Michigan Pharmacy Alumna Named APhA Senior Vice President

The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) has named Ilisa Bernstein, PharmD, JD, FAPhA, as its new Senior Vice President of Pharmacy Practice and Government Affairs, effective October 14. Dr. Bernstein will be responsible for leading implementation of the association’s strategies related to professional affairs, pharmacy practice, advocacy, and government affairs. APhA, founded in 1852, represents 60,000 practicing pharmacists, pharmaceutical scientists, student pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and others interested in advancing the profession.

Ilisa Bernstein earned her Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Michigan in 1987 and her Juris Doctor from American University Washington College of Law.

Dr. Bernstein has served the U-M College of Pharmacy as both a preceptor and member of the Dean’s Advisory Committee. She became an Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor in 2005, mentoring over 20 students to date. Dr. Bernstein was nominated for the Preceptor of the Year Award twice. Dr. Bernstein joined the Dean’s Advisory Committee in 2009, where she has helped the College’s leadership assess the overall strategic direction of the College.

Dr. Bernstein has over 30 years of experience advocating for pharmacy and patients at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), where she has held several senior leadership positions. Most recently, she served as deputy director of FDA’s Office of Compliance in the Center for Drug Evaluation & Research, leading policies, compliance, and enforcement in areas such as drug compounding, supply chain security, drug quality, drug shortages, and post-market drug safety. Dr. Bernstein has also been director of pharmacy affairs for FDA and senior advisor for regulatory policy in the Office of the Commissioner. She started at FDA as clinical pharmacology reviewer of investigational and new drug applications.

Previously, Dr. Bernstein was senior associate director of worldwide regulatory affairs for Pfizer and completed a post-doctoral residency in the pharmacy department at the National Institutes of Health. She is a Fellow of the American Pharmacists Association and has served on APhA’s House of Delegates and several APhA member committees.