WVU School of Pharmacy Dean’s Hour Panel to Spotlight Leadership Across the Profession
The West Virginia University School of Pharmacy will present a special Dean’s Hour event titled “Pharmacy Pathways — Leadership Across the Profession” on Friday, October. 24, from Noon to 1 p.m. in the Okey Patteson Auditorium. Hosted by the WVU Chapter of the American Pharmacists Association–Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP), the panel will explore the many ways pharmacists lead across diverse sectors of the profession — from health systems and industry to community care and innovation.
The panel, part of APhA-ASP’s American Pharmacy Month celebration, will feature four accomplished pharmacy professionals whose careers reflect the breadth and impact of leadership in pharmacy.
Albert L. Wright Jr., PharmD, DrPH, MHA., is president and CEO of the West Virginia University Health System, the state’s largest private employer. A pharmacist by training, Wright has held senior leadership roles at major academic medical centers, including OhioHealth and UPMC. Since joining WVU Medicine in 2014, he has led the transformation of the health system into a fully integrated regional network, expanding access to specialty care and driving significant investment in facilities and innovation. His career highlights leadership across health care and pharmacy, showing how pharmacists can shape the future of patient care and health system growth. Wright earned a Doctor of Pharmacy at the University of Florida, a Doctor of Public Health at the University of North Carolina, and a Master of Health Administration at Ohio State University.
Iftekhar (Ifti) Kalsekar, PhD, BPharm, serves as vice president and head of global scientific affairs and data sciences, interventional oncology, at Johnson & Johnson. Kalsekar provides strategic leadership in evidence generation, data science and market access to advance innovation in oncology. He previously worked at AstraZeneca and Bristol Myers Squibb and was a tenured professor at Butler University. His career reflects a commitment to scientific leadership, real-world evidence and translating data into meaningful impact across the health care landscape. Kalsekar earned a Bachelor of Pharmacy from the University of Mumbai, India, and a Doctor of Philosophy from the WVU School of Pharmacy’s Health Economics and Outcomes Research Program.
LeeAnn Miller, PharmD, MS, BSPharm, is vice president of business development and growth for Cencora Hospital and Health Systems. Miller previously served as chief pharmacy officer at Yale New Haven Health, where she led enterprise-wide pharmacy strategy and oversaw a nationally recognized health-system specialty pharmacy network. Recognized by Becker’s Healthcare as one of the Top 75 Chief Pharmacy Officers to Know, her career highlights leadership in advancing pharmacy practice, innovation and business growth across complex health systems. Miller earned her Bachelor of Science in pharmacy and a master’s degree in pharmaceutical sciences from WVU, and a Doctor of Pharmacy from Shenandoah University.
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Bruce T. Roberts, ScD (honorary), BSPharm, is a nationally recognized leader in community pharmacy. After founding and expanding multiple independent pharmacies and a home health care company, Roberts served as CEO of the National Community Pharmacists Association, where he advanced the profession’s influence and helped launch initiatives such as SureScripts and Mirixa. Currently, Roberts is involved in health care innovation through Synerio Technologies; he continues to champion pharmacist leadership and serves as chair of the WVU School of Pharmacy Leadership Council. Roberts earned his Bachelor of Science in pharmacy and an honorary Doctor of Science degree from WVU.
The panel will be moderated by Laurel Sanders, a third-year student pharmacist and president of the WVU APhA-ASP Chapter. Sanders will guide the conversation as panelists reflect on their leadership experiences and offer inspiration to the next generation of pharmacy professionals.
For more information, please contact Associate Professor Betsy Elswick at belswick@hsc.wvu.edu.