There are over 300,000 pharmacists in the United States working in a variety of inpatient and outpatient settings. Over 57% of pharmacists are now women, compared with 43% male pharmacists. They provide critical oversight on medication safety, efficacy, and distribution to people with various conditions, including diabetes.

I love celebrating pharmacists for three significant reasons. The first reason, they are brilliant. Secondly, I have been happily married to a PharmD for over 25 years. Thirdly, I get to co-teach and collaborate with a pharmacist innovator, Diana Isaacs, and witness her vast knowledge and diabetes expertise firsthand. 

Over the past few decades, pharmacists have expanded their roles beyond the traditional work setting. They are now providing consultation in critical care and emergency department settings, plus providing diabetes technology training, case management, and more.

Pharmacists have taken a leadership role in providing diabetes care. Following nurses and dietitians, pharmacists are the third largest group of health professionals with a CDCES credential The growing number of certified pharmacists highlights the increasing involvement of pharmacists in improving diabetes care, education, and management.

As experts in pharmacology combined with their vast knowledge of disease process and data interpretation, they are perfectly positioned to advance improvements in diabetes care and education from the bedside to the outpatient setting and beyond.

Critical Care Pharmacist Role – by Kristapor Thomassian, PharmD, BCPS, Coach Bev’s hubby

Over the past 25 years, Dr. Thomassian has witnessed the growth and development of numerous activities associated with critical care pharmacists at the bedside. “Being at the bedside opens the opportunity for engagement with acute care interventions, stewardships, medication policy and process creation, and, most importantly, providing up-to-date literature support from bench to bedside medication expertise. Without question, the presence of pharmacists at the bedside has changed the calculus of patient care by engaging with providers to develop a thoughtful medication treatment plan while monitoring the many aspects patients in the critical care setting.”

In addition, Dr. Thomassian provides hands-on assistance with DKA management and participated in creation of insulin protocols. He has developed many policies that promote effective stewardship and care approaches, including initiating multidisciplinary rounds to improve care during the most crucial time in their lives. “I’m so humbled and honored to be a critical care pharmacist!”

In addition, Dr. Thomassian sits on our Board of Directors and is the main contributor to our Hypertension and Lipid Medication Cheat Sheets. Thank you Kris for providing excellence in service for over 30 years.

Clinic Pharmacist Role – PharmD, BCPS, BC-ADM, BCACP, CDCES

Given her wide-reaching contributions and innovations in diabetes care, Dr. Diana Isaacs was named the 2020 ADCES Diabetes Educator of the Year. Her educational platform promoting the use of CGMs and insulin pumps for people with diabetes and her mentorship of healthcare colleagues highlight a few of her accomplishments.  Dr. Isaacs was awarded the Ohio Pharmacists Association Under 40 Award in 2019.

Dr. Isaacs serves in leadership roles for several pharmacies and diabetes organizations. She contributes to the ADA Standards of Care yearly publication and is involved in research projects with a focus on medications, CGM, and diabetes technology.

As the Director of Education & Training in Diabetes Technology and clinical pharmacist specialist in the Cleveland Clinic Diabetes Center, Dr. Isaacs shares her wealth of clinical knowledge combined with extensive research experience with her colleagues and people with diabetes alike. In addition, she is now an official podcaster, sharing her insights on Diabetes Dialogue: Therapeutics, Technology, & Real-World Perspectives on Apple Podcasts. Plus, she is a treasured speaker in our Virtual and Live DiabetesEd Training Program.

Thank you Diana Issacs for your incredible energy, extensive knowledge, and passion for teaching and information sharing.

Let’s all take a moment to thank the Pharmacists
we work with this month!