2022 Iowa – Deanna McDanel

Deanna McDanel, PharmD, BCPS, BCACP
Ambulatory Care Clinical Pharmacy Specialist and Clinical Associate Professor, University of Iowa Healthcare

Deanna McDanel was inspired to enter the health care profession when, as a teenager, she watched her grandmother struggle with illness – as well as with complex medical decision making. Deanna chose pharmacy not only because of the profession’s accessibility to patients, but also because “the pharmacist is one of the most respected members of the healthcare team.” For two decades, this first-generation health care worker has served as a clinician within Allergy/Immunology at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (UIHC). When the Drug Allergy Clinic at UIHC expanded in 2016, Deanna played a critical role in ensuring that patients had access to co-scheduled appointments that included herself and Dr. Amy Dowden, a board-certified Allergy/Immunologist. Since the clinic was established, the team has seen more than 1,000 patients with a >90% de-labeling rate for beta-lactam antibiotics and other drug allergies. The team recently extended the practice to include obstetrics, where they guide treatment for patients with Group B Streptococcus who are allergic to penicillin. Deanna credits the support of Dr. Dowden, the UIHC Immunology Department, and the Antimicrobial Stewardship team for her achievements and says, “recognizing the value of a pharmacist on the patient care team is paramount to the care we provide in the clinic.”

Contact: deanna-mcdanel@uiowa.edu