Joshua Sullivan

Sullivan graduated from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center with a Doctor of Pharmacy in 2007. He completed a postgraduate year 1 (PGY1) pharmacy practice residency at the Lt. Col. Luke Weathers Jr. VA Medical Center in Memphis, Tennessee, in 2008. He subsequently became board certified in pharmacotherapy, ambulatory care, and geriatrics. Sullivan previously served as a clinical pharmacy practitioner in ambulatory care/PACT, PGY1 pharmacy residency program director, postgraduate year 2 (PGY2) ambulatory care pharmacy residency program director, and associate chief of clinical programs at the Lt. Col. Luke Weathers Jr. VA Medical Center. During his time in Memphis, Sullivan precepted students and residents, significantly increased clinical pharmacy staffing, helped expand several clinical pharmacy services such as mental health, Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT), antimicrobial stewardship, pain, and inpatient transitions of care, and helped provide informatics support for the service and facility.

Sullivan currently serves as the Veterans Integrated Services Network (VISN 9) deputy pharmacy executive for clinical programs. He provides clinical pharmacy guidance and strives to implement standardized practices for VA facilities in Kentucky and Tennessee, with a goal of enhancing and optimizing veteran care. Sullivan also serves as the VISN 9 pharmacogenomics and academic detailing program manager.

Facility:
VISN 9 is part of the VA MidSouth Healthcare Network serving veterans at VA medical centers in three cities in Tennessee (Memphis, Nashville, and Mountain Home) and two in Kentucky, Louisville and Lexington, as part of the Veterans Health Administration.

Recent Significant Projects:
Sullivan undertook health equity projects addressing statin initiation and adherence in the women's veteran population, standardizing an expedited prescription process for VISN to increase timely access to medications and increasing clinical pharmacist practitioner utilization.

Advice for Someone to a Specialty Area:
My advice is to think about your professional goals, work hard to achieve them, say “yes” to opportunities, learn as much as you can along the way, and take care of yourself so you can take care of your patients!

Involvement with ASHP:
An ASHP member and member of the ASHP Section of Ambulatory Care Practitioners Section Advisory Group on Clinical Practice Advancement.

Reason for ASHP Involvement:
I became involved with ASHP to share ideas, give back to the profession, network and learn from other practitioners.

Value of ASHP to Peers or Colleagues:
ASHP plays a vital role in advancing the pharmacy profession and provides many resources to help accomplish this.

Value of ASHP for the Profession:
ASHP advocates for the role of pharmacists; offers extensive resources for continuing education, training, professional development; and provides an opportunity to network with fellow pharmacists and other professionals.