On any given day, Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice Katie Cardone, Pharm.D., BCACP, may be found working with chronic kidney disease patients; conducting medication therapy management consultations; developing online courses for the College’s nephrology concentration; publishing articles; delivering presentations; precepting students; and more.

An alumna of ACPHS, Dr. Cardone now finds herself in the position of mentor to young pharmacy students and post-graduates. She started a nephrology pharmacy residency in 2015 – one of only two such residencies in the country – and has successfully obtained accreditation from the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP).

She is also an active researcher who seeks out collaborations with faculty in other specialty areas. One such project involves Associate Professor Wendy Parker in the ACPHS Department of Population Health Sciences. The two are exploring the impact of pharmaceutical care services such as medication adherence and health literacy on the outcomes of patients suffering from chronic kidney disease.

For someone who at one time wasn’t sure if the profession of pharmacy was the best fit, Dr. Cardone has emerged as one of its strongest advocates and a role model for future pharmacists.

“Within our own profession, we know that we are valuable members of the health care team. But much of the public does not know about the pharmacist’s education or what they do beyond dispensing. Even within the health care team, we need to get more people familiar with the skills and knowledge that pharmacists possess,” she says. “If we are not vocal about our capabilities and contributions, how will anybody else know?”