2023 Arkansas – Megan Smith

Megan Smith, PharmD, BCACP
Associate Professor
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

During high school, Megan Smith worked at her local pharmacy, never expecting that she would one day play a role in expanding the role of community pharmacies across the state of Arkansas. Following a residency in community pharmacy, she completed an additional fellowship focused on practice-based research. Smith used the expertise gained during this fellowship to lead many new projects, including the development of a Community Pharmacist Enhanced Service Network (CPESN) in Arkansas. This network brings together outcome-focused pharmacists who provide services beyond dispensing. While growing and maintaining this new network, Smith helped support a state-wide practice transformation effort known as “Flip the Pharmacy” and also won two large grants to address vaccine hesitancy. During this time, she supported community pharmacies that offered point-of-care testing (POCT) by training pharmacists, studying outcomes, and creating new, evidence-based resources based on her research. As a result of her efforts in POCT, Smith was asked to spearhead the development of statewide protocols that were eventually approved by the Arkansas State Medical Board and Board of Pharmacy. Most recently, Smith published a Pharmacists Prescribing & Medical Billing Guide, which was launched at the Arkansas Pharmacists Association Annual Convention and is now used statewide.

Contact: msmith4@uams.edu; www.linkedin.com/in/megansmith12345