Defining leadership in health-system pharmacy
By Deanna L. Kroetz, PhD, BS Pharm '85, dean and professor at The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy
During Ohio State's spring break last week, I took some time to reflect on the significant changes in our learning and working environments. In these unprecedented times, we need leadership that transcends titles, gives back, elevates others and shapes our future.
Earlier this semester, we received a visit from Darlington Nagbe, the Columbus Crew captain and midfielder who led his team to win the MLS Cup in 2023 and the Leagues Cup in 2024. Darlington sat before a classroom of students, faculty and alumni from our MS in Health-System Pharmacy Administration and Leadership (MS/HSPAL) program to connect the dots between leadership on the pitch and in our world of health-system pharmacy.
In an engaging discussion, Darlington highlighted the qualities that have guided him through a successful soccer career. He cited Don Miguel Ruiz’s The Four Agreements as a “game-changer.” Those four principles include:
- speaking with integrity
- insulating yourself from the opinions and actions of others
- asking questions and avoiding assumptions
- always doing your best
Darlington found an eager audience in our current and future health-system pharmacy leaders that day. For 65 years, the MS/HSPAL program has cultivated a legacy of transformative leaders who have redefined the profession. Among the program’s alumni are American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) past-presidents, Harvey A.K. Whitney Award recipients and hospital pharmacy directors across the country. Yet, beyond the accolades and titles, what sets our program apart is its infectious culture of excellence established by the late Clifton J. Latiolais.
Clif not only shaped the future of health-system pharmacy through his innovative work and industry-standard textbooks, but he also mentored dozens of leaders and helped sculpt the MS/HSPAL curriculum into one that empowers graduates to tackle complex and evolving challenges. Simply put, Clif elevated those who would follow in his footsteps. His legacy lives on through the Latiolais Leadership Program (LLP) , which connects MS/HSPAL students, residents and graduates under its mantra, “Enthusiasm for Excellence.” LLP promotes leadership through not only excellence in practice, but also in extending your hand and lifting others.
Last December, I gathered with MS/HSPAL alumni, faculty and students on a riverboat in New Orleans to celebrate the program’s 65th anniversary. The room was filled with esteemed health-system pharmacy leaders who shared the "Enthusiasm for Excellence" unique to their alma mater.
In his remarks, Class of 2010 alumnus Jake Thompson, PharmD, MS, a senior leader at SpendMend, emphasized the importance of modeling leadership to residents. “I chose the Ohio State residency program because it produces outstanding leaders in nearly every aspect of pharmacy practice. I wanted to be a part of a program with a vast alumni network in a variety of practice settings. I wanted to learn how to be a leader wherever my career took me.”
Jake’s words were inspiring, and his actions exemplify the type of leaders Ohio State produces – visionaries who not only excel in their field but also support others to excel alongside them. This Buckeye mindset led Jake to establish an endowed residency in our MS/HSPAL program. “This gift is a way to provide additional opportunities to learn from leaders – opportunities I would have benefited from as a resident.”
I have been very fortunate to work with inspirational leaders here at Ohio State and during my time at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF). One of my favorite leaders, Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost (and former Buckeye) Catherine Lucey, MD, recently discussed her approach to leading UCSF in a motivational Q&A. One comment that resonated with me in answering a question about challenging health care issues was,
“It requires looking beyond our institution – at our patient community, city, state and nation – and asking, ‘What does the world desperately need from us?’ It’s about daring to think beyond incremental shifts and envisioning what could genuinely change the game. Asking big questions helps us think more expansively about what we can accomplish.”
The ability to “think big” is what distinguishes the leaders from the followers. I have challenged my leadership team to think big so that we can make a lasting impact on pharmacy education, practice and research.
Every day at the Ohio State College of Pharmacy, I see strong leadership in all its forms. I see students like PharmD candidate David Joseph becoming the first pharmacy student to sit on the University Foundation Board of Directors. I see faculty like E. Michael Murphy, PharmD, speaking out about issues like pharmacy deserts that affect more patients every day. I see researchers like Przemysław Radwański, PharmD, PhD, leading the charge in the fight against heart disease.
With our profession in a time of significant change, we need strong leadership now more than ever. Let’s speak and act with intention and confidence. Let’s expand our networks and foster connections that lead to new opportunities. And most of all, let’s support the next generation of pharmacy leaders and shape the future we want for our patients.