Center for Pharmacy Practice Innovation

Rana Amayreh joined VCU's Ph.D. in Pharmacoeconomics and Health Outcomes program in the fall of 2022 after finishing both her bachelor's and master's degree in pharmaceutical sciences in Jordan. Prior to joining VCU, Rana worked as a staff pharmacist for two years and as well as a licensed health insurance agent for an insurance company. Rana writes, "My passion for research motivated me to continue my Ph.D. degree."

Research interests: Women's health care issues; to bring better understanding of the value and contribution of pharmacists to quality of life. 

Poorva Birari joined VCU's M.S in Pharmacoeconomics and Health Outcomes program in the fall of 2022 after "becoming interested in research that aimed to improve appropriate access too, and use of medications for optimal societal health outcomes." While earning her Bachelor of Pharmacy degree, Poorva had the opportunity to examine the behavioral tendencies of pharmacy students while administering medication. She writes, "I learned about their diverse mindsets, the reasons for their medication use, and who or what influences them to take certain medications, and so on." Her research thus influenced her decision to continue her education here at VCU. 

Research interests: Research that improves societal health while addressing the several disparities in care delivery and access to treatments. Poorva has a particular interest in the field of oncology and its health outcomes along with its adherence to the medication. 

Rotana Radwan joined VCU's Ph.D. in Pharmacoeconomics and Health Outcomes program in the fall of 2019 after earning her Pharm.D. in Saudi Arabia and a master's degree in nutrition from Central Washington University. Her research is primarily in patient/physician communication in breast cancer patients, and she plans to graduate in May 2023.

Research interests: patient/physician communication, pharmacist impact on patient quality of life, quality of care, health outcomes

Poster presentations while at VCU:

• Predictors of Obtaining Cholesterol Screening in the United States: Data from the 2014 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. APhA Annual Meeting 2021, March 2021 (presented virtually).
• Characterizing the Scope of Practice and Evaluating Performance of Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) Performed by Health-System Pharmacy Interns Based on Student Pharmacist Viewpoints. ASHP Annual Meeting 2020, December 2020 (presented virtually).
• Predictors of Pharmacists’ Job Satisfaction: Analysis of the 2018 Virginia Pharmacist Workforce Survey. ACCP Annual Meeting 2020, October 2020 (presented virtually).

Tyler Wagner joined VCU's Ph.D. in Pharmacoeconomics and Health Outcomes program in the fall of 2019 after graduating from South Carolina's College of Pharmacy. He has training in community pharmacy and hospital drug information and plans to graduate in May 2023.

Research interests: pharmacy practice, increasing pharmacist responsibilities, diabetes, hypertension, infectious disease, pharmacoeconomics, health outcomes

Poster presentations while at VCU:

• Impact of clinical pharmacy services on the achievement of vaccine-related quality measures in primary care. APhA Annual Meeting 2021, March 2021 (presented virtually).
• Characterizing the scope of practice and evaluating performance of entrustable professional activities (EPAs) performed by health-system pharmacy interns based on administrator viewpoints. ASHP Annual Meeting 2020, December 2020 (presented virtually).
• Impact of clinical pharmacy services on the achievement of diabetes- and hypertension-related quality measures. ACCP Annual Meeting 2020, October 2020 (presented virtually).
• Impact of Work Experience on Pharmacy Students’ Perceived Confidence and Performance in Pharmacotherapy Courses. AACP Annual Meeting 2020, July 2020 (presented virtually).
• Impact of a four-day class schedule on first-year students’ stress and professional engagement. AACP Annual Meeting 2020, July 2020 (presented virtually).
• Increasing Pharmacy Student Knowledge and Confidence in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, and Others (LGBTQIA+) Patient Care Through Skills Laboratory-Based Exercises. AACP Annual Meeting 2020, July 2020 (presented virtually).
• The Comparison of SGLT2 Inhibitors and DPP-4 Inhibitors on Health Care Expenditure and Utilization in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. ISPOR Annual Meeting 2020, May 2020 (presented virtually).