Heather Howell

Dr. Heather Howell is an emergency medicine pharmacist at Memorial Medical Center in Las Cruces, New Mexico. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Texas at El Paso School of Pharmacy and holds a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She completed her PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice Residency at Memorial Medical Center. Dr. Howell is passionate about advancing the pharmacy profession, advocating for patient-centered care, and fostering education, collaboration, and innovation. She is actively engaged in national professional organizations, including Phi Lambda Sigma (PLS), the Society of Emergency Medicine Pharmacists (SEMP), the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP), and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP)

Reasons for selecting this career path:
Early in her pharmacy education, Dr. Howell recognized a strong interest in caring for critically ill patients. During her APPE year, she intentionally pursued rotations in both emergency medicine and critical care, completing her emergency medicine rotation first. Within weeks, she found her fit in the fast-paced, dynamic environment of the emergency department. She values the ability to think quickly, contribute to high-stakes decision-making, and advance the role of pharmacists within an interdisciplinary team.

Professional Interests:

• Cardiac emergencies
• Resuscitation
• Health policy

Interest in serving on the NPF Executive Committee:
Being part of the NPF Executive Committee is important to me because it gives me a chance to continue serving the profession while supporting new practitioners on a broader level. I’m excited about the opportunity to lead initiatives that increase engagement and help new practitioners get involved, stay connected, and grow in their careers.

Benefits of being involved in ASHP as a New Practitioner:
After graduation, it’s easy to feel burned out or unsure of where you fit, which can make it tempting to step back from professional involvement. The New Practitioners Forum gives you a way to stay connected to the profession while you figure that out. It creates space to stay engaged, build your network, and keep growing without feeling like you have to have everything figured out right away.