September 19, 2024

When Susannah Koontz, PharmD ‘96, reflects on her time at the U-M College of Pharmacy, she immediately thinks of the resources she had to help her become the pharmacy expert she is today. 

 

“I tell people I got to enjoy the small nature of the College of Pharmacy, but benefited from the resources of the entire University of Michigan campus. A U-M degree opens up a wealth of opportunities beyond Ann Arbor.”

 

That certainly rings true for Koontz, who has had a successful career in oncology. After completing her degree at the College, she ventured from Ann Arbor to Lexington, Kentucky to complete both a Pharmacy Practice Residency and an Oncology Pharmacy Residency at the University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center. For Koontz, this residency was personal. 

 

“When I was at U-M, my dad developed cancer. He passed away from complications of a stem cell transplant before I started pharmacy school. My mom, now a 28-year survivor, was diagnosed with breast cancer during my P-4 year.  Then when I was at Kentucky, I volunteered as a pharmacist for a camp for kids with cancer. That solidified my interest in pediatric oncology pharmacy.”

 

Although her experiences at the University of Kentucky solidified her path in Oncology, her interest in science sparked years before. 

 

“Growing up, I had a couple of family members diagnosed with cancer,” Koontz explained. “That’s what got me interested in medicine as a whole. In high school, I gravitated toward science and math and knew I wanted to have some sort of career in that space. After doing research, I found that I could have a career in pharmacy which was perfect because not only did it combine my love for science and math, but it also allowed me to interact with patients directly.” 

 

Following her residencies, Koontz took that passion for oncology and served as a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist for the Children’s Cancer Center at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. There, she focused on therapeutic drug monitoring, helping patients manage the side effects of treatments and providing supportive care. 

 

Seven years into this role, she decided to take on some consulting work with pharmaceutical companies outside of her day job. 

 

“I believed I had maximized my potential at the hospital, and decided to take a detour and go into consulting for a little while.”

 

Now, 16 years into her full-time consulting career, she focuses mostly on improving treatments for children and adolescents with cancer who are undergoing chemotherapy and stem cell transplants. Working with pharmaceutical companies, she looks at data and trial designs to provide recommendations on how to best apply therapies. This is important because most of these treatments are originally developed for adults, and finding the right dosage and treatment schedule for children takes analysis. She also looks into rare diseases that children may experience that most adults don’t, and how these treatments could impact those diseases. 

 

Focusing on Advocacy 

In 2013, Koontz started to dive into advocacy – pushing lawmakers to put a spotlight on childhood cancer. She has been to the White House twice for the Cancer Moonshot Forum, an event aimed at reducing the impact of preventable cancers and improving support for people facing a cancer diagnosis.

 

Additionally, she has spent time on Capitol Hill lobbying for research funding for childhood cancer. 

 

“This is something that lights my internal fire and passion,” Koontz explained. “It’s not something that’s traditionally a pharmacist’s job, but it’s a testament to what you can do with a PharmD degree. I’m blessed to be a part of a large community that supports a public policy agenda that puts childhood cancer as a national priority. We’ve been able to see legislation pass the finish line and signed into law. I’m just a drop in the ocean but it’s rewarding to be a part of this.” 

 

Forever a Wolverine

Living in Houston, a 20-hour drive from Ann Arbor, hasn’t stopped Koontz from staying connected and plugged into the College of Pharmacy community. She stays up-to-date through social media and is a part of the local alumni association in her area. 

 

More importantly, she’s fiercely rooting for her Wolverines on the field and the ice.

 

“The 2024 CFP National Championship game was here in our backyard, and I was very fortunate to see Michigan win it in person back in January. I get to check that off my bucket list,” Koontz shared. “I follow hockey, too, so my next bucket list item is to be in-person when the hockey team wins the Frozen Four.” 

 

It’s that “go blue” spirit that Koontz encourages other students to encompass, offering this advice: “Maximize the opportunities you have on campus. Do things that are off the beaten path. Think about going to the business school and taking economics. If you have an opportunity to be a part of a multidisciplinary project,  jump at that opportunity. Keep your options open at all times. Anytime you feel comfortable, you should step back and ask if you’re doing the right thing.”

 

That drive to take untraditional paths fueled Koontz's successful career, but she says she wouldn’t have had the foundation she needed without her degree from the College of Pharmacy. 

 

“I think a University of Michigan degree is second to none. At U-M, we are encouraged to push the envelope.” 

 

Pushing the envelope and leading the way is just what graduates of the College of Pharmacy do.