation Bernard Mehl Leadership Award. Briscoe-Dwyer serves as President-elect of the ASHP Board of Directors.

Paul C. Walker, PharmD, FASHP, is clinical professor and assistant dean of experiential education and community engagement at the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy and manager, department of pharmacy, for Michigan Medicine. Walker received his BS in pharmacy and PharmD from Wayne State University. He completed an ASHP-accredited residency at Children’s Hospital of Michigan and specialty residency in pediatric pharmacy practice at the University of Tennessee. He has served in clinical practice and leadership roles at the Detroit Medical Center and Henry Ford Health System and held faculty appointments at Wayne State University. He is passionate about advancing pharmacy practice by innovating pharmacist services, evaluating pharmacists’ impact on patient care, and especially by integrating student pharmacists into practice models and interprofessional teams through work in experiential education.

Walker has served ASHP in many capacities, most recently as a member of the Board of Directors. He chaired ASHP’s recent Task Force on Racial Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. He also served as chair of the Committee on Nominations; as a member of the Commission on Affiliate Relations and the ASHP Foundation Donor Retention Subcommittee; and as a delegate to the House of Delegates for many years.

Walker served on the board of directors of the Michigan Pharmacists Association (MPA) and the Michigan Society of Health-System Pharmacists. He has received the Michigan Society of Health-System Pharmacists 2008 Professional Practice Award (2008), Pharmacist of the Year Award (2010), and Joseph A. Oddis Leadership Award (2017), and the 2021 MPA Pharmacist of the Year Award. He has been inducted into the MPA Hall of Honor and is recognized as a Fellow by ASHP and MPA. Walker serves as immediate past president of the ASHP Board of Directors.

Christene M. Jolowsky, BSPharm, MS, FASHP, is senior director of pharmacy at Hennepin Healthcare System in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She completed her BSPharm and MS in pharmacy administration at the University of Minnesota and a two-year ASHP-accredited administrative residency at the University of Minnesota Hospital. She is an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy, teaching in both the PharmD and graduate curriculums.

In her current role, she is responsible for inpatient, retail, and clinic-based pharmacy services for the system and the poison control center. Jolowsky has led teams around patient safety and clinical service initiatives. Her expertise is in clinical and operational performance improvement. Key accomplishments include promoting technician, student, and residency training and expanding the roles and scope of practice for pharmacists.

Her service to ASHP includes serving as president and on the Board of Directors and serving on many councils, committees, and task forces for ASHP and local and state health-system chapters. She has been a Minnesota delegate to ASHP’s House of Delegates and served as president of the Minnesota Society of Health-System Pharmacists (MSHP). She is a Fellow of both ASHP and MSHP.

Jolowsky was honored with the Distinguished Service Award for the ASHP Section of Pharmacy Practice Managers in 2009, the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy’s Preceptor of the Year and the MSHP Hallie Bruce Award in 2005, and the MSHP Hugh F. Kabat Award in 2012. Jolowsky serves as ASHP treasurer.

Kim W. Benner, PharmD, BCPS, FALSHP, FASHP, FPPA, is professor of pharmacy practice at Samford University McWhorter School of Pharmacy and pediatric specialist at Children’s of Alabama. After earning her Doctor of Pharmacy degree at Samford, Benner completed an ASHP-accredited residency at Children’s of Alabama. Areas of specialty include pediatrics (specific experience in critical care and pulmonary), dermatology, translational research, and simulation education. Teaching is directed toward students, residents, fellow pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals at Samford University and Children’s Hospital; other teaching-related duties include coordination of a teaching and learning certificate program for local pharmacy residents. She serves as the faculty advisor for the Samford Student Society of Health-System Pharmacists (SSHP) chapter — the same one she chartered over 20 years ago.

ASHP related activities include past chair of the Section of Clinical Specialists and Scientists (SCSS), Committee on Nominations, and Council on Therapeutics. Benner has also served as an ASHP Clinical Skills Competition coordinator and judge, Alabama delegate (6 years), CV and meeting proposal/abstract reviewer, and on the SCSS Pediatrics Section Advisory Group and various section and ad hoc committees. Alabama ASHP state affiliate work includes past council director, president, and Student Activities Committee Chair. She was appointed and served three years on the inaugural Board of Pharmacy Specialties Pediatric Council. Benner serves as a member of the ASHP Board of Directors.

Melanie A. Dodd, PharmD, PhC, BCPS, FASHP, is associate dean for clinical affairs and professor at The University of New Mexico (UNM) College of Pharmacy. She received a BS in Pharmacy from Purdue University and a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from UNM and then completed a pharmacy practice residency at Presbyterian Healthcare Services in Albuquerque. She began her career at the UNM College of Pharmacy as the clinical pharmacist for the New Mexico Medicaid DUR Program. She is now a pharmacist clinician with prescriptive authority at the UNM Senior Health Clinic, where she provides chronic disease and medication management for older adults and consultant pharmacist services for several community health systems. She is responsible for extensive didactic and clinical teaching activities within the PharmD curriculum, including pharmacy law, physical assessment, and geriatrics. She also teaches geriatrics content across the UNM Health Sciences Center with interprofessional students and medical and pharmacy residents. She plays an active role in development of and oversees innovative pharmacist clinical practice models, credentialing processes, and pharmacist reimbursement at UNM, including advocating for passage of and implementing New Mexico House Bill 42, reimbursement parity to physicians for pharmacists with prescriptive authority.

Dodd’s ASHP service includes vice chair and chair of the Council on Public Policy; chair of the Section of Ambulatory Care Practitioners; Pharmacy Forecast Advisory Committee; Pharmacy Practice Model Initiative delegate; and delegate to the House of Delegates for 15 years. She is past president of the New Mexico Society of Health-System Pharmacists and faculty advisor for the UNM SSHP. She was recognized by NMSHP with the Dorothy Dillon Memorial Lecture award. In addition, she received the Distinguished Service Award from the ASHP Section of Ambulatory Care Practitioners and was a member of the NM coalition that received the inaugural ASHP Pharmacy Champion award. Dodd serves as Chair of the ASHP House of Delegates and member of the ASHP Board of Directors.

Kristine (Kristi) Gullickson, PharmD, MBA, DPLA, FASHP, FMSHP, is director of pharmacy at Abbott Northwestern Hospital, part of Allina Health in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She is responsible for inpatient, infusion, and ambulatory pharmacy services with additional system-level responsibility for Allina Health pharmacy operations and oncology. She is the residency program director for the hospital’s health-system pharmacy administration & leadership (HSPAL) postgraduate year 2 residency program and has precepted residents and leadership students for more than 25 years.

Gullickson received her Bachelor of Science in pharmacy and Doctor of Pharmacy from North Dakota State University. She completed a pharmacy practice residency at Abbott Northwestern Hospital and earned a diploma from the ASHP Pharmacy Leadership Academy. She received her MBA in healthcare administration from New England College.

She currently serves ASHP as faculty, Manager’s Boot Camp Workshop. She previously served as chair, Section of Pharmacy Practice Leaders (SPPL) Executive Committee; chair, Council on Pharmacy Practice; member, SPPL section advisory groups; member, multi-year House of Delegates; contributor, ASHP Leadership Basics Certificate; ASHP expert panel member for the ASHP Guidelines on Preventing Diversion of Controlled Substances; and the ASHP/American Pharmacists Association Medication Management in Care Transitions project. Gullickson is a past president of the Minnesota Society of Health-System Pharmacists (MSHP). She is a Fellow of ASHP and MSHP and was awarded the MSHP Hallie Bruce Memorial Lecture Award, Minnesota’s highest honor, in 2020. Gullickson serves as a member of the ASHP Board of Directors.

Vivian Bradley Johnson, PharmD, BS, RPh, MBA, FASHP, is the senior vice president of clinical services at Parkland Health and Hospital System in Dallas, Texas. She oversees pharmacy, radiology, respiratory, clinical dietary, physical medicine and rehabilitation, and laboratory services.

She has spent more than 35 years providing healthcare services to the underserved in Dallas County. Under Johnson’s leadership, many pharmacy programs have been developed, including a 340B Drug Pricing Program service.

She is originally from Lake City, Florida. Johnson attended Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University, School of Pharmacy. She attained her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Mercer University in Atlanta, Georgia, and an MBA from University of Dallas.

Johnson has been the recipient of many awards, including the 2010 Texas Pharmacy Leadership Award. She has served on the Texas Society of Health-System Pharmacists Professional Affairs Council and the leadership section. Johnson is a long-term ASHP member. She is a fellow of ASHP. Johnson has served on the ASHP Residency Excellence Awards Committee, the Council on Pharmacy Management, and the ASHP Racial Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force. She was appointed to the Pharmacy Executive Leadership Alliance Advisory Panel and the ASHP Forecast 2022 Advisory Committee. She continues to be an advocate and active member in the pharmacy profession. Johnson serves as a member of the ASHP Board of Directors.

Pamela K. Phelps, PharmD, FASHP, FMSHP, is system director of acute care clinical pharmacy services at M Health Fairview, a 10-hospital health system in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She is clinical associate professor at the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy. A Minnesota alum, she began her career as a staff pharmacist, followed by pharmacy specialist in critical care, before moving into formal leadership roles. Phelps is chief executive for M Health Fairview’s residency programs and HSPAL residency program director at the University of Minnesota Medical Center. She has authored 35 peer-reviewed articles and given 61 invited presentations.

Phelps’s service to ASHP includes chair of the Council on Therapeutics; ASHP Advisory Committee for the Pharmacy Forecast; chapter author for the Pharmacy Forecast; editor for the ASHP book Smart Infusion Pumps, member of the ASHP Task Force on Accountable Care Organizations; Minnesota State Delegate to the ASHP House of Delegates; and ASHP Council on Educational Affairs. She has served as a chair and executive board member for the Vizient Pharmacy Council. Phelps has served in many state affiliation roles, including president and board member of the Minnesota society. She has served as public policy co-chair for MSHP for three years. Phelps serves as a member of the ASHP Board of Directors.

Vickie L. Powell, PharmD, MS, BSPharm, FASHP, CPEL, is the enterprise director of pharmacy diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), employee engagement, human resources, and training and education at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. The hospital is affiliated with two of the nation’s leading medical colleges: Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and Weill Cornell Medical College. The hospital and its academic affiliates share a commitment to pursuing clinical excellence, engaging in groundbreaking biomedical research, outstanding medical education, and providing prevention and wellness services to the community. Powell is a clinical assistant professor of pharmacy at Long Island University and a guest lecturer at the Touro College of Pharmacy.

Powell received a Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy from Xavier University of Louisiana, a Master of Science degree in Pharmacy Administration from Long Island University, New York, and a PharmD degree from Howard University, Washington D.C. She is an ASHP Fellow and a member of the inaugural ASHP cohort for the Certified Pharmacy Executive Leaders (CPEL), earning CPEL credentials.

Powell is the past president of the New York City of Health-System Pharmacists and NYSCHP. She remains active in both organizations and recently chaired NYSCHP’s inaugural DEI committee. Powell’s sustained ASHP service includes delegate to the House of Delegates; member of the Council on Education and Workforce Development; ASHP Policy–Process CQI Special Committee; Board of Canvassers; ASHP Committee on Nominations; Council on Pharmacy Practice; ASHP Task Force on Racial Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; CPEL Advisory Committee; and past chair of the ASHP Advocacy and Political Action Committee Advisory Committee. Powell serves as a member of the ASHP Board of Directors.

Jennifer E. Tryon, PharmD, MS, FASHP, is the chief pharmacy officer at Henry Ford Health in Detroit, Michigan, leading inpatient, outpatient, and health plan pharmacy teams for the integrated delivery network. Having practiced pharmacy in community hospitals, academic health systems, and integrated delivery networks, she has broad perspectives on unique challenges across health-system pharmacy. Committed to teaching, she has lectured in multiple schools of pharmacy and is an associate faculty for the ASHP Foundation's Pharmacy Leadership Academy. She has been the residency program director for multiple HSPAL and postgraduate year-1 residency programs and has enjoyed training over 100 pharmacy residents. Tryon received her MS from the University of Wisconsin and her PharmD from the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy. She completed a two-year health-system pharmacy administration residency at the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics.

She has served ASHP as chair of the Section of Pharmacy Practice Leaders; Council on Pharmacy Management; section advisory groups; and the House of Delegates. She is past president of the Oregon Society of Health-System Pharmacists and has held other elected positions in multiple pharmacy associations.

Tryon has a passion for innovative models to advance healthcare. She is frequently invited to present on leadership and business of pharmacy topics within the United States and internationally. She was honored with the 2021 Distinguished Service Award for the ASHP Section for Pharmacy Practice Leaders and was named a 2020 Emerging Industry Leader by Managed Healthcare Executive. Tryon serves as a member of the ASHP Board of Directors.

Dawn M. Moore, PharmD, MS, CPEL, FACHE, is the vice president and chief pharmacy officer at Community Health Network in Indianapolis, Indiana, and an affiliate assistant professor at Purdue University and Butler University. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Florida A&M University and MS from University of Wisconsin.

In her current role, she oversees the strategic, administrative, and operational initiatives of the pharmacy enterprise encompassing inpatient, retail, specialty, ambulatory care pharmacy, homecare, and infusion pharmacy services. With over 22 years of experience leading hospital and health-system pharmacies, she is skilled at driving quality and safety in patient care, optimizing medication revenue integrity, decreasing drug costs and inappropriate utilization, and expanding and implementing new practices.

Moore is a member of the ASHP Pharmacy Executive Leadership Alliance and has served as a member of the ASHP Task Force on Racial Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; ASHP Multi-Hospital Health-System Pharmacy Executive Committee; ASHP Women in Pharmacy Leadership Steering Committee; ASHP Council on Pharmacy Management; and as adjunct faculty to the ASHP Foundation Pharmacy Leadership Academy. In addition to her leadership within ASHP, she leads in her community as a board member, Indianapolis Coalition for Patient Safety; member, Indiana Healthcare Executives Network, and served as president, Indiana Pharmacy Association. Her passion to address health disparities cultivated her interest as a board member and chair, The Martin Center for Sickle Cell Initiative. Moore will begin her 3-year term on the ASHP Board of Directors in June 2024.

Douglas C. Slain, PharmD, BCPS, FASHP, is a professor and infectious diseases clinical specialist at West Virginia University (WVU) School of Pharmacy and WVU Medicine’s J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital and Clinics. He also serves as the chairman of the clinical pharmacy department. Slain received his pharmacy bachelor’s degree and his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He then completed a residency and fellowship in infectious diseases pharmacotherapy at the Virginia Commonwealth University–Medical College of Virginia Hospitals in Richmond.

Slain has been extensively involved with ASHP. He has served as chair and director-at-large of the Section of Clinical Specialists & Scientists; chair of the Council on Therapeutics; voting member of the historic PPMI Summit; member of the 2012–2013 Task Force on Organizational Structure; a delegate to the House of Delegates, and as vice president of the West Virginia Society of Health-System Pharmacists. He has also served as a postgraduate year 2 residency program director for over 20 years. Slain will begin his 3-year term on the ASHP Board of Directors in June 2024.