Leia Gaddis, PharmD, BCPS, DPLA (Leia.Gaddis@parkview.com), is a community hospital pharmacy manager at Parkview DeKalb. She is the former residency program coordinator for Parkview Health's six pharmacy residency programs and 13 resident positions and continues to precept and mentor students and residents, serve on the Preceptor Development Committee, and is an advisor for current residency program directors and coordinators. Gaddis completed a PGY1/PGY2 health-system pharmacy administration and leadership residency at Tufts Medicine | MelroseWakefield Hospital in the Boston area and was appointed as adjunct faculty at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Gaddis has served as a work group lead on the Section of Pharmacy Educators advisory group on Post-Graduate Education and Learning Experiences for one year. She has also served on the New Practitioners Forum (NPF) for three years, first as a work group lead, then as chair of the NPF advisory group on Career and Leadership Development, and most recently as an Executive Committee member.
Meet Leia Gaddis
I believe excellence in pharmacy education is achieved through a continuous, intentional progression that bridges graduate learning, postgraduate education and training, and lifelong professional development. Preparing pharmacists for practice requires not only strong foundational knowledge, but also the development of clinical judgment, adaptability, and professional identity. At the graduate level, education should integrate didactic learning with meaningful experiential opportunities that challenge students to apply knowledge in real-world settings. These experiences foster critical thinking, confidence, and accountability. A seamless transition into postgraduate training is essential, where residencies and fellowships further refine clinical expertise, leadership skills, and a commitment to lifelong learning. Alignment between graduate and postgraduate competencies ensures a development pathway rather than a fragmented experience. Preceptors play a pivotal role in this continuum. Effective precepting requires support, training, and recognition to ensure that educators are equipped to guide learners in an evolving healthcare landscape. I am committed to advancing preceptor development and promoting innovation and shared best practices. Mentorship further extends this continuum by supporting long-term professional growth. Strong, inclusive mentoring relationships enhance career satisfaction, leadership development, and workforce sustainability. Through service to ASHP, I am dedicated to strengthening these connections and advancing a learner-centered, future-focused model of pharmacy education that prepares pharmacists to meet the ever-changing needs of patients and healthcare systems.