August 24, 2021
Congratulations to Paul C. Walker, PharmD, FASHP, who has been named American Society of Health-System Pharmacists’ new President-elect.

Paul C. Walker, PharmD, FASHP, has been elected as American Society of Health-System Pharmacists’ (ASHP) new President-elect. He serves the University of Michigan as Assistant Dean for Experiential Education and Clinical Professor of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, and Manager of Pharmacy Patient Care Outcomes, Michigan Medicine.

ASHP represents pharmacists who serve in hospitals, health systems, ambulatory clinics, and other healthcare settings in roles spanning the full spectrum of medication use. The organization’s nearly 58,000 members include pharmacists, student pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians. Founded nearly 80 years ago, ASHP strives to improve medication use and enhance patient safety. Dean Walker’s position as president-elect begins immediately; he will assume the role of president in June 2022.

Dean Walker recently completed a term on the ASHP Board of Directors and served as chair of the organization’s Task Force on Racial Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. His ASHP service also includes terms as chair of the Committee on Nominations, member of the ASHP Commission on Affiliate Relations and the ASHP Foundation Donor Retention Subcommittee, and as a delegate to the ASHP House of Delegates.

Dean Walker will use his professional experience to build on ASHP’s goals and initiatives as he takes the reins of the organization. “I view the world, not just as a pharmacist with breadth of pharmacy practice experience spanning health system clinical practice, management, and leadership, academia, and community practice experience, but as a Black pharmacist, as well,” says Dean Walker. “Being in a profession where Black Americans are underrepresented, being in professional situations where I am often the only Black pharmacist in the room has taught me to be resilient, persistent, confident, and assertive in my pursuit of goals and in collaborations with others.”

“I want to use these skills help us address the significant issues emphasized by the events of the last year: the racial disparities in healthcare, clinician well-being and resilience, and critical medication issues, such as drug shortages and pipeline integrity concerns,” explains Dean Walker. “These matters have challenged all of us to rethink and innovate how we deliver care and value for our patients.”

“Paul Walker has been a leader in health-system pharmacy his whole career and is an outstanding choice to serve as ASHP President,” says Bruce A. Mueller, PharmD, Interim Dean and Professor of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy. “He joins a long list of University of Michigan-based pharmacists who have served as ASHP President, including the very first President, Harvey A.K. Whitney, and our current Michigan Medicine Chief Pharmacy Officer, Stan Kent.  I am confident that Paul’s leadership on the ASHP Task Force on Racial Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion will help propel ASHP’s work on improving the health outcomes of our patients and opening leadership opportunities for all pharmacists.” 

Dean Walker received his BS in pharmacy and his PharmD from Wayne State University and completed his residency in pharmacy practice at Children’s Hospital of Michigan, Detroit Medical Center. Dean Walker also completed a specialty residency in pediatric pharmacy practice at the University of Tennessee and Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center, Memphis, TN. Dean Walker is involved in didactic and experiential education of students, and currently coordinates and teaches in several pharmacotherapy courses for advanced practice nurses; much of his teaching focuses on drug therapy in children.