The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) Foundation today announced Elizabeth K. Keyes, BSPharm, Chief Operating Officer at the American Pharmacists Association, will serve as Interim Executive Director for APhA Foundation following the resignation of Mindy D. Smith, BSPharm, RPh, effective August 14. Ms. Smith will be joining the executive team at PrescribeWellness.

During her four years as Executive Director of APhA Foundation Ms. Smith developed and directed research initiatives, projects and programs that improved consumer health outcomes by using pharmacist collaborative practice models.

“It has been an honor and a privilege to direct APhA Foundation. I am especially excited to see Patient-Self Management (PSM) Solutions is now available to payers, providers, and patients across the U.S.,” said Mindy Smith. “The innovation and models of care developed from the Foundation’s research are invaluable and I will continue to support the Foundation and APhA as a pharmacist, member, donor and patient care advocate.”

During Ms. Smith’s tenure APhA Foundation marked a milestone with the recent launch of its innovative PSM Solutions. PSM Solutions is a proven model that can reduce overall annual cost of diabetes care by approximately $1,000 per patient, improve health outcomes and increase patient satisfaction.

“Under Mindy’s leadership APhA Foundation strengthened its visibility and recognition as a national leader in practice based research and demonstrated that a collaborative care model for patients with chronic conditions can improve health outcomes by empowering patients to become actively involved in their health care,” said APhA Foundation Board of Directors President, Ed Hamilton, PharmD, FAPhA. “The Foundation looks forward to continuing our track record of providing credible evidence about the value of the pharmacists as a key member of the health care team.”

Commenting on the executive leadership search process, APhA Executive Vice President and CEO, Thomas E. Menighan, BSPharm, MBA, ScD (Hon), FAPhA said, “As APhA Foundation begins its search for a new Executive Director we will look for a strong leader to build upon our previous successes and meet our mission to improve people’s health through pharmacists’ patient care services.”