Veterinary Clinical Pharmacist - AZ - Animal Health Institute
About the role
The Veterinary Clinical Pharmacist leads pharmacy operations for a growing veterinary teaching hospital, supporting clinical care, student education, regulatory compliance, and species-specific therapeutics.
Responsibilities
Supervise procurement, receipt, inventory management, storage, and dispensing of pharmaceuticals, biologicals, and controlled substances.
Maintain required records and inventories in accordance with applicable state and federal laws.
Ensure compliance with DEA regulations and institutional policies for controlled substances.
Lead investigations of controlled substance discrepancies and recommend corrective actions.
Develop, implement, and enforce pharmacy policies and procedures related to medication safety, compounding, dispensing, storage, waste disposal, and regulatory compliance.
Instruct fourth-year veterinary students and house officers on pharmacy inventory control, purchasing practices, therapeutics, biopharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics, and practical pharmacy applications.
Provide instruction on laws and regulations related to handling and dispensing pharmaceuticals in veterinary practice, including controlled substances.
Provide supervised hands-on training in specialized pharmaceutical preparation and compounding.
Mentor students in balancing therapeutic efficacy, patient safety, client communication, regulatory requirements, and medication cost.
Supervise pharmacy support personnel, including technical and professional staff, in the operation of the central pharmacy and any satellite pharmacy areas.
Maintain accurate and complete records of pharmacy activities and prepare reports and statements as needed.
Coordinate with purchasing agents on requisitions for pharmaceuticals and dry goods.
Monitor medication expenses, reduce waste, and recommend inventory practices that support cost control.
Collaborate with the Associate Dean of Research, establish processes for management and billing of faculty research accounts involving medications.
Consult with clinicians, house officers, and students regarding drug selection, dosing, therapeutic effectiveness, cost considerations, adverse effects, and species-specific medication use.
Provide drug information services for clinicians, students, clients, area veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and staff.
Advise clients regarding medication administration, side effects, adverse drug reactions, and safe handling of therapeutic agents.
Participate in clinical rounds and case discussions as needed.
Prepare or oversee preparation of specialized drug dosage forms as required by specific patients and clinical circumstances.
Prepare or oversee allergy extracts, reformulations to meet dosage requirements, antineoplastic therapy preparations, and total parenteral nutrition preparations, as appropriate for the facility and patient need.
Ensure compliance with applicable USP, , and standards for non-sterile compounding, sterile compounding, and hazardous drug handling.
Create and chair a Formulary Management Committee.
Consult with hospital clinicians and school administrators on selection, substitution, and discontinuation of formulary items.
Evaluate new pharmaceutical products for formulary inclusion.
Monitor drug utilization patterns and recommend evidence-based alternatives.
Record and maintain files of adverse drug reactions within the AHI.
Report adverse events to the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine and drug manufacturers when appropriate.
Collaborate with clinicians to implement pharmacovigilance protocols.
Qualifications
Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree from an ACPE-accredited institution.
Active pharmacist license in the state of Arizona.
Minimum 3-5 years of pharmacy experience.
Preferred experience in veterinary pharmaceuticals.
Willingness to pursue Board certification in Veterinary Pharmacy (DICVP).
Previous experience in an academic, clinical, or teaching hospital environment.
Supervisory or management experience.
Proficiency in pharmacy management systems and ability to learn veterinary practice management software.
Competency in Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel, and Outlook.
Experience with inventory management and automated dispensing systems.
Ability to read, interpret, and implement pharmacy regulations, protocols, and clinical guidelines.
Ability to write detailed reports, SOPS, and educational materials.
Excellent verbal communication skills for consulting with clinicians, students, and clients.
Ability to present educational content to diverse audiences.